Looks Good (and Then Some) (11.22.09)

Barkley Hendricks, Misc. Tyrone (Tyrone Smith), 1976. Oil and magna on linen canvas, 72 x 50 ¼ inches. Courtesy of the artist.

Barkley Hendricks: Birth of the Cool: Hendricks's first career retrospective has made its way to the Studio Museum in Harlem. You have plenty of time to see this beautiful exhibition of paintings that was organized by the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University. On view through March 15, 2009.

November Food Recalls: Seattle's Favorite Gourmet Cookies & Dessert Co. of Tukwila, WA is recalling Orange Cranberry and Banana Nut Muffin Tops because they contain undeclared milk; Nestlé is withdrawing Nestlé Farinha Lactea cereal in the United States, as the product may contain residual traces of a pesticide not currently approved for use on wheat in the U.S.; Nestlé USA is voluntarily recalling two production codes of Nestlé Nesquik Strawberry Powder (21.8 ounce) that may contain small fragments of aluminum; and the list goes on.

Aaron Douglas at the Schomburg: The first nationally touring retrospective to celebrate the art and legacy of the Harlem Renaissance artist. On view through November 30, 2008.

Sweet Potato Sufflé: A recipe with your health in mind.

Takashi Murakami, Panda, 2003. Fiberglass with antique Louis Vuitton trunk and wooden pedestal, 100 1/2 x 65 x 43 inches.

Apropos of nothing, I read this headline today: Panda in China zoo bites student who wanted a hug. The funny thing is that it's not the first time someone has tried to cop a panda feel. A panda (perhaps the same one) was also in the news in 2006 when he bit a drunk tourist who broke into his enclosure and tried to hug him while he was asleep. The tourist retaliated by biting the bear in the back.

Survive the art market crash: The Wall Street Journal gives tips and outlooks for each player. A little recap: Auctioneers, cutbacks are coming your way. Collectors, that means opportunities for you. Dealers, practice the phrase "by appointment only." For artists, "It's a case of spray and pray."

Pumpkin Pie Jell-O Shots from Tasting Table NYC.

12 Oddball Museums: A museum that might be of particular interest to New Yorkers is the Cook’s Natural Science Museum in Decatur, Alabama where visitors can "learn everything they ever wanted to know about rats, cockroaches, mice, spiders, and termites..."

Julia Child's Kitchen: When Julia Child left her Massachusetts home of forty-two years to return to her native California, she gave her kitchen to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History (NMAH) in D.C. The NMAH reopened on Friday after a two year, $85 million overhaul. NPR offers a slideshow of highlights from the Museum's collection.

Eric Fischl's Tumbling Woman.

Eric Fischl at Mary Boone Gallery: I took one glance at the installation and said to my companion, "Wait, this is not Eric Fischl." [I walked back to the entrance]. "Oh, this is Fischl. Wow." The installation of bronze and glass sculptures titled Ten Breaths is a nice break from the paintings for which he is known. There are great studies for this installation on the artist's website. On view through December 20, 2008.