City Week: September 24 - September 30
a selective listing of recommended cultural and community events
compiled by allen houston friday, september 24 pipilotti rist: heroes of birth-rist already seduced many with her moma atrium installation; now comes a chance to check out new videos from the swiss artist, including "all or nothing," a triptych of mounted lcd screens that is surrounded by an altar with daily offerings such as fresh flowers and water "for visitors to pause and quench their thirst." luhring augustine, 534 w. 24th st., 212-206-9100; 10 a.m.-6 p.m., free.
doug varone and dancers: stripped-no, they're not removing their clothes, but varone's ensemble of committed, juicy movers will showcase excerpts from a work-in-progress on italian themes and repertory excerpts in these informal studio presentations-a chance to savor his adventurous, full-bodied choreography while waiting for the troupe's march joyce season. 92nd street y harkness dance center, 1395 lexington ave., 212-279-3344; 8 p.m., $25 at door. saturday, september 25 franz xaver messerschmidt-if you've scared a child by telling her not to make faces because it may stay that way, this exhibit may be the creepy truth. the first exhibition in the united states devoted exclusively to this major late-18th-century austro-bavarian sculptor, the messerschmidt exhibit focuses on the artist's creepy-cool "character heads." neue galerie, 1048 5th ave., 212-628-6200; 11 a.m.-6 p.m., $15.
mark twain, a skeptic's progress-if you enjoy poring over the scribblings and pontifications of legendary writers and thinkers, then here's a granddaddy of an exhibit. coinciding with the 175th anniversary of twain's birth, this joint exhibit is presented by the morgan and the new york public library-which hold two of the world's great collections of manuscripts and rare books by the iconic author. it includes more than 120 letters, notebooks, diaries, photographs and drawings associated with the author's life and work, and is supplemented by twain's correspondence, drawings and illustrations, photographs and several 3-dimensional artifacts. morgan library and museum, 225 madison ave., 212-685-0008; 10 a.m.-6 p.m., $12. saturday, september 26 nueva york (1613-1945)-we know about the waves of immigration to the city, but the influence of spain and latin america is often overlooked. organized by the new-york historical society and el museo del barrio, this landmark exhibit will span from the founding of new amsterdam in the 1600s as a foothold against the spanish empire to the present day, and includes a special documentary created by ric burns. el museo del barrio, 1230 5th ave., 212-831-7272; 11 a.m.-6 p.m., suggested gallery admission tuesday, september 28 me, myself and i-starring brian murray and elizabeth ashley, this edward albee play is about a mother who can't distinguish between her twin sons. may not be promising for the boys, but it's a great season opener for us. playwrights horizons, 416 w. 42nd st., 212-279-4200; 8 p.m., $75. wednesday, september 29 jazz giants-bill wurtzel and mike gari will perform jazz guitar music. american folk art museum, west 66th street and columbus avenue, 2 lincoln square branch; 2 p.m.-3 p.m., free. thursday, september 30 blood into gold: the cinematic alchemy of alejandro jodorowsky-the museum of arts and design screens fando y lis, one of chilean guru/filmmaker/comic book writer jodorowsky's movies. museum of arts and design, 2 columbus circle, 212-299-7740; 7 p.m. $7-$10.