Phoenix Art After Hours with The Needle Drop

Thursday, February 4, 2010:


The Wadsworth Atheneum was the first to embrace the presentation of cutting-edge contemporary art in the context of an “encyclopedic” museum through its MATRIX program, which began in 1975 as a series of single-artist exhibitions that have showcased more than 150 artists, providing many with their first solo museum exhibition in the United States . The museum is continuing this tradition with Kitty Kraus. German sculptor Kitty Kraus’ installation of mirrored lightboxes—which emit dizzying beams of light that transform the gallery space—provides an exciting reintroduction to the series, and the exhibition opening at Phoenix Art After Hours from 5-8 p.m.

Beginning at 5 p.m. on Thursday night, our friendly internet-neighbor The Needle Drop’s Anthony Fantano will spin some of the newest sounds from around the world. The Needle Drop’s tagline, “It's nothing but songs you've never heard on albums you haven't seen by bands you don't know,” might as well be the motto for MATRIX.

Taking a cue from the creative installation of Kraus, the theme for the evening is light. Experience light in motion with a dance performance by the Hartford City Ballet and after cocktails and a “Small Talk” from Kitty Kraus, stick around for the 1997 film Insomnia starring Stellan Skarsgård. In Troms , Norway , where the sun barely sets, the police hunt for the murderer of a 15-year-old girl. This intense thriller is certain to leave any audience at the edge of its seat.

Phoenix Art After Hours takes place the first Thursday of every month. Sponsored by The Phoenix Companies, Inc., First Thursdays at the Wadsworth Atheneum offer a wide variety of programming—art, live music, cocktails, gallery talks, and films—in addition to reduced museum admission starting at 5 p.m.

This event is free for Phoenix employees and all Museum members. Admission is $5 for non-members.

Kitty Kraus / MATRIX 158 will be presented from February 4 to May 2, 2010.

The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is located at 600 Main St. in Hartford , Connecticut . The Museum is open Wednesdays to Fridays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, please visit www.wadsworthatheneum.org.