Today’s “Fab 5″/ Selected NYCity Events – THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014.

Surface to Structure: Folded Forms

This exhibition of origami artwork brings together the work of 88 artists spanning five continents. The 134 works in the show encapsulate a broad spectrum of origami’s possibilities, both artistic and scientific, and push the perceptions of this art form beyond its traditional boundaries.

Surface to Structure marks the 55th anniversary of the very first origami exhibition held in the United States, which was also housed within The Cooper Union. The historic works of that seminal exhibition served as a foundation for the contemporary origami of today, which has progressed into a far greater range and complexity of styles, techniques, and genres.
OPENING RECEPTION, 7–10PM / FREE
On view until July 3, 2014, 11AM–10PM every day
The Cooper Union, 41 Cooper Square, on 3rd Avenue (betw 6th and 7th St.)

River to River Festival 2014: R2R Bash
The free summer arts festival kicks off with a block party featuring People Get Ready

Join LMCC and River To River artists, partners, and sponsors for a block party on North End Way, co-sponsored by Conrad New York, Goldman Sachs, and the area’s restaurants and retailers. Enjoy samples and discounts at area restaurants and retailers, performances by rock band People Get Ready, and activities for the whole family.

Since 2002, the River To River arts festival has been creating new ways to experience downtown Manhattan’s waterfronts, parks, plazas, hotels, historic landmarks and temporarily vacant office spaces. Commencing this week, River To River runs for 11 days with 35 projects involving over 90 artists.
At 5pm – 8pm, North End Way

Poor Rich Boy: The Mast debuting Tidal
Poor Rich Boy, Lahore’s underground indie rock phenomenon, plumbs the interior life of the urban middle class in a city of stark contrasts. A love of rock, metal, and blues layered with the improvisatory structures of the classical traditions of Pakistan marks the band’s songwriting, influenced by artists like Bon Iver and experimental American composers including John Cage and Harry Partch.

Brooklyn-based husband and wife duo The Mast featuring vocalist/guitarist Haleh Gafori and percussionist/beatsmith Matt Kilmer bring their high-energy electro-pop sound to the Atrium. The team will present their new work, Tidal, a merging of live electronics, vocals, and various instruments including the balafon and clay drums. On Tidal, The Mast unites the propulsive electronic sounds of their recent release Pleasure Island (2014) and the more organic, acoustic-based sounds of 2011’s Wild Poppies.

The Mast has been touring in the U.S. and has shared the stage with Reggie Watts, Teebs, Blonde Redhead, and Foster the People. CMJ said of a recent show: “The Mast seemed to instantly magnetize people to the stage…the venue was completely packed with blissed-out enthusiasts thoroughly hypnotized by their primal beats and astral sound effects.” “The Mast plays futuristic-electro pop inspired by early IDM and experimental beat music – James Blake on mescaline.” —Village Voice
David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center, 61 W 62 St
At 7:30pm / FREE (but get there early – no later than 7PM)
212-875-5350

Ravi Coltrane Quartet (through June 21)
“A tenor and soprano saxophonist with a dry tone and a sleek but undemonstrative style, Ravi Coltrane leads a quartet with several sharp-minded partners: the young Cuban pianist David Virelles, the bassist Dezron Douglas and the drummer Kush Abadey.” (Chinen-NYT)
Birdland, 315 West 44th Street, Clinton,
At 8:30 and 11 p.m. / $40 cover, with a $10 minimum.
212-581-3080, birdlandjazz.com

Jerry Dugger’s Acoustic Blues Caravan
w Big Frank Mirra & Karl Schwarz
Lucille’s Grill,
BB Kings Blues Club and Grill, 237 West 42nd St.,(btw 7^th/8^th Ave)
8:00 p.m. / $12
(212) 997-4144 / bbkingblues.com

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♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.

♦ NYCity is a big town with many visitors where quality shows draw crowds. Try to reserve seats in advance, even if just on day of performance.
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Chelsea is the heart of the NYCity contemporary art scene. Home to more than 300 art galleries, the Rubin Museum, the Joyce Theater, and The Kitchen performance spaces, there is no place like it anywhere in the world. Come here to browse free exhibitions by world-renowned artists and those unknowns waiting to be discovered in an art district that is concentrated between West 18th and West 27th Streets, and 10th and 11th Avenues. Afterwards stop in the Chelsea Market, stroll on the High Line, or rest up at one of the many cafes and bars and discuss the fine art – my fave is Ovest on W 27th St., where the aperitivo is like Happy Hour on steroids.

For a listing of 25 essential galleries in the Chelsea Art Gallery District, organized by street, which enables you to create your own Chelsea Art Gallery crawl, see the Chelsea Gallery Guide (nycgo.com) Or check out TONY magazine’s list of the “Best Chelsea Galleries” and click through to see what’s on view. ==========================================================

For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in the right Sidebar: “Selected Events + Special Exhibitions : Manhattan’s WestSide” dated (06/05) and (06/03).