Photo Opportunities Focus in the Big Apple (c) By Polly Guerin

Photographic treasures by masters of the 20th Century art form headline openings this week while Art for Science’s Sake peaks into dioramas and Material Poetry celebrates works by Irish artists. Only in New York my friends, only in New York. Here’s the scoop!!!


NORMAN ROCKWELL
"Behind the Camera!" Little known fact, beginning in the late 1930s, Norman Rockwell adopted photography as a tool to bring his illustration ideas to life. Working as a director, Rockwell staged his photographs, orchestrating every detail. Behind the Camera presents these photographs alongside his paintings, drawings, and related tear sheets to offer a look at the artist’s working process. Pictured here "Tatoo Artist." Organized by the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA, just hop on the train to the Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway. Opens November 19th. www.brooklynmusum.org.
THREE MASTER PHOTOGRAPHERS
Three giants of 20th century photography---Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Steichen and Paul Strand---share the spotlight at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, opening November 10th. The diverse and groundbreaking work of these artists will be revealed through a presentation of 115 photographs drawn entirely from the Museum’s collection. On view will be many of the greatest photographic portraits including Stieglitz’s famous portrait of Georgia O’Keeffe. Steichen rivaled the scale, color and individuality of painting in works such as The Pond—Moonrise (1904). Strand incorporated the new language of geometric abstraction into his interest in photographing street life and machine culture. 1000 Fifth Ave. www.metmuseum.org.
ART FOR SCIENCE’S SAKE
The natural history diorama of the early 20th century continues to regale children and their parents at many museum institutions, but leave it to Kevin Avery, associate curator in the Dept. of American Paintings and Sculpture at the Met will shed light on the subject. In a review and illuminated art he will discuss how these dioramas evolved from traditions of both scientific and art entertainment reach back to the late 18th century. FREE Nov. 9th, 6pm. Sponsored by the Metropolitan Chapter of The Victorian Society in America, at The New York New Church, 114E. 35th St. events@metrovsa.org.
MATERIAL POETRY
Irish Eyes Are Smiling at the American Irish Historical Society where an exhibition of Contemporary Objects from Ireland highlights the best of the new wave of design and craft emerging from Ireland. International curator, Brian Kennedy, focuses on Irish makers whose works are infused with a poetic simplicity and a material honesty. Influenced by ancient Irish architectural forms and the majestic Irish landscape the artistic works reveal a deep rooted respect for techniques and a true understanding and love of material in ceramics, furniture, jewelry, glass and wood. At 991 Fifth Ave. Contact: tracy@causeycontemporary.com

Ta Ta darlings!!! Love those Rockwell’s. I can’t wait to see the artist’s photo/painting technique. Fan mail welcome: pollytalk@verizon.net and visit www.pollytalk.com and select Polly’s Blogs in the right hand column.