This Week’s Must-See Art Events: Best Events of 2015 So Far

Buy art at an accessible price! From a purely sharky standpoint, the work is cheap and it’s a space which has showcased artists who’ve gone on to appear in famous places like the Whitney Biennial. From a purely altruistic standpoint, I’d consider Momenta a lifeline for young artists. Sale runs through January 11th.

Participating artists: Albert Weaver, Alexandra Rubinstein, Alexis Granwell, Allie Rex, Amy Lincoln, Anne Russinof, Austin Thomas, Barbara Friedman, Barbara Laube, Barbara Lubliner, Becky Yazdan, Caetlynn Booth, Carla Avruch, Carrie Rubinstein, Catherine Haggarty, Cecilia Salama, Christina Tenaglia, Christopher Rose, Christopher Stout, Claudia Tienan, Daniel John Gadd, David T Miller, Elisa Soliven, Elizabeth Gourlay, Elizabeth Riley, Ellen Letcher, Emily Berger, Enrico Gomez, Eric Mavko, Eric Trosko, Fran Holstrom, Fran O’Neill, Fred Gutzeit, Georgia Elrod, Gili Levy, Helen O’Leary, Jacob Cartwright, Jay Henderson, Jenna Ransom, Jennifer Hitchings, Jennifer Shepard, JJ Manford, Joan Mellon, Joey Parlett, John Kesling, Jonathan Cowan, Joseph Sossi, Justine Frischmann, Katherine Keltner, Katherine Mojzsis, Ky Anderson, Kyle Gallup, Lauren Collings, Leeza Meksin, Levi Haske, Libby Hartle, Liz Ainslie, Liz Atzberger, MaDora Frey, Margaret Atkinson, Mary Margaret Killeen, Maria Britton, Maria Kondratiev, Marian Smith, Marina Cappelletto, Mary Billyou, Mary Schiliro, Maxwell Stevens, Melissa Capasso, Melissa Staiger, Mona Kamal, Monica Carrier, Nicole Fossi, Norman Jabaut, Patricia Satterlee, Polly Shindler, Rachael Gorchov, Rachael Wren, Rachel Cañas, Rebecca Litt, Ryan Michael Ford, Sessa Englund, Seth Mulvey, Suhee Wooh, Susan Carr, Teresa Ekasala, Theresa Daddezio, Todd Bienvenu, Wendy Klemperer, Will Hutnick, William Lawler, Zak Vreeland

Religious AFC followers are probably sick of hearing us rave about some of the Internet artists in this show: Body by Body, Deanna Havas, Lance Wakeling, and Ann Hirsch (a lot). All that’s based on our belief that good art usually involves thoughtfulness, self criticality, and insight, qualities which usually go out the window online. On the topic of how emotion is distributed digitally, we expect their reflections will be worth hearing.

The full artist list: Body by Body, James Duesing, Deanna Havas, Michael Hessel-Mial, Ann Hirsch, Isaac Richard Pool, Andrej Ujhazy, Lance Wakeling, and Daniel Williams.

Angela Washko’s recent piece for Creative Time Reports on feminism in World of Warcraft generated a couple intelligent comments, but mostly same trolly tactics: picking apart minor mistakes, gaming skill, speculation about the author’s motives, etc. For solidarity alone, the thread makes me want to see her newest WoW-inspired performance.

$12 advance, $15 door, $10 students/seniors

So popular are Jayson Musson’s web series that it’s probably redundant to endorse the new one. The first episode of “The Adventures of Jamel” will premiere at Salon 94.

On your way back from the Musson’s premiere or Washko’s performance (they’re both right around the corner) walk a block north to this marathon live music/punk-inspired music and video performance in a soundproof box. Artists will be in there for 6 hours, and audience members listen to them through headphones. Sounds like an art.

The funny and totally lovable company Half Straddle, helmed by writer Tina Satter and performed by an often-all-female cast, has made the rounds at venues like the New Museum and Abrons; the work is strong. In their Kitchen debut, I hope to see them dig a little deeper. Ranging from self-serious performance art and high school play formats, the sensibility of awkward humor and offbeat sweetness both makes you laugh, but also wonder if the meaning will outlast the kooky flavor.

$20

Tickets go fast for “American Realness”, the festival to rival Performa: actual emerging artists, intimate lower-budget performances, and less focus on stardom than quality. That said, many of these people have gotten reviews in the Times and Obies, and performers reportedly don’t get paid well or at all.

Go-tos include Jack Ferver and My Barbarian. I’m particularly excited to see Dynasty Handbag’s “Soggy Glasses, A Homo’s Odyssey” after missing it at BAM last year. Supposedly it was great.

And hopefully security will be called in to fend off asshole Ann Liv Young this year if she tries to sabotage another performer (see Rebecca Patek, loudspeaker).

$20

Artist Leslie Hewitt talks to Bangladeshi novelist Zia Haider Rahman, probably because their interests align. Hewitt has worked with historically exploited and marginalized social groups, and Rahman’s recent novel “In Light of What We Know” focuses on extreme poverty and the financial collapse.

For the past month, Marisa Olson has been using Transfer Gallery to broadcast an ongoing performance on NewHive, a series of stock inspiration and promo images for her show “Getting Ready”. All of this has been leading up to a big party and performance this Saturday. Will it be the humongous climax Olson’s been building? We don’t know, but it will involve 1000 pink balloons, we are told.

An example of a Jeffrey Deitch’s curating at its best: a show of fashion designers and artists who’ve collaborated with famed art/pop crossover ballet choreographer Karole Armitage. These include large scale backdrops, props, and costumes by Jean Paul Gaultier, Jeff Koons, Christian Lacroix, David Salle, Peter Speliopoulos, and Philip Taaffe. It’ll be flashy and big and we’re guessing worth the trip to Jersey City.

“Puddle, pothole, porthole” at the Sculpture Center closes 1/5

The Christmas Creché goes down at the Met 1/6