SVA’s MFA Illustration as Visual Essay Thesis Show opens Saturday, with a reception next Tuesday, April 30. The program, founded and chaired by Marshall Arisman is now in its 34^thyear. This year’s show, curated by faculty member David Sandlin, is a tsunami of visual languages, contained only by grid plan that David has imposed on the riotous content. In his words:

Illustration is the visual communication of ideas and perception, and the MFA Illustration as Visual Essay class of 2019 ably demonstrates this notion. Wit, emotion, and sumptuous color and style mark this year’s exhibition, with content ranging from memoir and personal revelation to quirky, aphoristic musings on the meaning of childhood and colorful abstract interpretations of sound. Fanciful, uniquely rendered narratives tell the tales of lonely tortoises, painfully shy young girls, and insomniac towns. Universal themes—coming of age, finding love, the quest for meaning and identity—are given fresh treatments by these gifted artists, demonstrating that the human condition remains a vigorous subject for original visual exploration

Here, in no particular order, are scenes from the installation, yesterday. More about the program here. More in DART

In Other News

Wednesday, April 24

Photo Prose | Your Mirror: Images from the collection, lecture + open mike pm. ICP Museum, 250 Bowery, NY, NY Info

Thursday, April 25

FX Harsono | Nama, 6-8 pm. Tyler Rollins Fine Art, 529 West 20^thStreet, NY, NY Info

Lorna Simpson | Darkening, 6-8 pm. Hauser & Wirth, 548 West 22^ndStreet, NY, NY Info

Amer Kobaslija | Florida Diaries, 6-8 pm. George Adams Gallery, 525 West 26^thStreet, NY, NY Info

Erwin Olaf | Palm Springs, 6-8 pm. Edwynn Houk Gallery, 745 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY Info

Daniel Heidkamp | Elevated States, 6-8 pm. Half Gallery, 43 East 78^thStreet, NY, NY Info

Friday, April 26

The Life & Legacy of Heidi Bucher, panel discussiom, 6 pm. Lehman Maupin, 501 West 24^thStreet, NY, NY RSVP must rsvp@lehmannmaupin.com

Closing April 27
Pixy Liao | Open Kimono. Chambers Fine Art, 522 West 19^thStreet, NY, NY Info

Sunday, April 28

Mana Contemporary Spring Open House | Mana Decentralized, 11am-5 pm. 888 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ Info

Arlene Shechet | Full Steam Ahead, closing Sunday at Madison Square Park. Photo © Nicholas Knight. Courtesy the artist and Pace Gallery

Closing Sunday, April 28

Arlene Shechet | Full Steam Ahead. North fountains of Madison Square Park, enter at Fifth Avenue/26^thStreet. Info

Saturday, April 27-Sunday, April 28

DUMBO OPEN STUDIOS. Artist-in-residency programs at Smack Mellon, Sharpe-Walentas Studio Program, and Triangle Arts Association have aligned their open studios again this year. Additionally, artists throughout DUMBO will also open their studio doors, including The New York Studio School, hosting a solo show of works by Thomas Stavovy at the 20 Jay Street location, Studio 307, Brooklyn, NY. Additionally, DUMBO’s galleries will extend their hours throughout the weekend. Info

Monday, April 29

Dana Nechmad | In Tension, 6-8 pm. The Bee In the Lion, 310 East 23^rdStreet, NY, NY Info

Tuesday, April 30

Jeff Wall. Gagosian, 522 West 21^stStreet, NY, NY Info