"Crossing Lines: The Many Faces of Fiber" - Celebrating the 35th Anniversary of the Textile Study Group of New York

The Textile Study Group of New York presents an exhibit called “Crossing Lines – The Many Faces of Fiber” at the World Financial Center Courtyard Gallery in Lower Manhattan. Pictured above are some of the beautiful fiber artworks on display at the gallery. The free exhibit runs through February 19. 

Chinese Lunar New Year Celebration at the World Financial Center

Earlier today, the New York Chinese Cultural Center sponsored the Chinese Lunar New Year Celebration at the World Financial Center. Several gravity-defying acrobatics, folk dances, lion dance, and festive musical ensembles were featured in the celebration. Prior to the program, young audiences learned traditional techniques of paper cutting, dough figurines, face painting and calligraphy.

Collision of Culture: Mounir Fatmi's "Maximum Sensation"

Maximum Sensation is an art installation at the Brooklyn Museum of Art that uses 50 skateboards on the floor, each covered with a patchwork of Islamic prayer rugs. It refers to cultural hybridity and collision of the Muslim act of prayer and skateboard culture. Created by Moroccan born artist, Mounir Fatmi, the installation reflects Fatmi's experience of being raised in a Moroccan Muslim family and then living in the western context of contemporary France.

At the Stagedoor: Three-time Emmy Winner, BEAU BRIDGES, Star of "How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying"

Beau Bridges has returned to Broadway as J.B. Biggley in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying." He first appeared on Broadway in "Where's Daddy?" in 1966. He is the son of Lloyd Bridges and brother of Jeff Bridges, his co-star in the 1989 film, "The Fabulous Baker Boys." He has a featured role in the film, "The Descendants," this year's Golden Globe Award winner for Best Motion Picture - Drama. These photos were taken at the stagedoor of the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, 302 West 45th Street where he greeted fans and signed autographs last January 8 after a performance. 

Dama a Caballo V by Manolo Valdés

Dama a Caballo V is a unique bronze sculpture created by Spanish artist, Manolo Valdés in 2008. It has been installed in front of 900 Park Avenue and will be on view through 2014. Valdés’ iconic sculpture Dama a caballo V was inspired by the mid-seventeenth century equestrian portraits by Diego Velázquez, particularly that of Isabel de Borbón, the Queen of Spain from 1621-1644. The imagery of the equestrian portrait is a theme Valdés has recently begun addressing in both his three dimensional works and paintings. In this sculpture Valdés creates a roughly textured, unfinished appearance with the bronze, evoking the unrefined materials of “primitive” art, yet still manages to impart the regality of the subject. (Sculpture description from http://www.marlboroughgallery.com/news/monumental-valds-sculpture-to-be-installed-at-900-park-avenue)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art Opens its New American Wing Galleries

"Washington Crossing the Delaware" by Emanuel Leutze

"Abraham Lincoln: The Man (Standing Lincoln)" by Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848-1907)

"Banks of the Loing" by William Picknell

"Young Mother Sewing" by Mary Cassatt

"Fleur de Lis" by Robert Reid

"Central Park, Winter" by William Glackens

The Metropolitan Museum of Art will publicly open its newly renovated New American Wing Galleries for Paintings, Sculpture and Decorative Arts tomorrow, January 16. Member previews take place from January 13-15. The galleries have been expanded and reconceived, showcasing the history of American art from the 18th through the early 20th century. Prominently featured in the gallery is Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze’s restored “Washington Crossing the Delaware.” Painted in Germany in 1851, “Crossing” is in a new gilded frame created to match the original (which was lost in the 19th century,) according to curator Elizabeth Mankin Kornhauser.

The 26 galleries cover 30,000 square feet (3,300 square feet more then before the renovation,) and are now displayed by chronological topics including Faces of the Young Republic, the Hudson River School, Civil War Era, The West and American Impressionism.

Works by Gilbert Stuart, Frederic Edwin Church, Thomas Cole, John Singleton Copley, Winslow Homer, Thomas Eakins, William Glackens, Mary Cassatt and John Singer Sargent are included.

Lecture by LUCIEN CLERGUE, French Photographer and Friend of Picasso at the Throckmorton Fine Art

Lucien Clergue answering questions after his lecture

Clergue signing his book for Thomas F. Knapp, fine art consultant and appraiser

"Andree in New York" 1987 by Lucien Clergue,  Cibachrome. Image is a photograph of the postcard used for the Opening Reception Invitation

"Quatre Nus dares La Cite, New School, NYC" 1983 by Lucien Clergue. Gelatin silver print. Image is a photograph of the postcard used for the Lecture invitation

French photographer and artist LUCIEN CLERGUE gave a lecture today at the Throckmorton Fine Art Gallery at 145 East 57th Street in midtown Manhattan. The 78-year old long-time friend of Pablo Picasso shared his experiences in America as a photographer. His work is now on exhibit at the Throckmorton Fine Art. The exhibition called "Clergue in America" runs from January 12 - March 3, 2012. The exhibit showcases Clergue's impressive sights of the United States and the raw beauty of the human form. He also signed copies of his new book called "Clergue in America." 

TODAY SHOW, America's Favorite Morning TV Program Turns 60

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Today is the 60th anniversary of the TODAY SHOW on NBC. It was on January 13, 1952 that Dave Garroway kicked off the very first "Today" episode, and the show has never left. It is now the fifth-longest-running American television show of all time. In today's program, Today's past anchors gathered including Hugh Downs, Barbara Walters, Jim Hartz, Tom Brokaw, Jane Pauley, Bryant Gumbel, Willard Scott, Deborah Norville, Katie Couric, and Meredith Vieira all gathered in Studio 1A to share their stories.  "I look at 60 years as a major accomplishment, something we'll be able to tell our children about," current host Matt Lauer said in a video recap of Today's legacy. And to drive home just how much has been accomplished -- and how things have changed -- over that six-decade span, the show's anchors, both past and present, gathered to reminisce about their Today experiences." Several former Today Girls also joined the broadcast, including Florence Henderson, Estelle Parsons, Lee Meriwether, Robbin Bain Gaudieri and Beryl Pfizer. Pictured above are scenes from this morning's show including shot-through-the-glass photos of past Today show anchors.