In keeping with my own year of vie de boheme-ish downsizing, this year's list of cultural treasures has an eye on your purse.
As people run around asking if anyone knows anyone who had their money with Bernie Madoff or got downsized as entire companies have gone under, there is every reason to be mindful of expenditures.
But the news in culture is that you can have a sumptuous experience without breaking the bank.
1. For the second year in a row, the Works and Process series at the Guggenheim museum -- spearheaded by Charles Fabius, the most visionary, dynamic impresario in NY (the NY City Opera should have nabbed Charles!). Their last offering of this year, the hippest Peter in the Wolf narrated by Isaac Mizrahi with sets by the Brazilian Campana brothers and a mini orchestra of Juilliard musicians took the New York parent plus children social set by storm this past week. Sold out performances in their most beautiful Frank Lloyd Wright theater had long lines of children waiting to go on stage to see the charming art up close. (There are more performances, check for returns)
Peter & the Wolf (2008). Produced by Works & Process and the Guggenheim Museum. Photo: David Heald.
Next up: two free Nico Muhly concerts this weekend and then the Sophie Calle (she of deservedly conceptual art fame) designed Arvo Part operatic monologue January 11 and 12. The Guggenheim is doing downtown uptown, something those of us who don't live on the lower east side have been waiting for.
2. As usual, the Metropolitan Museum (open Friday and Saturday nights) is chockablock with yummy things. But the two that spoke to me were ingenious devices separated by centuries yet with similar preoccupations: Alexander Calder's The Jealous Husband necklace; the spikes say everything you need to know about the humorously possessive attitude of the donor and the elegant gold belt-like "girdle" which was said to said to make its wearer irresistible and fertile from the romantic Art and Love in Renaissance Italy, an exhibition that twins chastity and eroticism in an amazingly contemporary and sexy way. (The room of erotic drawings an eye opener!)
Left: 14th century Venetian "girdle", Metropolitan Museum of Art. Right: © 2008 Calder Foundation, New York / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
3. The new music space which is a provocative mash up of styles and energy, Le Poisson Rouge. Even their website is very cool. Something for everyone. How about a Sunday afternoon series, Baby Loves Disco which can also be found all over the country. Another way to get your family groove on!
4 and 5. The Los Angeles and New York Public Libraries and the library wherever you live: don't forget the books are free, they have wonderful exhibitions and you can go to lectures and workshops on different subjects at the branches. Take your children! The habit of libraries is a learned one.
6, 7, 8. Three girl singers who have made my last coast to coast trips and my dog walks and my late sleepless nights and my jogs uplifting. Latter day Jonis, all three. Patty Griffin, whose songs Heavenly Day and But it don't come easy are anthems for the good and harder days of love, Cat Power whose cover of Sea of Love plunges you into emotional waters and Pepi Ginsberg, less famous, but you will all know about her very soon -- watch out for her two songs, Lately and Ghosts of Perdition from the Red album.
Pepi Ginsberg
9, 10. The unwittingly paired 2008 releases, The Class, the Lauren Cantet film which won the Palme D'Or and opened the NY Film Festival and which echoes my own experiences mentoring inner city kids in LA and Nursery University, the world of high stakes preschool admission in NY for the elites. The yin and yang of education.
11. For the stay-at-home types who need to catch up on the wonders of cinema, the entire Criterion Collection which re-issues remastered film beauties, my latest faves, the films of Max Ophuls whose cynical eye on love and relations between the sexes made for some uneasy but perfect viewing.
12 and 13. Both the Juilliard School in NY and the Colburn School in LA offer free performances year round at professional levels.
As far as I am concerned, you have absolutely no excuses anymore about listening to music, seeing dance or catching theater. Make 2009 your year of getting in touch with your inner, passionate, artist as you replenish your feelings of empty pockets with a dose of cultural currency.