‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’
William Shakespeare’s romantic comedy about woods enchanted by fairies is brought to life by two-time Tony winner Bebe Neuwirth and actress Christina Ricci at the Classic Stage Company. Directed by Tony Speciale, Neuwirth plays the fairy queen Titantia and Ricci plays the love interest, Hermia.
Classic Stage Company, 136 E. 13th St.,
Now–May 20, 2012
Tuesday’s 7 p.m.; Wednesday–Saturday 8 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday 3 p.m.
Tickets: $75–$125
www.classicstage.org
These 35 watercolors depict plants and insects in superb detail and refreshing style. Artist Asuka Hishiki takes her inspiration from 18th century naturalist and scientific illustrator Maria Sibylla Merian. Hishiki writes, “I love to share the beauty and the simple and quiet moments.”
The Arsenal (in Central Park) 830 Fifth Ave.,
Now through June 6
Weekdays only, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Free
www.nycgovparks.org
Beauties of the Gilded Age: Peter Marié’s Miniatures of Society Women
These nearly 300 watercolor-on-ivory miniatures are portraits of women believed epitomize female beauty. They were commissioned by New York socialite Peter Marié, between 1889 and 1903, amid the rapid development and luxury of America’s Gilded Age. The fragile and rarely exhibited portraits will be displayed in four-month rotations.
New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West
Now through July 8
Admission:$15, kids 7–13 $5, under 7 free
www.nyhistory.org
Patricia Watwood: Myths and Individuals
Patricia Watwood’s contemporary classic paintings, many of them masterful lifelike portraits, are on display at The Forbes Galleries. Watwood writes, “I chase what artists in the past have also chased—a celebration of the human form, a passion for and humility before nature, a belief that metaphor and narrative can help us puzzle out the mysteries of our time here on earth, and a belief in the emotional power of the common visual language of representation.”
The Forbes Galleries, 62 Fifth Ave.,
Now through June 9, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Admission is free
www.forbesgalleries.com
The Printed Image in China, 8th–21st Century
China was the most advanced civilization on earth for many centuries, inventing both paper and printing. This exhibit explores the emergence and flourishing of Chinese printed art with 136 prints drawn from the British Museum.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Now through July 29
Tickets: $25, Children under 12 free
www.metmuseum.org
Art of Stephen Scott Young
Forty of the exquisite watercolor paintings of living master Stephen Scott Young will be on view and sale at Christie’s. His acclaimed realist works capture in detail the spirit of the Bahamas, Florida, and coastal South Carolina through their people, landscape, and architecture.
Christie’s Private Sales Galleries, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, 20th floor
Exhibition: May 14–June 11
This event is free
www.christies.com
North Italian Paintings from the Accademia Carrara, Bergamo
Called a jewel among Italian museums, the Accademia Carrara is closed for renovation, an unintended boon for New Yorkers. Because of the closure, the museum has been able to lend New York 15 masterpieces by Venetian and north Italian painters of the 15th and 16th centuries, including works by Bellini, Titian, and Lorenzo Lotto.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
May 15–Sept. 3
Tickets: $25, Children under 12 free
www.metmuseum.org
FAMILY:
Ship-Shape: Nautical Scale Models
From a ship in a bottle to a massive World War II warship, this exhibit explores the art and craft of shipbuilding with variations. Drawn from the Intrepid Museum’s collection and loans from other institutions and collectors, the exhibit includes large-scale models of USS Constitution and USS New Jersey, a modeler’s workbench, and World War II nautical toys.
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum 12th Avenue and 46th Street
Now through July 8
Tickets: $24, $19 (ages 7–17), $12 (ages 3–6)
www.intrepidmuseum.org
‘Monkey King’: A Story from China
A children’s exhibit exploring the classic Chinese tale of the ‘Monkey King.’ The mischievous supernatural monkey decides to mend his ways by embarking on an epic journey across China to retrieve the Buddhist scriptures from India. For ages 4 and up.
Children’s Museum of Manhattan, The Tisch Building at 212 W. 83rd St.,
Ongoing, Tuesday–Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday until 7 p.m.
Admission: $11 for everyone over 12 months old
www.cmom.org
Family Workshop: Paper Flowers
On the day before Mother’s Day, children can honor their matriarch by creating colorful flowers out of tissues paper, rubber stamps, and glitter. Suggested for ages 5 and up with an adult learning partner.
Morris-Jumel Mansion, 65 Jumel Terrace
Saturday, May 12, 10 a.m.–noon
Free but advanced registration is required.
Call 212-923-8008, www.morrisjumel.org
ABT Kids
The U.S.’s premier classical ballet company, American Ballet Theatre, playfully teaches children about ballet, through movement, costumes, music, and sets. The program includes short clips from the season.
The Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center
Saturday, May 19, 11:30 a.m.
Tickets: $25
www.metoperafamily.org
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The arts at their best are not purely for entertainment or the reinvention of art itself. Rather, they strive forward with traditional forms, toward technical mastery, and place the highest value on virtue and the spiritually sublime.
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