PICKS: Rachel Rossin, Joel Kim Booster, That Was Fantastic, HOUSING, and More!
It seems like the autumn weather is finally upon us. That means that you can now bounce around to shows and events without arriving soaked in sweat. As such, you officially have no excuse to miss anything for several weeks until it becomes disgustingly cold. But come to think of it, if recent years are any indication, there is no such thing as winter any more. Thanks to manmade global warming, you'll never again have an excuse to miss a show between October and May. This is your new reality and it's imperative that you adapt to it immediately. Lucky for you, several things going on right now are definitely good, which will make the transition to permanently-social feel less terrifying. Check out some picks below.
Installation shot from Rachel Rossin's "Peak Performance" at Signal Gallery, Brooklyn.
They've just extended artist Rachel Rossin's knockout exhibition of new sculptures and paintings at SIGNAL in Brooklyn. Rossin is known as one of the pioneers of incorporating virtual reality technology into contemporary art, but this exhibition eschews VR in favor of more traditional studio-based objects. There are three bodies of work present: oil paintings depicting virtual environments, melted plexiglass sculpture, and aquarium-like augmented reality computers suspended in oil. Stop by on Saturdays or Sundays from 1-6pm through November 12th.
Joel Kim Booster's Special on Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Friday, October 20th at Midnight (or is that Saturday the 21st? Hmm...)
Comedian Joel Kim Booster is dangerously funny. He's been blowing up lately, and it's no surprise that Comedy Central has given him a half hour special to introduce him to a broader audience. I first saw Joel perform as a sharp-tongued "political pundit" during Talk Hole Presents: The New American Party Presidential Debate at BHQFU two years ago. Since then, I've been following along and am continuously in awe of his mastery of the stage. Tune in to Comedy Central at midnight on Friday to catch the special, and make sure to follow him on Twitter: @ihatejoelkim. Don't have cable? I don't know what to tell you. We use Claire's friend's girlfriend's mom's Xfinity log-in. LOL.
Ginssiyo Apara, Bodega boys: Chelada (2017) acrylic on plastic. Currently on view at the group exhibition "Untitled Passage" at HOUSING in Brooklyn.
Last month in the space formerly occupied by American Medium, a new, Black-owned gallery opened its doors to the public. HOUSING, co-founded by Eileen Isagon Skyers and KJ Freeman, is a "place for art located in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY. It is guided by a desire to stimulate public discourse through the work of artists & creative practitioners whose works show critical commentary [and] intent. Part of [their] motivation is to support artistic practices [and] aesthetic experiences that contour the limits of visibility, [and] advance the conditional inclusion of artists of color."
Following a pop-up two-person exhibition, "D.O.E.", over the summer that featured the work of Kevin Evans and Cheyenne Julien, HOUSING officially launched in late September with the group exhibition "Untitled Passage." It's got work by killer roster of young artists including Pastiche Lumumba (guest on episode 18 of the Humor and the Abject podcast), Ginnisyo Apara, Kali Flowers, Brandon Drew Holmes, and Khari Johnson-Ricks.
This is the last weekend to catch "Untitled Passage," so head over to HOUSING and get your fill. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday, 11am to 6pm.
If you can't make it by before Sunday, HOUSING has another group exhibition opening up on Saturday, October 28th called "Black/Dog." It's scheduled to include Parker Bright, Hamishi Farah, Sean-Kierre Lyons, Bri Williams, and Isis Swaby. Also, as a new space, HOUSING is seeking material support, and I encourage you to learn more about how you can provide that.
Artist Nickolaus Typaldos is a master of creating weird sculptural works that nod to props and embody sadness, comedy, and sincerity. In this new exhibition, "War, Marriage, Money, Children," he's demonstrated that firmly. I've known him for years, and it's exciting that he's presenting this new solo show at Essex Flowers. Years ago, I was part of the collectively-run gallery and I'm always eager to see how its trajectory changes as new members take the reigns. With Typaldos' work, you can count on healthy doses of tragicomedy that manages to avoid irony poisoning. Essex Flowers is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 12-6pm.
That Was Fantastic at New Women Space
188 Woodpoint Road, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Thursday, October 26th at 8pm
Amy Zimmer's ongoing series, That Was Fantastic, returns to New Women Space in East Williamsburg on Thursday, October 26th. It's an epic variety show hosted by one of Brooklyn's finest comedians and community organizers. The lineup this month looks incredible, and it's great to see poet and artist Rindon Johnson included alongside some excellent comedians and the mind-boggling movement group Cocoon Central Dance Team. Tickets are just $5, and New Women Space has a little bar with cheap beer and wine available at events. Make it a point to keep an eye on future iterations of this series--it's one of the best in Brooklyn. To stay apprised of future events, follow Amy Zimmer on Twitter: @oneamyzimmer.
Humor and the Abject Live at Throne Watches
200 Morgan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237
Sunday, October 22nd, 7:30pm
And now, a little shameless self-promotion. I'm doing the first-ever live Humor and the Abject podcast event on Sunday, October 22nd in Bushwick. My guests will be Brett Payne and Bryan Quinby, co-hosts of the popular anarcho-comedy show Street Fight Radio out of Columbus, OH. The event is free and seating is on a first-come first-serve basis. So, feel free to arrive at 7:30pm, enjoy a cheap beer, and grab yourself a seat. We'll be opening up the night with some comedy from my pals Ana Fabrega (The Chris Gethard Show; Portlandia) and Julio Torres (Saturday Night Live).