SHAPING ART and CULTURE IN THE BIG APPLE(c) By Polly Guerin

Asia Week in New York may have come and gone but the galleries still linger on with art and culture that shapes the vision of New York as the Art and Antiques capital of the world. Here’s the Scoop!!!
BYZANTIUM and ISLAM: Age of Transition begins with the arts of the region under Byzantium rule, then demonstrates their influence on the traditions that evolved under the new political and religious dominance of Islam, including new Muslim traditions that emerged in the process. Image: St. Mark Preaching from Ivories of the So-called Grado Chair. (Eastern Mediterranean or Egypt, 7-8th century) Courtesy of Civiche Raccolte d'Art Applicata, Castello Sforzesco, Milan. The exhibit through July 8, 2012 represents the first major museum exhibition to focus on this pivotal era in the history of the eastern Mediterranean. Two Centuries that shaped the Medieval world showcases some 300 exceptional works of art, revealing the artistic and cultural adaptations and innovative works drawn primarily from the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Benaki Museum, Athens, and from the Dept. of Antiquities of Jordan. 1000 Fifth Ave. www.metmuseum.org.
DECO JAPAN: 1920-1945 Art Deco aficionados, just day trip over to the Japan Society, showcasing the spectacular craftsmanship and sophisticated design associated with Japan and the Art Deco style. This exhibition is the first in the United States to explore the little known brand of pre-WWII modernism born of competitive ingenuity that shaped Art Deco Japan with metalwork, ceramics, lacquer, glass, furniture and jewelry dramatically designed to meet discerning modern tastes. Sheet music, posters, postcards, prints and photography introduce the Moga (the Modern Girl)who emerged in the Art Deco style of the 1920s and 30s. On going through June 12, 2012. Docent-led walk-in tours are conducted Tue. – Sun. at 12:30 pm. At Japan Society, 333 W. 47th St. www.japansociety.org.
NOEL COWARD-NEW YORK FESTIVAL 2012 Opens at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts exhibition, Star Quality: The World of Noel Coward, which explores the wonderful world NC with lectures and events at the Bruno Walter Auditorium, 111 Amsterdam Avenue (at 65th Street). All events are FREE. Tickets on first come first serve basis. Monday April 9th the Mabel Mercer Foundation presents an evening of Coward in Cabaret at 7 pm; Monday June 4thfeatures Made About the Boy a lecture by Alan Pally 6pm; Talking of Noel CowArd, an informal panel of friends, performers and others discuss Coward's work takes place June 11th at 6pm. Exhibit through August 18. for further info: www.noelcowardinnewyork.com/ny_festival. Additionally, the Film Society of Lincoln Center presents "Coward on Film" May 11-13; Feinstein's at the Regency hosts Christine Ebersole and Edward Hibbert in "Love, Noel," two weeks June 3-18.
SANFORD BIGGERS AND JENNIFER ZACKIN...A Small World video installation opens March 30th at The Jewish Museum. Sanford Biggers and Jennifer Zackin juxtapose home movies of their families--one African American and one Jewish American--to explore the commonalities of middle-class across racial lines. The similarities of both family narratives are striking, and the tone is playful. The duo celebrates birthdays, travel to Disneyland, and entertain at indoor and outdoor gatherings. Sanford Biggers, a Los Angeles native, lives in New York and creates artworks that integrate film video, installation, sculpture music and performance. Jennifer Zackin is a new York-based mixed-media artist. Her sculptures, videos, and site-specific installations have been widely exhibited internationally. Through August 26, 2012. In the Goodkind Media Center, located on the 3rd floor of The Jewish Musuem, 1109 Fifth Ave. (92nd St) www.thejewishmuseum.org,
Ta Ta Darlings!!! There is so much Art and Culture shaping the collective minds of New Yorker’s that I am quite out-of-breath as I take in all these exhibits. Fan mail welcome: pollytalk@verizon.net. Visit Polly’s Blogs at www.pollytalk.com and click on the links in the left-hand column. Get inspired and read http://www.poetryfromtheheartbypollyguerin.blogspot .