From Graceland to the former steel town of Bethlehem, PA, an assortment of iconic ‘American’ locations inspired Keith Mayerson’s ambiguous portrait of the country at Marlborough Contemporary. Here, Three Mile Island represents conversations around the definition of ‘clean’ power as the famed sight of a 1979 accident has been slated to close in 2019. (On view in Chelsea through Nov 11th).
From huge charcoal drawings to weighty bronzes, Robert Longo has returned to images of the U.S. flag throughout his career in an on-going exploration of power and politics. Here, the mirrored surface of this flag makes viewers part of an object and a symbol. (At Metro Pictures Gallery in Chelsea through August 4th).
Jessica Segall’s light sculptures are off the grid in a uniquely local way at Cuchifritos Gallery, nestled in a corner of the Essex Street Market. Lemons and plantains speak of far-away climes but have been sourced from a nearby market stall and wired to produce power to (dimly) light this chandelier. (On the Lower East Side through Oct 30th).
Haim Steinbach’s appropriated Lion King illustration takes over the office wall at Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, pitting a powerful creature against box office power against the power of immersion in the color yellow. (In Chelsea through May 27th).
Mass groups of nude men and women, pawns in a larger social design, populate European-American artist Irving Norman’s work from the late 60s to 80s, now on view at Michael Rosenfeld Gallery. Here, futuristic planes packed with passengers shoot out polluting smoke as they blast ominously forward. (In Chelsea through October 25th).
Irving Norman, Airport, oil on canvas, 92 x 119 ¾ inches, 1972.
