Manhattan's Rich Cultural Diversity (c) By Polly Guerin

Tomaselli's Bird Collage>>>>>>>>















I’ll take Manhattan and all its cultural diversity from art and magic to looking back on life in Morocco and Porgy & Bess’ anniversary there are enough venues galore to keep score and improve one’s mind. Only in New York, my friends, only in New York. Here’s the scoop!!!

HOUDINI: ART and MAGIC Examines the renowned magician and daring escape artist’s life through 163 objects, including 26 recent works of art inspired by Houdini. His gripping theatrical presentations and heart-stopping outdoor spectacles attracted unprecedented crowds, and his talent for self- promotion and provocation captured headlines on both sides of the Atlantic. Born Ehrich Weiss in Budapest, Hungary, Houdini (1874-1926) was the son of a rabbi who against all odds became an international performer. A recreation of the famous Water Torture Cell is included in the exhibition. Opens Oct. 26, at the Jewish Museum, Fifth Ave. at 92nd St. www.thejewishmuseum.org.

FRED TOMASELLI’S SOLO SHOW Focuses on the trajectory of Tomaselli’s career, from works from the late 1980s to the present including 40 collages and paintings created specifically for the Brooklyn Museum’s presentation. Tomaselli’s work reveals a uniquely American vision. He creates richly decorated surfaces that are composed of hundreds of found objects that move with psychedelic precision in images that amass prescription pills, along with images of birds, plants, flowers and anatomical illustrations. Two new captivating artworks, Night Music for Raptors and Starling, are large-scale painting collages. The former represents an owl composed of hundreds of cut-out eyes. Through Jan. 2, 2011. www.brooklynmuseum.org.

LOOKING BACK: JEWISH LIFE IN MOROCCO This engaging xhibition enlightens the visitor on the beautiful history and culture of the Jewish people and Jewish life, as it once was in Morocco with an overview demonstrating how Jewish communities lived among, and were influenced by, various peoples including the Berbers, the Spanish, the Arabs and the French. Artistically designed textual displays, documents, lithographs and engravings, historic photos, replications of historic documents demonstrate the life of the Jews living throughout this North African country. At the American Sephardi Federation, 15 West 16th St., part of an ongoing year-long program. www.americansephardifederation.org.

THE 75th ANNIVERSARY OF PORGY AND BESS Stars from some of the world’s premiere opera companies will perform highlights of the celebrated 1935 opera. Incorporating a wealth of blues and jazz idioms, George Gershwin conceived of Porgy & Bess as an “American folk opera.” He considered it his finest work, but it was not widely accepted as part of the standard opera repertoire until a triumphant 1976 production, long after his death. On October 28 at 7pm, Elebash Recital Hall, The Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Ave. (at 34th St.) Tickets phone: 212.868.4444, $24 and $18.
Ta my darlings!!! Life in Morocco, Houdini, Porgy and Bess, Tomaselli…all this in one week, a rich cultural diversity. Fan mail is always welcome: pollytalk@verizon.net and for Polly’s Blogs go to www.pollytalk.,com and just click on the link of the Blog of your choice at right on the home page.

CULTURE UPDATE, BIG APPLE'S MIXED MEDIA (c)

By Polly Guerin Tra, la la...
Shall we two go walking together through bucolic rustic retreats, visit the Red Mill, view Muslim culture and Go-Green with Eco Fashion all in one week? Only in New York my friends, Only in New York. Here's the scoop!!!

THE ART AND POETRY OF NATURE exhibition at The Morgan Library and Museum takes us down scenic vistas, winding paths, bucolic meadows and rustic retreats through
magnificent prints and drawings by European and American landscape artists, including massive works by J.M.W.Turner, John Ruskin, William Wordsworth and other leaders in the Romantic Movement. The image here “View of the Welbeck Estate,” by Humphry Repton, the leading landscape architect of his time draws us in with picturesque scenery. On view May 21-Aug. 29. 225 Madison Ave., at 36th St. www.themorgan.org Free on Fridays 7 to 9 p.m.
THE RED MILL operetta written by Victor Herbert with a libretto by Henry Blossom is a jolly production by the Light Opera of New York (LOONY) at The Players Club, 15 Gramercy Park South at 20th St., this Thursday, May 20 at 8 p.m. In a village in Holland, two American Vaudevillians are stranded penniless in the little Red Mill inn. Trying to sneak out they are thrown into jail but the merry madcap adventure manages to deliver love and riches with disguises and all sorts of jolly good fun with singers Leslie Middlebrook and Lee Moore in the cast.
Telephone: 212.249.9470. http://www.lightoperaofnewyork.org/.
SOCIAL DRAMAS AND SHIMMERING SPECTACLES, Muslim Cultures of Bombay Cinema at The Film Society of Lincoln Center, Walter Reade Theatre includes 14 films that explore the rich influence of Muslim cultural and social traditions on Bombay cinema in a range of breathtaking artistic spectacles from magnificence and melodramas to New Wave reinvention. Three series package $24 for general public, $18 IAAC members. http://www.filmlinc.com/.
ECO-FASHION: GOING GREEN at The Museum at FIT explores fashion’s relationship with the environment and refers to the work of designers who use, produce and/or promote sustainable, ethical and environmentally-conscious products. It shows each stage of fashion production and how it has environmental consequences. On view examples include the earliest object a silk brocade gown, circa 1790, was painstakingly woven on hand looms and then there is Xuly-Bet’s ensemble of multicolor sweaters, circa 1994. FREE Tues-Sat. www.fitnyc.edu/museum. 7th Ave. at 27th Street.
Ta Ta darlings, I’m off to see the Red Mill at the Players…hope you can join me. Fan mail to: pollytalk@verizon.net. Visit Polly’s Blogs at: blogspot.net including amazingartdecodivas, thefashionistorian, and awakenyoursleeping beauty.