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Mickalene Thomas, Oh Mickey!, with Bob Spiegel of Creative Edge, hosted by Kreëmart. Performance with pastries, Nov. 3, 2010. Photo: 16 Miles

16 Miles of String is going on a very brief vacation and will return on Monday, August 9. Since this marks (for me), the unofficial end of the 2009-2010 art season, I want to thank everyone who has read along, linked to articles, indulged my ramblings, and said hello over the past twelve months. It has been a pleasure. My pick for the art event of the year (since you asked) — Mickalene Thomas' performance at Kreëmart's dessert event on November 3 — is illustrated above.

While I'm away, you may may be interested in visiting the recently updated Lost Art of New York Map. If you are in New York, the art season is, of course not over. If you haven't gone yet, go see the Lush Life shows before they all close! (A few spaces are still open.) The organizers have posted a video tour of the Lower East Side with author Richard Price, and ARTINFO executive editor Andrew M. Goldstein interviewed him earlier this year.

See you Monday.

Mickalene Thomas, Marina Abramović, Leandro Erlich, and Rob Wynne Help Bake Cakes

Mickalene Thomas, Oh Mickey!, with Bob Spiegel of Creative Edge. Photos: 16 Miles [more]

Kreemart and American Patrons of the Tate recently asked some artists to bake cakes for a tasting event on November 3. Here's what happened:

Visitors arrived at Haunch of Venison late on Tuesday night to find Tom Wesselmann drawings — most showing naked, reclining women — cloaked in smoky, red light. The crowd of collectors, arts patrons, and gallerists had come for what had been billed as a tasting of cakes designed by artists, though such innocent pleasures appeared to be nowhere in sight.

Soon, young women, clad in nothing but tight, red shorts, knee-length sports socks, and red, patent leather stilettos marched out of a back room and into the main gallery main space, holding trays laden with slices of white-frosted cake. As Toni Basil’s classic 1980s dance track “Mickey” blared from speakers around the space, they halted at various points on the floor, struck confident poses in front of the crowd that had formed, and held the pastries close to their bodies.

— "Let Them Eat Cake" at Artinfo

Leandro Erlich, You can't have your cake and eat it too, with Sean Kelly and Guido Mogni of Sant Ambroeus








Marina Abramović, Abramović Experiment, with Dominique Ansel of Daniel.


Rob Wynne, Cake Cake, with Lidia Bastianich, Brooks Headley of Del Posto, Tabboo! and the Delusional Downtown Divas