Monday, Oct. 14
In Central Park on Sunday, anonymous UK street artist Banksy set up a stall to sell 100% authentic original signed canvases. With the stall open for almost seven hours, takings for the day totaled $420 with a Chicago man, oblivious to the art's potential value, buying four canvasses for $240. A 2007 Banksy canvas "Keep It Spotless" sold for $1,870,000 in 2008. See the video of his pop up shop here.
Banksy is in New York City this month for his "Better Out Than In" residency on the streets of New York. Aside from yesterday's impromptu art fair, work completed so far includes a mixture of spray-painted murals, the YouTube animation "Rebel rocket attack" and touring installations "Sirens of the Lambs" and a delivery truck converted into a mobile garden.
Feel like creating your own Banksy street art tour? You can find the locations for the works completed thus far here. Also, as Banksy points out on his website, "To enhance your enjoyment of the exhibits an audio guide is provided via cell phone. Simply call the number next to the painting and select the appropriate option on the keypad."
Secure a spot along Manhattan's Fifth Avenue for Columbus Day Parade, a family-friendly celebration which honors Italian Americans' contributions to New York City. The parade travels from 47th Street to 72nd Street and will have marching bands along its length, but stage acts take place on a "red carpet" area between 68th and 69th Street. From 11.30am.
Tuesday, Oct. 15
It's a busy week with the annual CMJ 2013 Music Marathon currently underway across downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn. By night, CMJ presents hundreds of music showcases hosted by record labels, radio stations, magazines, music blogs and other tastemakers, while daytime programming includes music industry discussion panels, listening parties and legal seminars. Daytime programming is focused around the NYU campus at Washington Square. CMJ is predominantly focused on the emerging DIY/indie scene and younger artists. CMJ runs from Tuesday to Saturday this week.
The stage adaptation of indie film hit Little Miss Sunshine begins previews today at Second Stage Theatre, 305 W. 43rd St., at Eighth Avenue.
Wednesday, Oct. 16
Esteemed but controversial Polish-French modern artist Balthus is best known for his series of pensive adolescents who dream or read in rooms that are closed to the outside world. Focusing on his finest works, this current exhibition at Metropolitan Museum of Art, "Balthus: Cats and Girls – Paintings and Provocations," is limited to 35 paintings dating from the mid-1930s to the 1950s. And for another perspective on his art and process “Balthus: The Last Studies,” now showing at Gagosian's 976 Madison Avenue Gallery, presents for the very first time selections from an extensive but little-known body of preparatory photographic work by the painter, giving fresh insight into the working processes that he adopted late in life.
Launching this week at MoMA PS1 is "Mike Kelley," the largest exhibition of the late artist’s work to-date that fills the entire MoMA PS1, marking it as the biggest exhibition MoMA PS1 has ever organized since opening in 1976. 22-25 Jackson Ave. at the intersection of 46th Avenue in Long Island City.
Thursday, Oct. 17
The Butterfly Conservatory at the American Museum of Natural History has just opened. Mingle with more than 500 free-flying tropical butterflies in an enclosed habitat that approximates their natural environment.
Friday, Oct. 18
One of Manhattan's lesser-known cultural institutions is the Museum of American Finance, the nation’s only independent museum dedicated to preserving, exhibiting and teaching about American finance and financial history. Housed in an historic bank building on Wall Street, the Museum’s grand mezzanine banking hall provides an ideal setting for permanent exhibits on the financial markets, money, banking, entrepreneurship and Alexander Hamilton. Now showing is the "Wall Street Coin, Currency and Collectibles Show." At the show, 30 dealers will be trading, selling and telling stories about their coins, stock certificates, paper money, medals and autographs. Visit the show and view the museum’s exhibitions at the same time. Admission is free. 48 Wall Street.
Saturday, Oct. 19
In recognition of Adopt-a-Dog Month, Animal Care & Control of NYC is offering adoption specials throughout October. Today the adoption fee for dogs from their Brooklyn Care Center will be $25. Kittens and puppies can be adopted for $50. Adoption gift bags containing a dog or cat toy, pen, food, leash and collar will be given to all adopters while supplies last. 2336 Linden Blvd., Brooklyn.
Sunday, Oct. 20
As part of the BAMcinématek film retrospective series, the Karen Black Tribute at the BAM Rose Cinemas celebrates the woman who, more than any actress, personified the New Hollywood of the late '60s and early '70s. Today's screenings at 2 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. feature Robert Altman’s decade-defining masterwork "Nashville," a satiric tapestry of American life with a sprawling ensemble cast, including Karen Black as a glamorous but mediocre country singer.
