Listings

Female CanvasLina Bertucci’s introspective color photos of heavily tattooed women ages 19-59 explore the periphery between exhibitionism and marginalization through the process of tattooing. Thru Jan. 5. Perry Rubenstein, 534 W. 24th St. 212-627-8000, www.perryrubenstein.com. Above: “Kerstin, 24, Drama Student / Works in Vintage Shop” (2007)

Beyond Light BulbsA series based on the conversations and findings of the Eyebeam Sustainability Group. One part exhibition for showcasing ideas, one part forum for discussing the current state of green concepts, and one part headquarters for taking the next step after changing our light bulbs. Thru April 19. EYEBEAM ART + TECHNOLOGY CENTER, 540 W. 21st St. 212-937-6580, eyebeam.org.

Big! Himalayan ArtLarge-scale paintings, textiles, and ritual objects from the permanent collection, as well as Nancy Jo Johnson’s contemporary photo of a traditional tangka unrolling down the side of a mountain. Thru March 3.Bhutan, the Sacred Within: Photographs by Kenro IzuIzu’s meticulous, hand-printed platinum prints reveal a population that seeks to maintain traditions while on the brink of modernity. Thru Feb. 4.Bon: The Magic WordThe 1st exhibition to illuminate the art, culture, and spiritual tradition of Bon, the indigenous religion of Tibet. Featuring ritual, ethnographic, and artistic objects that identify Bon’s distinct aesthetics and archetypes, reveal a foundational belief in the spirits of place and natural formations, and display expressions of Bon culture long associated with Himalayan culture and Buddhism. Thru Jan. 14What Is It?New works on display include 21 new objects that introduce the Where? Why? How? and What? of Himalayan art with fresh images, ideas, and interpretations. Ongoing.Written on the Wind: The Flag ProjectMore than 120 modern versions of traditional Tibetan prayer flags were created by contemporary artists from around the world. Thru Feb. 11. $10 general/$7 seniors, students and artists. RUBIN MUSEUM OF ART, 150 W. 17th St. (7th Ave). 212-620-5000, rmanyc.org.

Ann Carlson and Mary Ellen StromExhibition of video works notable for their community engagement, experimental form, technological experimentation, and cultural activism. Thru Feb. 2. ALEXANDER GRAY, 526 W 26 St #1019. 212 399 2636, alexandergray.com.

CELEBRATIONA group show commemorating Viridian Artist’s 40th Anniversary. Thru Jan 12. Reception on Dec. 22, 3-6pm. VIRIDIAN ARTISTS INC. 530 W 25th St. 212-414-4040, viridianartists.com.

Conti Evangelisti PansiniA 3-person mixed-media exhibition in collaboration with PaciArte Contemporanea, Italy. Artists are Paolo Conti, Nicola Evangelisti, and Paola Pansini, all of whom create paintings, sculptures, photographs and/or assemblages that explore complex inner space microcosms.Carolyn Swiszcz, “Some Days Are Better Than Others”Painted each day over 9 months between Dec 2004 and Aug 2005, Swiszcz’s works conjure up figures, abstraction, colors and patterns reflecting the artist’s ups and downs of everyday life in St. Paul, Minnesota. Both exhibitions run thru Jan. 12. M.Y. ART PROSPECTS, 547 W 27th St., 2nd fl, 212-268-7132, myartprospects.com.

John Cook, “A Retrospective”Medallic art created between 1982 and 1990, small-scale sculpture and drawing. Thru Feb. 23. MEDIALIA GALLERY, 335 W. 38th St. 4th Fl. 212-971-0953, medialiagallery.com.

Divine PursuitPaintings by Achsah Barlow Brewster (1878-1945) and Earl Henry Brewster (1878-1957) along with their teachers Kenyon Cox, Frank Vincent Dumond, Walter A. Clark, Arthur Wesley Dow, William Merritt Chase, Kenneth Hayes Miller, Robert Henri, and friends Elihu Vedder and Samuel Coleman. Works depict the artists’ ongoing search for Christian, Buddhist, and Hindu iconography. Thru Feb. 2. ACA GALLERIES, 529 W. 20th St. 212-206-8080, acagalleries.com.

Hans Eijkelboom, “Paris—New York—Shanghai”The show by the Dutch conceptual artist combines traditional large format cityscapes with snapshot-style grids for a comparative study of these 3 major contemporary metropolises, each a center of modernism. Paris stands in for the 19th century; New York, the 20th; and Shanghai, the 21st. Thru Jan. 3. APERTURE, 547 W 27th St, 4th fl. 212-505-5555, aperture.org.

