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/