Though it may seem that Armory Week and Frieze Week get all the action, the reality is that there is never a dull moment in the New York art world. From the East Side to the West Side, there’s always something happening at the city’s museums, galleries, and various event spaces. Here’s a rundown of this week’s highlights.

“The Casual Pleasure of Disappointment” VIP Opening Night at Red Bull Arts New York
Continuing the festivities surrounding his New York Fashion Week-themed exhibition/performance event, “The Casual Pleasure of Disappointment,” artist Bjarne Melgaard held a party at Red Bull Arts New York on February 15, transforming the gallery into a “psychopathological” department store.

Paul McGinnis of the Sesame Street Workshop treated guests to a Muppet performance, while international DJ gigolo Romina Cohn provided the music. In attendance, treated to alcoholic Red Bull slushies served from a glory hole-style window, were Red Bull Arts New York chief curator Max Wolf and footwear designer Arden Wohl.

Recommended Reading

People Lost Their Minds During Bjarne Melgaard’s ‘Purge’

By Henri Neuendorf, Feb 15, 2017

Avena Gallagher and Patric Dicaprio at Bjarne Melgaard’s “The Casual Pleasure of Disappointment” VIP Opening Night at Red Bull Arts New York. Courtesy of Benjamin Lozovsky/BFA.

Bjarne Melgaard at Bjarne Melgaard’s “The Casual Pleasure of Disappointment” VIP Opening Night at Red Bull Arts New York. Courtesy of Benjamin Lozovsky/BFA.

Cory Kennedy and Arden Wohl at Bjarne Melgaard’s “The Casual Pleasure of Disappointment” VIP Opening Night at Red Bull Arts New York. Courtesy of Benjamin Lozovsky/BFA.

Bruce Hackney, Noah Garson, Tim Smith, and Ron Schwartz at Bjarne Melgaard’s “The Casual Pleasure of Disappointment” VIP Opening Night at Red Bull Arts New York. Courtesy of Benjamin Lozovsky/BFA.

Dusty Gayle, Rhea Carter, Sai Nelson, and Alexis Jae at Bjarne Melgaard’s “The Casual Pleasure of Disappointment” VIP Opening Night at Red Bull Arts New York. Courtesy of Benjamin Lozovsky/BFA.

The Third Annual Global Fine Art Awards Gala at the National Arts Club
The best curated art and design exhibitions from around the globe were honored at the Third Annual Global Fine Art Award Gala on February 11. Featuring 78 nominees from 22 countries, 5 continents, and 52 cities, the awards recognized curatorial achievements in exhibitions of contemporary and Post-War art; Impressionist and Modern art; Renaissance, Baroque, and Old Masters; ancient art; and public art, design, and photography.

Guests included honorees Gary Tinterow, director of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston; Susie Guzman, director of Hauser and Wirth Gallery of New York, Zurich, London, New York, Somerset, and Los Angeles; and Charles de Mooij, director of Het Noordbrabants Museum, Den Bosch, the Netherlands. Jonathan Henery accepted the award for best public art on behalf of his uncle Christo and his late aunt Jeanne Claude for their project The Floating Piers.

Recommended Reading

See the Incredible First Images of Christo’s Floating Piers on Italy’s Lake Iseo

By Eileen Kinsella, Jun 22, 2016

Jonathan Henery accepts the Public Art Award on behalf of his uncle Christo for Christo and Jeanne Claude’s The Floating Piers at the Third Annual Global Fine Art Awards Gala at the National Arts Club. Courtesy of the Third Annual Global Fine Art Awards Gala.

Global Fine Art Awards volunteer chair committee head Megan Wright and her team at the Third Annual Global Fine Art Awards Gala at the National Arts Club. Courtesy of the Third Annual Global Fine Art Awards Gala.

Judy Holm and Inness Hancock with Ad’s-Gravesande, the intendant of the Jheronimus Bosch 500 Foundation, winner for Best Renaissance, Baroque, Old Masters, Dynasties for “Jheronimus Bosch – Visions of a Genius” at the Third Annual Global Fine Art Awards Gala at the National Arts Club. Courtesy of the Third Annual Global Fine Art Awards Gala.

Jose Cuervo 222nd Anniversary with Ricardo Cavolo and Carlos Campos at Kola House
Tequila brand Jose Cuervo celebrated its 222nd birthday on February 15 with the unveiling of a new artist-designed bottle by Spanish artist Ricardo Cavolo. “Working on this non-traditional canvas has given me the ability to take my art to people by way of a bottle that people can enjoy long after the tequila has been finished,” said the artist in a statement.

There was also a New York Fashion Week tie-in, with a new limited edition capsule collection created by Honduran designer Carlos Campos, inspired by Cavolo’s artwork for the company. Guests, who included fashion designer Kerby Jean-Raymond, model Lucky Blue, and television personality Sharon Carpenter, enjoyed a DJ set from the Extortionists, the duo of designer Dao Yi Chow and producer Ibe Soliman.

Jose Cuervo 222nd Anniversary with Ricardo Cavolo and Carlos Campos at Kola House.

Jose Cuervo 222nd Anniversary with Ricardo Cavolo and Carlos Campos at Kola House.

Jose Cuervo 222nd Anniversary with Ricardo Cavolo and Carlos Campos at Kola House.

Jose Cuervo 222nd Anniversary with Ricardo Cavolo and Carlos Campos at Kola House.

Jose Cuervo 222nd Anniversary with Ricardo Cavolo and Carlos Campos at Kola House.

LongHouse Reserve Winter Benefit at the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center
The LongHouse Reserve of East Hampton, New York, honored husband and wife architectural team Tod Williams and Billie Tsien at its Winter Benefit on February 16. The designers of the Barack Obama Presidential Center, Williams and Tsien were also responsible for the night’s venue, the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center.

LongHouse Reserve founder Jack Lenor Larsen welcomed guests including former honorees Hugh Hardy and Barbara Slifka, artists Helena Hernmarck, Shen Wei, and Eleanor Alper, Guggenheim curator Alexandra Munroe, and billionaire developer David Walentas and his wife Jane.

The night featured a conversation with the architects and Vanity Fair contributing editor Paul Goldberger and the first private screening of LARSENWORLD: LONGHOUSE IN EAST HAMPTON, produced by the arboretum/art museum in honor of the completion of its 25th year.

Jack Lenor Larsen, Billie Tsien, Deborah Nevins, and Tod Williams at the LongHouse Reserve 2017 Winter Benefit, honoring Architect Team Tod Williams and Billie Tsien at the David Rubenstein Atrium. Courtesy of Sean Zanni, © Patrick McMullan.

Scott Kilgour, Lyndsay Karol, and Fitzhugh Karol at the LongHouse Reserve 2017 Winter Benefit, honoring Architect Team Tod Williams and Billie Tsien at the David Rubenstein Atrium. Courtesy of Sean Zanni, © Patrick McMullan.

Tod Williams, Billie Tsien, and Paul Goldberger at the LongHouse Reserve 2017 Winter Benefit, honoring Architect Team Tod Williams and Billie Tsien at the David Rubenstein Atrium. Courtesy of Sean Zanni, © Patrick McMullan.

Matko Tomicic, Katja Golman, and Michael Sonnenfeldt at the LongHouse Reserve 2017 Winter Benefit, honoring Architect Team Tod Williams and Billie Tsien at the David Rubenstein Atrium. Courtesy of Sean Zanni, © Patrick McMullan.