The season of non-stop art...Is it really July?

Westbeth is the gateway to the intimate/cool/wicked-sexy/thought provoking world of artist Chris Twomey, during the mid-career survey of her work and the inaugural installment, curated by Jayne Holsinger, of the exhibition series Core Constellation.

Chris Twomey, from the series "Triumph of the XX" - 2007-2009

Springing from a strong background in both fine art and film and taking inspiration from themes of origin and identity, Twomey takes the viewer from the beginnings of life to a future where beast and human merge while commenting on the intersection of science with revelations about human nature. The work is organized in series - for each, to compose her "conceptual riff on a theme," Chris commands her media - painting, drawing, film, photography, sculpture/assemblage, music and text - like a virtuoso on the keys on a piano.

Accompanying the solo show is a group exhibition by other members of the artists' consortium Core Group - Barbara Ellmann, Mariah Fee, Jayne Holsinger, Sara Klar, Bonnie Steinsnyder, Anita Thacher, Judith Uehling, and Elenore Weber, as well as a staged reading of Twomey’s feature film script LAST MONARCH at 7:30 on July 22nd in the Westbeth Community Room. The opening recepetion is Thursday, July 15th from 6-9 PM, the show runs through August 1st at Westbeth Gallery, 55 Bethune Street (corner of Washington Street), contact gallerywestbeth@yahoo.com or 212-505-0486. Chris Twomey's website is http://www.neoimages.net/artistportfolio.aspx?pid=3236

For another transformative journey in space-time, head up the High Line for an all-evening celebration of the opening of "Graffiti NYC - Artists of the 3rd Rail" at Chelsea's Benrimon Contemporary. Yes, shows open on Thursday in Chelsea all the time, but this one is different...

Postcard invitation/edition by JAMESTOP, Through the Fire 2010, #23/300

The conventionally mailed invitation alone - which is a signed and numbered limited edition print (see above) - sends the message that this show will challenge the way we think about art in New York today by evoking a vibrant era of it's history and culture.

Paying homage to the great outlaw artists, Thursday's opening will feature a performance by artists painting 2 genuine subway doors, which will then be auctioned off to benefit the Bowery Mission. Music for the July 15th reception, from 6 til MIDNIGHT, will be performed by DJ Toney Tone of the Cold Crush Brothers.

Through August 10th at 514 West 24th St., 2nd floor, information and more events at http://www.bcontemporary.com/

Come Out, Come Out...and party with a purpose on Monday and Wednesday!

"In 1971, novelist and Academy Award winning screenwriter Budd Schulberg, having already started a writers’ workshop in the Watts section of Los Angeles, asked Fred Hudson, playwright and former staff writer for Paramount Pictures, to co-found a similar program in New York. Knowing full well the dearth of professional opportunities for minority writers in America, Mr. Hudson agreed, and the Frederick Douglass Creative Arts Center was born...Over the years, the Center has become integral to the Harlem and greater New York City arts communities and has helped to launch the careers of some of country’s most acclaimed African American writers, actors, and directors."

On Monday July 12 the you can come out celebrate and support the Center at a benefit party hosted by B. Smith's, a simply gorgeous destination for great food and drink on Restaurant Row in the heart of the Theatre District. Readings, raffle, auction and more, from 5-9 PM at 320 West 46th Street.

For more on the Center's workshops for writers and theatre artists, faculty, and stellar alumni visit http://www.fdcac.org

On Wednesday July 14th, Honey Space at 148 11th Avenue in Chelsea will host "A PICTURE OF HAITI: 6 MONTHS LATER" to raise awareness of ongoing conditions there after the catastrophic earthquake as well as funds for projects working on solutions.

Presentations and discussion will feature - charity: water; the Clinton Foundation; Partners In Health; and Swoon, Ben Wolf & Konbit Shelter - from 7-8 PM, followed by a party til 10.

Funds raised by the event will support a long-term clean water project in the Central Plateau sponsored by charity: water and Partners in Health, and Swoon and Ben Wolf's Konbit Shelter project, which seeks to build durable community shelter in the community of Barrier Jeudi before the rainy season fully sets in.

Get tickets and more info at http://www.honey-space.com/current.shtml

Art for Lunch

Surely you've heard the buzz about "Shred," the group exhibition of collage-based works that recently opened at Perry Rubenstein Gallery - it's possibly the hottest show of what's shaping up to be a stellar summer in Chelsea.

Erik Foss, Look Out - image courtesy Perry Rubenstein Gallery

Thursday, you won't want to miss Carlo McCormick - author, curator, critic and champion of the downtown art scene - who curated the exhibition, as he talks about New York art today. Your hostess Molly Barnes awaits you at the Roger Smith Hotel on July 8th & 9th for yet another pair of her always exciting and enlightening Brown Bag Lunches with the most interesting people in the art world.

"Louise Bourgeois was a delight to work with. She was exacting, bossy, opinionated, provoking and at the same time, extremely gentle and caring. She loved art and the art world. Her favorite people were artists. She made her first video with me with trepidation but in the end came to love it. I am glad I made it. She was an artists artist." - Paul Tschinkel

On Friday. Molly's guest will be documentary filmmaker Paul Tschinkel, the creator, producer and director of ART/new york. His presentation, "Powerful Woman," covers his work on films about Louise Bourgeois, Alice Neel, and Kiki Smith.

Each talk begins at 12 Noon sharp - so please arrive a bit early for your complimentary lunch bag and beverages, and to meet an mingle!

The Roger Smith, New York's most dynamic and welcoming art hotel, is located at 501 Lexington Avenue (47th - 48th). See you there...