We thought that the cold, windy day after Thanksgiving would probably not be prime time for gallery hopping, perhaps even art needs a long weekend now and again. Nevertheless, rather than giving in to the post-stuffing-stupor or joining the Black Friday throngs in the holiday shopping Mecca known as Midtown, we ventured to West Chelsea for a quick afternoon fix and found that, what could be seen, should be seen.
 
Although some of the buildings were closed, many of the larger street level galleries welcomed numerous visitors. The first open doors we encountered were at Gagosian, where the entire space had been transformed by Mike Kelley’s “Day Is Done.” Meandering through “episodes” of this large-scale installation, a veritable cornucopia of audio, video, photography, kinetic and mixed media work, left us intrigued, energized, and, like a good first course, hungry for more.
 
Then it was time for some chess, no, not a game, but the playfully eclectic exhibition at Luhring Augustine entitled, “The Art of Chess,” featuring 10 commissioned chess sets interpreted by artists, including Barbara Kruger, Damien Hirst and Yayoi Kusama.  Right next door, at Andrea Rosen Gallery, words ruled as enthusiastic art lovers took in rows and columns of hundreds of works from a century of art that features text. Chances are, one of your favorite artists is represented in this show.
 
Braving the cold, we stopped to get a photo of some sidewalk art, and suddenly, there was Below the High Line. No, that’s not an editorial error, it's the name and location the outdoor installation at Melody Weir Gallery, a pleasant surprise even with the icy wind nipping at our curious noses.
 
Finally, we had to make certain that we caught the current exhibition at Robert Miller, just one day before it was to close. We were captivated by Australian artist Patricia Piccinini’s ‘Natures Little Helpers.”  The quasi-terrestrial, anthropomorphically endowed creatures manifested themselves in sculpture, photography, video and drawings throughout the gracefully designed, spacious gallery. It was an upbeat, thought provoking close to an entertaining and enlightening day.
 
Shaking off the chill at our favorite cozy haunt on 27th, we enjoyed the hospitality of our friend and found him celebrating a personal milestone, just another reminder that even the day after the big feast, life, like art, goes on. Happy birthday, Lazlo!
 

© Resolve40