Epileptic seizure comparisonGroup exhibition named for the Paul Sharits film installation that will be shown along with contemporary works by Jutta Koether, Daniel Pflumm, and the late Jason Rhoades. Thru Jan. 5. GREENE NAFTALI, 508 W. 26th St. (near 10th Ave) 8th Fl. 212-463-7770.

Exploring the North Atlantic: Traders, Scholars and VikingsThis expansive and global exhibition includes a model Viking ship and a replica of the Irish town of Limerick. Thru 2007. WALTER RANDEL, 287 10th Ave 2nd Fl. (btw 26th & 27th Sts). 212-239-3330, wrgallery.com.

Johannes GirardoniWorks of rough found wood and elegant pigment-infused beeswax are suspended between the disciplines of sculpture and painting. Thru Jan. 12. STEPHEN HALLER, 542 W. 26th St. 212-741-7777.

Alex Grey, “Net of Being”New paintings on exhibit include the 15-foot “Net of Being,” portraying an endless perspective of column-like 4-faced Godheads. The work was featured on the cover of the band Tool’s “10,000 Days” album. Thru 2007. MICROCOSM, 542 W. 27th St. 4th Fl. 212-594-8841, microcosmgallery.com.

Pieter Hugo, “The Hyena and Other Men”Large-scale color photos taken while traveling with a troupe of Nigerian animal charmers and their collection of tenuously domesticated hyenas, monkeys, and snakes. A 2nd series, “The Wild Honey Collectors,” shot in Ghana, features men smoking out honeybees in the forest. Thru Jan. 12. YOSSI MILO, 525 W. 25th St. 212-414-0370, yossimilo.com.

Images and Artifacts from the RecoveryThis ongoing exhibit features photos by Gary Marlon Suson, the official Ground Zero photographer, and proceeds support 9-11 charities. Sat. at11:30am, 1pm, 2:30pm. Sun. at 12pm and 1:45pm, Mon. at 11:30am. $16, $12 seniors and children, $11 military. GROUND ZERO MUSEUM WORKSHOP, 420 W 14th St (btw 9th Ave & Washington St), 2nd Fl. 212-802-7197, groundzeromuseumworkshop.com.

Merlin James, “Paintings of Buildings”These depictions of houses, factories, sheds, churches, shelters, storefronts, castles and other vernacular buildings punctuated by windows, doorways, vents and chimneys can be fragmentary, submerged and distorted or delineated. Thru Jan. 12. SIKKEMA JENKINS & CO. 530 W. 22nd St. (near 10th Ave). 212-929-2262, sikkemajenkinsco.com.

Donald Judd, “Reliefs and woodcuts”Prints and wall sculptures by the pre-eminent Minimalist artist include 2 series of ten color woodcuts, one in cadmium red and one in ivory black, as well as wood wall reliefs (in clear) from 1989. Thru Jan. 19. MARY RYAN, 527 W. 26th St. (near 10th Ave). 212-397-0669, maryryangallery.com.

Kink: Geography of the Erotic Imaginationtakes patrons on an eye-opening tour through the geography of sexual fantasy with guide Katharine Gates, the author of “Deviant Desires: Incredibly Strange Sex.” Ongoing. $14.50 adults, $13.50 seniors/students. Visitors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. MUSUEM OF SEX, 253 5th Ave (at 27th St). 212-689-6337, mosex.com.

Ron Klein/Lance Letscher, “Found Objects + Collage”Klein presents a number of wall-sited installations of found objects—both seed pods from far-flung locations and man-made objects. Letscher exhibits recent works in a range of scales—collages of found, altered papers and other materials. Thru Jan. 12. HOWARD SCOTT, 529 W. 20th St. (near 10th Ave.) 7th Fl. 646-486-7004, howardscottgallery.com.

Golan Levin5 new interactive systems using technology to examine spectatorship and the human gaze. Thru Jan. 12. BITFORMS, 529 W. 20th St. (near 10th Ave). 212-366-6939.

Lenore RS Lim, “Evocations”Lim, a Filipino printmaker who resides in NY and Manila, presents a new body of work based on flower blossoms, using spitbite, intaglio, and Chine Colle. The prints, all produced in 2007, will be featured with at the Metropolitan Museum Manila in a solo exhibition of the artist’s works in 2008. Thru Jan. 5. PAUL SHARPE PROJECTS, 547 W 27th St, 5th Fl. (near 10th Ave). 646-221-8718.

