Rain Room @ the MOMA
A rainy day’s commute in New York City can summon the nastiest spirits from the most tranquil New Yorker. On brutally wet days, trains malfunction, and if you aren’t completely frustrated your $5 umbrella has flipped inside out, you’re dodging splashes from oncoming traffic. Well, April showers bring May flowers, so head to MOMA to put those frustrations behind you at Rain Room where YOU control the rain. This interactive installation at MOMA simulates rainfall that pauses wherever your presence is sensed. This super ultra cool exhibit JUST opened Sunday and will be at the MOMA until July 28th. You don’t always get the chance to extend control over natural phenomenon, so check it out. It could be therapeutic. MOMA West 54 Street, between Fifth and Sixth avenues New York, NY 10019
B&W Two Photographers: Maximo Colon, Elisa Perea
An artspace in Spanish Harlem offers a more traditional (yet free and probably involving bubbly treats) exhibit. The work of photographers Maximo Colon and Elisa Perea is the focus of a show at MediaNoche. The show is an exploration of the artists’ work in black and white images. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in NYC, Colon has an oeuvre that spans the 1960s to the present and prompts an assortment of Latin@ themes. Perea who was born in 1979 in Mexico City, has work that is purposefully retro in terms of photographic technology. The juxtaposition of artists is sure to evoke some thoughtful themes on the medium. The opening event is Friday May 17th from 6 to 8 pm. Otherwise the space is only open on Fridays and Saturdays from 3 to 6pm.
Medianoche 1355 Park avenue, first floor (at east 102nd street) New York, NY 10029
Orgullo in Organizing: New York Latino Workers History and Legacy, 1930s to 2010s
And lastly, with the banning of ethnic studies in Arizona and similar bans being proposed in Texas, it should be noted that Latin@ history is not always easily accessed, recorded, or learned. Exhibits like Orgullo in Organizing: New York Latino Workers History and Legacy, 1930s to 2010s offer an infrequent chance to reflect on our history as Latin@s in the United States. The exhibit displays material collected by the Centro de Estudios Puertorriqueños and surveys the role of Latinos in labor history and mutual aid societies in New York City. So learn our history and cultivate your pride at NYPL’s Bronx Library Center in the Bronx. Have a great week!
Bronx Library Center 310 East Kingsbridge Road (at Briggs Avenue) Bronx, NY 10458