New York
August 12, 2020
Letter from the editor:
With the heat wave waning slightly and museums still closed, now might be a good time to reorient your evening walk to take in some public art (while wearing a mask of course). Our Editor-in-Chief Hrag Vartanian rounds up seven queer public artworks on view across the city, and there’s also the ongoing River to River festival to check out in Lower Manhattan. All make for great local field trips, especially if you’re looking to keep little ones engaged and away from screens.
In museum news, our staff writer Hakim Bishara writes of a complaint filed by the New Museum Union, which accuses the museum of engaging in unfair labor practices and violating the National Labor Relations Act. The complaint comes in the wake of the New Museum’s decision to recall some furloughed workers, though it has not recalled any of the employees who were part of the union’s bargaining committee. As the group told Hyperallergic, “The layoffs disproportionately targeted unionized and other low-paid workers at the Museum.” The Met has similarly announced a second wave of layoffs, reducing its staff by 20% — a drastic move predicted (and warned against) by the MMA Collective Action Working Group, a group of current Met employees.
On the visual arts side, fellow editor Jasmine Weber dives into the canonical photographs of lesbian artist Joan E. Biren and staff writer Valentina Di Liscia walks us through David Wojnarowicz’s “Stoned Sketchbook” — each of which are headed to the auction block later this week for an LGBTQ+ benefit.
Stay safe,
Metropolitan Museum Issues Second Round of Layoffs and Furloughs, Reducing Staff by 20%
Days ahead of today’s announcement, a group of Met employees sent a letter to museum administrators demanding greater transparency and protection for workers.
Jasmine Weber, Hakim Bishara
Event Pick
Public Art Projects That Bring Poetry and Participatory Installations to Lower Manhattan
Founded as a way of highlighting the resiliency of local artists, LMCC’s annual River to River Festival returns with new and recent works by Asiya Wadud, Mona Chalabi, Jean Shin, and Muna Malik.
Dessane Lopez Cassell
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News
New Museum Recalls Some Furloughed Workers, Union Calls for Greater Reform
“As they parade around their executive pay cuts, [director] Lisa Phillips is still making at least $500,000 while 25 people now have no income and no health insurance during a pandemic,” the union said.
New Museum Faces Charges of Unfair Labor Practices in a Union Complaint
The complaint, filed by Local 2110 UAW, accuses the museum of laying off bargaining unit members in a discriminatory and retaliatory act and refusing to provide necessary information.
For Decades, JEB Has Captured Liberatory Photographs of Lesbian Life
A portrait of Audre Lorde and an intimate embrace between a couple in 1979 are two of four photographs by Joan E. Biren.
David Wojnarowicz’s Little-known “Stoned” Drawings
Wojnarowicz created his “Stoned Sketchbook” as a teenager, but its loopy, delightful drawings foreshadow the mature artist’s irresistible irreverence.
Valentina Di Liscia
Venture Out to See Seven Queer Public Artworks Across NYC
Looking for safe ways to see art? We compiled a list of beloved public artworks that celebrate LGBTQ makers and lives.
Hrag Vartanian
A View From the Easel During Times of Quarantine
This week, artists reflect on quarantining from their studios in Tennessee, Massachusetts, Ohio, New York, and DC.
Elisa Wouk Almino
From the Store
"The Scream" Pop-Up Card
Do you hear that sound? Could it be… an infinite scream passing through nature? Norwegian Expressionist Edvard Munch thought so too when he painted his iconic modern masterpiece “The Scream,” now available as a spooky pop-up card you can put on display, or send to your friends and family to show them how you really feel.
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