Ron LindenUsing centric shapes and forms, along with natural earth tones, Linden creates abstract paintings accentuated by a playful application of light and dark shades. Curated by Peter Plagens (art critic).Phranc, “Cardboard Cobbler”Primarily known for her cutting-edge singing/songwriting career dating back to the 70s, Phranc created this project out of cardboard sculptures and installations. Curated by Ann Magnuson (actress/performance artist). Both exhibitions thru Jan. 26. CUE ART FOUNDATION, 511 W. 25th St. (btw 10th & 11th Aves). 212-206-3583, cueartfoundation.org.

MappingThe MAT Art Education Department’s Liberty Partnership Program (LPP) presents “Mapping,” an exhibition of work by students from the High School of Art and Design. The LPP is designed for students in grades 6 through 12, offering college-based summer and Saturday programs, as well as school-based after-school programs, elective classes and workshops. Thru Jan. 5. SVA WESTSIDE GALLERY, 133/141 W 21st St. Closed for holiday recess Dec 20 – Jan 1. www.sva.edu.

MaskHistoric and avant-garde examples of masks, featuring artwork by Cindy Sherman, Folkert de Jong, Matthew Barney, Reena Spaulings, Andres Serrano, Yinka Shonibare, Richard Tuttle, and others. Thru Jan. 26. JAMES COHAN, 533 W. 26th St. (near 10th Ave). 212-714-9500, jamescohan.com.

The Odyssey WithinFine art by artists living in Italy and Greece and of Italian and Greek origin. Thru Jan 3. AGORA GALLERY, 530 W 25th St. 212-226–4151, Agora-Gallery.com.

Ornaments: Ho Hum all ye faithfulA group show featuring 65+ artists, each of whom created a work of art inspired by a holiday ornament. This exhibition is a sequel to one held at the gallery in 1991. Artists include Jim Butler, Andrea Cohen, Fabian Marcaccio, Space 1026, and others. Thru Jan. 12. BRAVINLEE PROGRAMS, 526 W 26th St, #211. 212-462-4404, bravinlee.com.

Roxy Paine, “Three Works”Mad. Sq. Art, the Madison Square Park Conservancy’s free outdoor exhibition program, presents 3 stainless steel sculptures, “Conjoined,” “Defunct” and “Erratic,” all by the conceptual artist. Thru 2007. Free. MADISON SQ PARK, 5th Ave. & 23rd St. For more info, call 212-538-4689 or visit madisonsquarepark.org.

Erica Child Prud’homme, “Portraits”While the artist’s former work has presented paintings of the natural world, each of her new works captures a different face and the terrain of cheekbones, eyes, and brows. Thru Dec. 29. BLUE MOUNTAIN, 530 W. 25th St. 4th Fl. 646-486-4730, bluemountaingallery.org.

Charles Ray3 new sculptures include Father Figure, an 18-and-a-half ton sculpture made from solid machined steel; Chicken, a 2-and-a-half-inch long sculpture of a bird egg; and The New Beetle, depicting a 4-year-old boy sitting on the floor, intently playing with a toy car. Thru Jan. 19. MATTHEW MARKS, 522 W. 22nd St (near 10th Ave). 212-243-0200, matthewmarks.com.

Chris Sauter, “Homemaker”Reconstructions from Sauter’s Texas childhood including his boyhood bedroom, a giant model of a uterus made from found materials, and a dining room table. Thru Jan. 12. CUETO PROJECT, 551 W. 21st St (near 11th Ave). 212-229-2221, cuetoproject.com.

Small Miracles 2007Paintings, prints, photographs and sculpture by over 100 artists, who will are donating 10% of the profits from sales to The Yorkville Common Pantry so that more New Yorkers may enjoy the holiday without hunger. Thru Jan. 5. ATLANTIC GALLERY, 135 W 29th St, # 601. 212 219-3183, atlanticgallery.org.

Klaus Weber, “Shape of the Ape”A singular installation consisting of over 30 figurines from E-bay, perched atop fragile glass pedestals. The figurines are all versions of the same sculpture: an ape sitting on a stack of books pondering a human skull, and refer to the dialectic of what separates man and ape, or nature vs. culture. Thru Feb. 2. ANDREW KREPS, 525 W. 22nd St. (near 10th Ave). 212-741-8849, andrewkreps.com.

