Recap: Art Strut 2015 Brought Together Soho Galleries and I Won Art!

I don't really need an excuse to wander around SoHo looking at art and drinking wine, but Art Strut 2015 gave me a reason to do just that last week.

Sponsored by lifestyle website Soho Strut, Art Strut reminded me of the once-upon-a-time community event Fashion's Night Out, but swapping fine arts for fashion and in a smaller sect of the city. My friend and I began at LUMAS (362 West Broadway), where we were greeted with refreshingly chilled white wine and a rocking performance by La La Lush. I loved the art at LUMAS because it was seemingly affordable and all pieces required no framing and were ready to hang.

LUMAS Gallery

La La Lush

Next stop was LIK Gallery (419 West Broadway) where we were enthralled with the travel and landscape photography of Peter Lik. I seriously wanted to head straight home, pack my bag, and grab a passport after being inspired by some of Lik's pieces. We also enjoyed the musical stylings of Jana Pelle and sipped on oaky chardonnay.

LIK Gallery

Jana Pelle

Stop number three was Martin-Lawrence Galleries (457 West Broadway) where we closed down the show--gallery hopping ended at 8--and listened to Benny Oyama sing some tunes.

Martin Lawrence Galleries

Benny Oyama

Then it was time to pick up our tickets in the form of limited-edition Moleskine notebooks...don't mind if I do!

Limited-edition Art Strut Moleskine Notebook

The party continued over at the pop-up gallery featuring local artists Barbara Thomas, Zuzanna Kozlowska, Linda Mason, Zigi Ben Haim and Laura Kaplan and live music by Cat, Cat, Cat, KT Mulholland and Lily Lane. Wine and whiskey was provided by The Handy Liquor Bar (where we also hung out at the after party).

Pop-up Art Gallery

Pop-up Art Gallery

There was also a silent auction benefitting ACE Programs for the Homeless, and I absolutely LOVE silent auctions--something about the rush, winning, and benefitting a good cause I guess.

Silent Auction (I loved the rose!)

I got in a bit of a bidding war over Rüdiger J. Vogel's Jetty, but ended up winning! I can't wait to hang it up at home and have a fun reminder of an "Awesome in New York" night.

Rüdiger J. Vogel's Jetty

I won the silent auction!

Stay tuned for more Soho Strut events--on Thursday, May 14th from 7-9pm, they are hosting 'Cocktails & Conversations' at The Handy Liquor Bar. Tickets are $20 are and include a cocktail.

Skip Around SoHo with Art Strut 2015

Missing some art in your life? The folks at Soho Strut want to change that with some razzle dazzle.

Tomorrow night (5/7) from 6-10pm is the first annual Art Strut. From 6-8pm, over 20 galleries will be open to the public for free, many with live music and wine from The Handy Liquor Bar. Main galleries include AFA, Peter LIK, LUMAS, Martin Lawrence, and Michael Ingbar, but the full list can be found here.

Then the fun begins. From 7-10pm, there will be a pop-up gallery featuring local artists and a silent art auction to benefit ACE Programs for the Homeless. Pick up your ticket at Moleskine (436 West Broadway) or 28 Wooster Street, which includes a commemorative Art Strut notebook!

Tickets for the pop-up gallery are $35 and are available here. The live music schedule for the event is as follows:

7-8pm – Cat Cat Cat
8:15-9:15pm – KT Mulholland
9:30-10pm – Lily Lane

I'll be there bopping around. Anyone else planning on joining? Tell me what your favorite galleries are!

Sip Sake and Browse Japanese Art at Onishi Gallery Tomorrow

Looking for something unique to do tomorrow night? Check out Chelsea's Onishi Gallery (521 West 26th Street) for a one-of-a-kind exhibition on contemporary Japanese arts and crafts.

Onishi Gallery founder, Nana Onishi, will launch the exhibition My Japanese Discoveries: Toyama Prefecture Japan – The Extraordinary Koei Art and Contemporary Design. Artists featured will include:

• Ozawa Komin, a metal artist who is Toyama Prefecture’s sole “Living National Treasure of Japan.” Ozawa is a master of the yakigata casting technique, while blending innovative technology with creative design to push the boundaries of traditional metal casting.
• Hannya Tamotsu, another celebrated metal master, who is the only known artist to have ever made a three-metal cast piece.
• Shakunaga Yukio, a widely-admired ceramic artist, who creates simple forms and exquisitely colored ceramic pieces that have attracted devoted collectors all over the world, including Apple Company’s Steve Jobs.

Food and sake tastings will be served in traditional lacquerware and metalware, courtesy of Union Square Events. The opening reception takes place Friday 5/16 from 6-8 pm, while the gallery is open Tuesday-Saturday from 11 am - 6 pm.

If You Need A Good Reason to Party

Need something to do tonight before the Like You Like It concert (or tomorrow night or Friday night)? Check out a pop-up gallery featuring work by gonzo artist Ralph Steadman at Red Bull Studios in Chelsea.

The exhibit accompanies the artist's upcoming film For No Good Reason, (in theaters 4/25). Joined by long-term friend Johnny Depp, the film explores Steadman as he finds his voice through his art, driven by a sense of duty to change the world into a better place. Working with the artist over 10 years and gathering his prolific output into a single film was a monstrous task. This exhibition, like the film, omits more art than it includes. Steadman is now in his 70’s and continues to work daily.

It will be open today 4/23 from 4-8pm, and tomorrow 4/24 and Friday 4/25 from 12-7 pm. There will be a free premiere after-party accompanying the movie premiere on Friday, 4/25 8 pm at Red Bull Studios New York (220 West 18th Street). You must RSVP to attend the after-party and can do so here.

Pottery Barn Turns Art Gallery

Art gallery shows can always be fun (hello free wine!), but I was intrigued by this particular event because it's hosted not by Gagosian Gallery or David Zwirner, but Pottery Barn!

Join Pottery Barn on 59th and Lexington on Saturday April 26th from 1-3 pm for schmoozing and browsing photography by Nichole Robertson. Sip free wine and take home a pillow or two if you feel so inclined. To RSVP, click here for your free tickets.

AWESOME ALERT: See Some Peanut Butter Art and Get a Free Jar to Take Home!

Did your mom ever tell you not to play with your food? Well apparently not everyone had that experience as a child. Case in point...The Nutropolitan Museum of Art. That's right, our beloved friends over at Peanut Butter & Co. have decided to celebrate National Peanut Month in a rather messy, yet creative way.

Starting tomorrow, you can visit the world's first PB&J art exhibit, complete with fun activities like meeting a peanut farmer and creating your own PB&J art! This free event runs through Sunday at the Openhouse Gallery (201 Mulberry Street, between Spring and Kenmare) in Nolita. But not only is it free, just by visiting you will receive a free jar of scrumptious Peanut Butter & Co. peanut butter, which you can eat or conduct some Picasso-esque experiments of your own. In addition to your peanut butter, Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream will be providing snacks on Saturday from 11-4 and the Treats Truck will be providing, well, treats on Sunday from 11-4. You can also feel good about going because for every person who visits, Peanut Butter & Co. will donate a jar to the Food Bank for New York City as well.

So drop by the gallery, check out some unique art, indulge in a few snacks and celebrate National Peanut Month the nuttiest way you know how.