At-Home Entertainment Guide
As we socially distance, we recognize that in moments of such isolation and crisis, art, design, and performance can offer powerful means of connection—and a welcome escape from the present. With exhibitions and concerts called off, we’ve gathered low-risk ways to experience culture—from deep-cut shows to online art fairs, and more.
Marie’s Crisis Café Live Stream
The coronavirus crisis has forced the beloved West Village piano bar to close its doors for now. But in a typical display of communal spirit, the Marie's Crisis staff is soldiering on.
Every night on the Facebook page Maries Group, the talented pianists who would normally be playing at the bar will be live-streaming their sets to audiences at home. All you need to do to be part of the nightly festivities is apply to join the group; it is normally closed, but is currently accepting all.
Club Quarantine with DJ D-Nice
Like many of his peers, veteran DJ, rapper, photographer, and producer D-Nice had been living life on the road until the current pandemic forced everyone to stay home.
So when his packed touring schedule slowed down, Jones decided to find a unique way to revisit his past as well as his favorite tunes with friends and fans, while maintaining the social distancing orders. Watch him live spin a blend of golden-age hip-hop, Nineties R&B, and more.
Billboard Livestreams & Virtual Concerts
As the nation adjusts to observe social distancing, a number of artists and musical institutions are taking the show online to share some musical joy during these trying times.
With venues and bars on lock down across the country, there are plenty of things you can watch from the safety of your home, thanks to everyone from Miley Cyrus to Neil Young.
Royal Danish Ballet | “Napoli”
“There may be no greater balm for the spirit than the ballets of the nineteenth-century Danish choreographer August Bournonville.
As Bournonville wrote of his philosophy in his “Choreographic Credo,” “Dance is essentially an expression of joy.” His 1842 ballet, “Napoli,” inspired by his travels to the southern Italian city the year before, is a perfect example: a loving portrait of a place teeming with life, in which fishermen ply their wares on the town square, a street singer belts out a tune, and, in the end, everyone dances.
The music includes snatches of Neapolitan songs and “The Barber of Seville.” The ballet is a jewel in the repertoire of the Royal Danish Ballet, which is currently streaming a recording of the piece on its Web site. The staging, from the 2013-14 season, is an update by the company’s director, Nikolaj Hübbe, who moved the action to the nineteen-fifties and added neorealist touches. Despite some over-the-top moments—particularly in the second act—it still has much to offer, principally the crisp, detailed mime and dancing, and the dashing presence of the young Danish star Alban Lendorf.”
— Marina Harss for the New Yorker
ART GALLERY VIRTUAL COLLECTIONS
David Zwirner gallery has invited 12 smaller New York-based galleries to join its existing high-tech online viewing room through an effort called Platform: New York. “It’s like, ‘Hey guys, come in here and put work up on the walls,’” said Mr. Zwirner, adding that the idea came from his son and daughter — Lucas and Marlene — who work at the gallery, along with other younger members of his staff: Alec Smyth, Thor Shannon and Cristina Vere Nicoll.
The galleries — which include 47 Canal, Bridget Donahue, David Lewis, Essex Street and Queer Thoughts — will each present two works by a single artist. Many of these artists had exhibitions that were scheduled for spring or cut short.
NEW YORK METROPOLITAN OPERA
Each evening at 7:30pm EST, New York’s Metropolitan Opera is streaming a different past productions from its award-winning Live in HD series. Productions are available to stream, free, for 23 hours.
More details on @MetOpera or metopera.org. The week of 6 to 10 April includes Verdi’s Aida (recorded in 2018) with Anna Netrebko, and 2013’s Parsifal, conducted by Daniele Gatti and starring Katarina Dalayman and Jonas Kaufmann.
ART BASEL HONG KONG’S ONLINE VIEWING ROOMS
In February, just days after Design Shanghai and the Festival of Design announced they would postpone their March dates because of the ongoing pandemic, Art Basel Hong Kong canceled its 2020 edition. (Even before the outbreak, many of the fair’s dealers were wary about participating amid the ongoing pro-democracy protests in the city.)
As an alternative, the fair said it would set up online viewing rooms for exhibiting galleries to share the works they had planned to showcase. In total, 231 international galleries—including Gagosian, Pace, and Sean Kelly—signed on, accounting for more than 90 percent of the fair’s original lineup.
More than 2,000 artworks are available for online viewing, and purchase, through Art Basel’s website and app. —Ryan Waddoups for Surface
THE DIA ART FOUNDATION’S EVENT ARCHIVES
For nearly half a century, the Dia Art Foundation has been variously the commissioner, host, and steward of many astonishing artworks, and today its 11 disparate concerns include Walter De Maria’s sprawling Lightning Field (1977) in New Mexico, Nancy Holt’s Sun Tunnels (1973–76) in Utah, and museums in Manhattan and Beacon, New York. It has also long organized rich public events, from a famed “Artists on Artists” lecture series to vanguard poetry readings, and its website hosts recordings of those affairs dating back to 2001.
From those lectures, there’s Kim Gordon talking Dan Graham (and performing) in 2010, Mario Garcia Torres going deep on Alighiero e Boetti in 2012, and David Diao uncorking a stemwinder on Barnett Newman in 2013. There’s also art historian Jessica Bell Brown speaking with artist Eric N. Mack about Sam Gilliam just a few months ago, and Peter Schjeldahl and Major Jackson delivering poetry last year. One could go on enumerating the treasure in this trove; just dive in. —Andrew Russeth
THE POP UP FLORIST’S VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS
Popup Florist has quickly become the fashion industry’s go-to for special events, retail décor and influencer collaborations. Founded in 2016, Kelsie Hayes approaches floral design with a similar process as fashion designer by incorporating unexpected textures with captivating color palettes and providing photo-worthy arrangements that are vibrant, unconventional and affordable. Plants are sourced from farms in Southern California and hand-selected flowers from local NYC markets are garnished with Hayes’ whimsical touch.
Just like the real thing! These virtual workshops are a fun way to get a group of friends and family together, or a nice creative outlet for yourself!
They will ship you supplies ahead of time! Once ticket(s) are purchased the team will email you with available time slots. On the day of the workshop they will simply send you a ZOOM login code!
Workshop time slots are available throughout the day
The cost is $95 per person
GAGOSIAN ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
In times of social distancing, Gagosian is going online with Artist Spotlight. Each week, across their various digital platforms, they will highlight a single artist and feature their latest work for sale. Each artist will be unveiled every Wednesday starting April 8th with a comprehensive suite of editorial features, including videos, interviews, and essays. Every Friday, a work by that artist will be made available for sale for 48 hours only.
The list of featured artists and the release date of their work is as follows: Sarah Sze (April 10), Stanley Whitney (April 17), Jennifer Guidi (April 24), Roe Ethridge (May 1), Titus Kaphar (May 8), Katharina Grosse (May 15), Theaster Gates (May 22), Dan Colen (May 29), Urs Fischer (June 5), Mark Grotjahn (June 12), Mary Weatherford (June 19), Rudolf Polanszky (June 26), Damien Hirst (July 3), Jenny Saville (July 10).
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