Bronx Museum: Open House Event, 23 June 2013, Bronx, NYC

The Bronx Museum held an Open House today featuring two new exhibits: State of Mind: New California Art Circa 1970 and Bronx Calling: The Second AIM Biennial.

The museum is free and located at 1040 Grandconcourse, Bronx – off the D/B trains 167 St. stop or the 4 train to 161 St/Yankee Stadium station.

This afternoon’s Open House included a performance art piece, Sons of War Games, a re-enactment of the 1973 performance piece War Games between Darryl Sapien, Michael A. Hinton:

40 years later, Sapien and Hinton’s sons have re-created this mock fight.  The fight is interpreted as two men on elevated platforms play chess by announcing their moves out loud:

The young fighters covered in body paint, which eventually sweat off, represent the moves via a wrestling match, a stick fight, or a shoving match.  As this fight is going on, a young boy in the background moves the chess pieces on a chess board that is propped up on a wall:

After the game is won, both combatants are washed by the chess players:    The game is quite mesmerizing, and definitely not the typical chess match you’d imagine.

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The exhibitions at the Bronx Museum also showcase art installations, including this deceptively, simple-looking wood structure.

Upon entering the wooden box though, your senses are immediately disoriented, due to the overwhelming bright, yellow light in the box.  Warning:  If you are sensitive to extreme, bright light, you should NOT go into the box.  After a few seconds, you will probably get a headache and some minor eye strain.

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But not all of the their installations were hazardous to your health.  The tubes in this piece light up as you walk close to the tubes.

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There was plenty of art to see and enjoy as well.

The two exhibits State of Mind: New California Art Circa 1970 and Bronx Calling: The Second AIM Biennial are currently running at the Bronx Museum from June 20th to September 8th.  Definitely do go check it out!

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After the exhibit, you can get a diploma for an MFA degree, Master of Finds Art!  YAAY me!