Jim Hodges at Barbara Gladstone
For his gallery exhibitions, Jim Hodges creates theatricalized poetry that is poignant and elegant; his work will often evoke knowing smiles and more than a little bit of awe. The artist’s current exhibition at Gladstone presents new large-scale works, including black, mirrored wall works that were inspired by his travels in India. The rear gallery is home to an untitled sculpture that consists of an enormous disco ball reflecting its sparkle and memories onto the dark walls, as it imperceptibly lowers—“falls” if you will, over the course of 30 minutes–into a hole in the gallery floor that has been filled with water.  Magically simple and mysteriously profound, the work is stunning for its silent impact.  An adjacent gallery houses a room-within-a-room conceived of by Hodges that drips multi-colored tempera paint from mechanized holes in the ceiling to holes in the floor. The odiferous paint often misses its target, leaving thick, wet art tracks behind as it beautifully plunks, splats, and blurps.
Through December 23^rd.
www.gladstonegallery.com

Ai Weiwei at Paul Kasmin
The heroic Chinese artist continues to be the subject of conversation and admiration in all parts of the globe.  His exhibition entitled “Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads: Gold” is a majestic gathering of gold-plated bronze animals with expressive, almost human pupil-less eyes.  An irate pig, dumbstruck goat, vain dragon, and clever monkey are among the crowd. One feels as if these totems have been placed here to be rubbed for luck or to ward off danger. Each mask-like bust displays its own troubled inner life.
Through December 23^rd.
www.paulkasmin.com

CLOUD at Foxy Production
A smart group show curated by London-based artist Gabriel Hartley, “CLOUD” features the work of Sascha Braunig, Talia Chetrit, Vincent Fecteau, György Kepes and Daniel Sinsel.  Kepes, known for his Surrealist photography and pre-digital age manipulated tableaux, is the anchor for the exhibition. Several early images by the late artist seem simultaneously old-fashioned and futuristic. A papier-mâché, wool and wood sculpture by the masterful Vincent Fecteau is a standout, having greater impact in its small scale than most public monoliths. But the star here is the Munich-born painter and sculptor, Daniel Sinsel, whose sparse trompe l’oeil paintings effectively channel Magritte. Don’t miss this one.
Through December 23^rd
www.foxyproduction.com

Paul Pretzer at Marc Straus
The Dresden-based painter creates his own cast of quirky characters and places them in illusory conditions.  Although this is the painter’s first solo gallery exhibition in the U.S., Pretzer’s work has been known to many of us with a guilty taste for figuration and unsettled narratives.  If Surrealism could be called matter-of-fact, Pretzer nails it. New York City will hopefully see more of this artist’s work, which seems likely as the intriguing and ambitious new program at Marc Straus continues to impress.  The gallery is a newly essential stop on the Lower East Side.
Through December 23^rd
www.marcstraus.com

Mary Reid Kelley at Fredericks & Freiser
Set in 1853, “The Syphilis of Sisyphus” records the monologue of a young, pregnant Parisian as she traverses the garrets, alleys and hospitals of her city. Her pun-filled polemics burlesque the Romantic-era contest between ‘Nature’ and ‘Artifice’ that dominated both politics and aesthetics at the time. In imagining the character and spaces of Paris on the verge of Haussmann’s modernizations, the film collages three centuries of urban visuals.  Black and white costumes as well as exploratory drawings for the film add a layer of spectacle and dark humor.
Through January 7^th, 2012
www.fredericksfreisergallery.com

Yoko Ono at Galerie Lelong
Doors lyrically splayed on the gallery floor next to freestanding similar portals—all punctuated by acrylic “pools” of sky. We are of course talking about an installation by a towering figure of artistic gesture. The Dakota-based artist has chosen to include large centipedes that crawl the walls for her exhibition entitled UNCURSED.  The icon herself explains: When we were children, we learnt at our elementary school how the warrior, Shikanosuke Yamanaka, vowed to endure seven misfortunes and eight sufferings, thereby giving all the negative things to him that would have been given to the people of his city. I was so impressed with his selfless devotion to people, I wanted to be like him when I grew up. Then I realized that so many challenging situations were given to me in life. Much later, I wondered if it would not be better to ask for seven good fortunes and eight treasures….which I promptly did. It changed my life.
In my recent exhibition THE ROAD OF HOPE in Hiroshima, the city of the only country which suffered a nuclear disaster twice in the same century, I offered blessings to the people of Hiroshima and prayed that they would be given seven good fortunes and eight treasures.
Closes December 10^th
www.galerielelong.com

Cory Arcangel vs. Pierre Bismuth
Arcangel is now an important museum artist who certainly doesn’t need a pat on the back from me. Nonetheless, I am compelled to inform those unaware of his groundbreaking body of work about this current quirky venture into pop technology and high/low culture mash-up.  To “collaborate” with Bismuth, Arcangel selected three of Bismuth’s works and Bismuth choose three of Arcangel’s for inclusion.  Kindred spirits, Bismuth created a work from sitcom laugh tracks and Arcangel utilized audio of audience coughing during a performance of a Beethoven symphony.  Sound as sculpture for the Post- generation.
Through December 23^rd
www.teamgal.com

Tom Sachs at Sperone Westwater
New sculptures and paintings by the hardworking artist in the new Lower East Side space.  This time around, Sachs toys with our idea of the brushstroke and takes on sacred cows such as Albers, Richter and Marie-Antoinette. His sculptures steal the show, and the artist’s alchemy with materials remains a singular treat.
Through December 17^th
www.speronewestwater.com

Sarah Braman at Mitchell-Innes & Nash

Braman’s charming and challenging sculpture incorporate sliced trailer homes and boxy minimal homages to color. The exhibition is entitled “Yours” and viewers are encouraged to walk around and through the sculptures to witness art and life from all angles.  Art historical references here, intentional and accidental, add to the works rather than leading to just a dead end comment on that which came before.  This winning exhibition rewards prolonged viewing.
Through December 13^th
www.miandn.com

Paul McCarthy at Hauser & Wirth
An exhibition that combines dwarves and Paul McCarthy’s normal/sick imaginings is certain to make my list of favorites. For “The Dwarves, The Forest,” the avuncular old master presents several new sculptures, including his violently deformed and defiantly impotent de-Disneyfied little people. A thematic continuation of the 2009 “White Snow” exhibition, the installation is slightly creepy and completely hilarious.
Through December 17th
www. Hauserwirth.com