STREET ARTIST KEITH HARING, ART and DESIGN NYC(c) By Polly Guerin

One of the best known American artists of the twentieth century gets his due recognition in a major museum exhibition and at Sotheby’s; the Art and Design Fair takes to the tents on Lincoln Center and the Classic metamorphism converges on the Big Apple this week. Here’s the scoop!!!
KEITH HARING: 1978-1982 the first large-scale exhibition to trace the development of Haring’s extraordinary visual vocabulary in a life so short-lived but so productive, includes 155 works on paper, numerous experimental videos, and over 150 archival objects, among them rarely seen sketchbooks, journals, exhibition flyers, posters, subway drawings and documentary photographs. It chronicles the period in Keith Haring’s career from the time he left his home in Pennsylvania to attend New York’s School of Visual Arts, through the years when he started his studio practice and began making public and political art on the city streets. Picture right: Untitled, 1978. Various pencils and inks on graph paper and unlined paper(c) Collection Keith Haring Foundation. At the Brooklyn Museum, Through July 8, 2012. www.brooklynmusum.org.
SOTHEBY'S KEITH HARING: SHINE ON selling exhibition, installed in its S/2 galleries until April 23 includes a wide range of mediums in which the artist worked, including canvases, tarps, sculpture, found objects and works on paper and will be on view and available for private sale, with music and guests meant to evoke Haring's time at Club 57 and the Pop Shops that he opened in New York and Tokyo. The show falls at a time of great interest in the artist, with the Brooklyn Museum's exhibition currently on view. Shine On is an incredibly rare show of some of the artist's works, like a series of 8 masks which have never been seen in a public exhibition. For viewing dates and information contact www.sotheby.com. Tel: 212.606.7176.
NYC20 ART and DESIGN FAIR Istdibs and Dolphin Promotions presents the inaugural New York 20th Century Art and Design Fair opens at the Tent at Lincoln Center in Damrosch Park, celebrating the iconic designs of the 20th century. NYC20 features stunning presentations by 40 carefully selected international exhibitors each showcasing curated decorative and fine arts from all movements of the 20th century including furniture, lighting, paintings, jewelry, silver, glass, ceramics vintage clothing and accessories. The early bird preview party benefiting the Bard Graduate Center will be held on Thursday evening April 12. The show opens to the public Friday April 13-Sunday April 15. For more info contact NYC20.net or Dolphin at 708.366.2710.
PUT ON YOUR KILTIE DEARIE In celebration of New York City's celebration of Scotland-Tartan Week the Museum of American Finance and the American Scottish Foundation jointly hold a panel discussion this evening on the life and legacy of Andrew Carnegie. Reception 5:30 pm, panel discussion, 6pm and reception 7 pm. The exhibition "Andrew Carnegie Forging Philanthropy," on display spotlights Carnegie's life and work and his love of Scotland, his business life and his philanthropic activities. A little know fact is that Peter Cooper's son-in-law, Abram Stevens Hewitt the one-time mayor of NYC in 1887-1888, himself a philanthropist, business man and iron master and administrator of Cooper Union brought young Carnegie over from Scotland. . The exhibit will be up through October 2012. General Adm. $45 (includes Museum membership) Reservations reequired 212.908.4110. At MOAF 48 Wall St. (corner of William and Wall) Or email info@moaf.org.
AL HIRSCHFELD, CHARACTERIST The life and work of America's most beloved "characterist," stands as one of the most innovative efforts in establishing the visual language of modern art through caricature in the 20th Century. Hirschfeld's signature work, defined by a linear calligraphic style appeared in virtually every major publication of the last nine decades as well as numerous book and record covers and 15 postage stamps. Among his many awards, he was given the ultimate Broadway accolade on what would have been his 100th birthday in June 2003. The Martin Beck Theater was renamed the Al Hirschfeld Theater. To attend the lecture and view the exhibition on Wednesday April 11th from 6:30 pm to 9 pm, purchase tickets $25 non -members, $15 members, $10 students at www.societyillustrators.org. The exhibit is ongoing.
Ta Ta darlings!!! Keith Haring's legend as a street artist captures the imagination of art aficionados today...I'll be there. Fan mail welcome: pollytalk@verizon.net or go to my website www.pollytalk.com and in the left hand column click on the Blog of interest, such as a direct link to amazingartdecodivas.