THE WEEK/WEEKEND: May 31-June 7.

Three Colorists: curated by Michael Walls — Eozen Agopian, Alan Kleiman, Diane Mayo
Where: Lesley Heller Workspace
When: June 6 – July 6, 2012, Opening Reception: Wednesday, June 6, 6-8pm 

Three Colorists, curated by Michael Walls, highlights the work of three artists who have several things in common: they began their professional life as painters; the oeuvre of each importantly involves the role of color; and the work of each is not only labor intensive, but also revealing of a hard-won mastery of the chosen craft.

LABAPALOOZA! MINI FESTIVAL OF NEW PUPPET THEATER FROM THE LAB
Where: St. Ann’s Warehouse
When: MAY 31-JU­NE 3  

It’s the last show before we move to our new location at 29 Jay Street! What better w­ay to say goodbye to 38 Water Street than with our 14th annual Labapalooza Festival? This year’s line-up of works-in-progress ranges from the traditional to the irreverent, from the ground breaking to the nostalgic, and from delightful to downright punk-rock.

Masterpiece Theater Curated by: Geoffrey Young
Where: Morgan Lehman 
When: May 31  – June 30 

If theatrical is the question, masterpiece is the answer.  Modesty in art is over-rated, as anyone with a Schnabel complex knows, so be prepared for the challenge of ascertaining the significance of what these artists have been cooking up over the past four months.  Yes, each can draw, paint, and employ color to bold effect, but that’s of secondary importance (the least we can expect of an artist).  What drives these artists is Imagination.  Another word for imagination is risk, another word for risk is danger, another word for danger is aesthetics.  And aesthetics, as we know, is for the birds.  But these artists aint tweeting.

Thurston Moore + Bill Nace + Joe McPhee
Where: Roulette
When: May 31, 8pm 

Three pillars of the noise and avant-jazz scene collide : Thurston Moore, singer/songwriter/guitarist for Sonic Youth, teams up with free-noise guitarist Bill Nace and avant-jazz saxophonist Joe McPhee for an evening of mind bending cacophony.

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The Music Box: Swoon in New Orleans.

The opening performance of The Music Box on Oct 22nd has been widely heralded as the highlight of Prospect 2, New Orleans’ art Biennale. International press has called this avant-garde performance transporting, metaphysical and transcendent. The exhibition continues through December 10th with two more performances featuring legendary musicians like Mannie Fresh, Andrew WK, James Singleton and Hamid Drake amongst many others.

The Music Box is an interactive installation of purpose-built shacks and miniature houses made out of New Orleans’ beautiful architectural details and plentiful salvaged materials; built into in each structure is an invented instrument created by a sound artist. Visitors can interact with this musical shantytown’s singing walls, heartbeat-triggered percussion machine, organ staircase and weather sensitive oscillators. Three monthly live performances are bringing together stellar groups of local and international musicians to play orchestrated  works on these “instruments.” Quintron, the musician and local legend, conducts this experimental shantytownorchestra.The Music Box is an important and exciting prelude to the building of Dithyrambalina, an interactive sound sculpture in the form of a permanent three-story house. This project is being led by the influential street artist Swoon, who is known for her community-driven collaborative endeavors. Swoon has designed the house, but will rely on collaborating artists to bring the Dithyrambalina to life. (READ MORE.)

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