TOM WESSELMANN, “Drop – Out”An exhibition by the American pop artist (1931-2004) who specialized in found art collages. Thru Jan. 12. YVON LAMBERT, 550 West 21st St. 212-242-3611, yvon-lambert.com.

Stephen Wright, “Recent Paintings”Oil paintings of individuals that convey a sense of vulnerability, intensity, and psychological complexity. Thru Jan 5. GALLERY HENOCH, 555 W. 25th ST. (btw 10th & 11th Aves). 917-305-0003, galleryhenoch.com.

Carey Young, “If/Then”New work by London-based artist Young employs a variety of media such as video, installation, photography and text, and often takes the form of a process involving tools and language appropriated from the sphere of global business. Thru Jan. 12. PAULA COOPER GALLERY, 521 W. 21st St. 212-255-1105.

Music

Music in chelseaWeekly classical music concerts. Sun. at 4pm. $10 suggested donation, $5 students/seniors. St. Peter’s Church, 346 W. 20th St. (btw 8th & 9th Aves). 212-929-2390, email: mic@bitsworld.com.

Annie RossThe jazz legend continues her concert run of Tues. at 7 p.m. Metropolitan Room at Gotham, 34 W 22nd St. (btw 5th & 6th Aves.) 212-206-0440, metropolitanroom.com

Talks & Readings

Words + MusicPoet Mitch Highfill and musical duo Jane Ira Bloom and Mark Dresser perform. Dec. 14, 6:30-8pm. Free. Reservations req. CUE Art Foundation, 511 W. 25th St (btw 10th & 11th Aves). To RSVP call 212-206-3583 or e-mail ryan.white@cueartfoundation.org.

Theater

The Blue BirdA multimedia musical spectacular about a materialistic girl who goes on a fantastical journey with some magical household companions to find the fabled “blue bird of happiness”. Thru Jan. 13. $40. URBAN STAGES, 259 W. 30th St. (near 8th Ave.) 212-868-4444, urbanstages.org.

The Buddha: In his own wordsAn original one-man show depicting the life of the Buddha, assembled entirely from the oldest texts. Written and performed by Evan Brenner. Thru Jan. 2. $25. THE LUMBER THEATER, 276 W. 25th St. 646-688-3068, thebuddhaplay.com.

The Devil’s DiscipleGeorge Bernard Shaw’s comedy, set during the American War of Independence, is the story of Dick Dudgeon, a young revolutionary whose passionate belief in the right to human happiness could lead to dangerous, even life-threatening, consequences. Starring Charlotte Moore and Ciaran O’Reilly. Thru Jan. 27. $55-$60. IRISH REPERTORY THEATRE, 132 W. 22nd St. (near 6th Ave). 212-727-2737, irishrep.org.

Gold Rush BurlesqueTheatrical entertainment of broad and earthy humor accompanied by optional dinner and drinks. Tues. at 10pm. LOTUS, 409 W. 14th St (at 9th Ave). 212-243-4420, starshineburlesque.com.

The Made Up Musicalis a 45-min. improvised musical comedy show that changes each week according to audience suggestions. Fri. at 10pm. $7. MAGNET THEATER, 254 W 29th St (btw 7th & 8th Aves). 212-244-8824, themadeupmusical.com.

Uncivil Wars: Collaborating with Brecht and EislerDavid Gordon’s new dance-theater work draws upon Bertolt Brecht’s play The Roundheads and the Pointheads (as translated by Village Voice theater critic Michael Feingold) and Hanns Eisler’s music. Performers include John Kelly, Estelle Parsons and Valda Setterfield. Thru Dec. 22 at 8pm. $15. THE KITCHEN, 512 W. 19th St. (btw 10th & 11th Aves). 212-255-5793, thekitchen.org.

Tours

Contemporary Art Gallery ToursNY Gallery Tours presents walking tours through the world’s center for contemporary art. Visit 8 modern art galleries on a tour that finds and explains this month’s most fascinating exhibits in painting, sculpture, electronic media & photography. Sat. at 1 p.m., rain or shine. Tickets $20. Meet at 526 W. 26th St. (btw. 10th & 11th Aves) 212-946-1548, nygallerytours.com.

The Historic Flatiron District90-minute walking tours through this vibrant neighborhood, featuring some of the City’s most notable buildings, including the New York Life Insurance building, the MetLife tower, the Appellate Courthouse and the Flatiron building. Sponsored by Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership Business Improvement District. Every Sun. 11 am – 12:30 pm. Free. Meet in front of the William Seward statue on the southwest corner of Madison Square Park, at 23rd St. and Broadway.