The Insane Queen (2006) - Courtesy of New Museum

George Condo: Mental States
New Museum
Through Sun, May 8
Since first bursting onto the scene in the early 1980s with his unique adaptation of the language of Old Master painting, George Condo has created one of the most adventurous and provocative bodies of work in contemporary art. Condo’s work has been deeply influential to two generations of American and European painters, who have felt the impact of the artist’s astonishing technical ability, stylistic versatility and inventive subject matter. This exhibition is the first major U.S. survey of over 80 paintings and sculptures from the past 28 years of the artist’s career.

Festival of Ideas for the New City

Wed, May 4–Sun, May 8

The New Museum and scores of downtown organizations are working together to harness the power of the creative community to imagine the future city and explore ideas that will shape it. The festival includes a three-day slate of symposia; a StreetFest along the Bowery on May 7; and over 100 independent projects and public events (nearly all free) taking place on the weekend of May 7 and 8. The free NYC ARTS iPhone app is the Festival iPhone app.

Courtesy of the Brick Theater

TIME: A Complete Explanation in Three Parts
Brick Theater
Wed, May 4–Sat, May 14

New music ensemble thingNY and theater co-operative the Panoply Performance Laboratory (PPL) present a devised, multimedia work that zealously attempts to communicate one of humanity’s most important yet elusive concepts. The piece examines the histories, cultural role and science of time through print, video and the performance of experiments and sequences created collaboratively by the two ensembles.

Rebecca Lepkoff: Photographs of the Lower East Side: 1937–2007
Educational Alliance
Ends Sun, May 15

Providing a vivid panoramic portrait of an ever-changing neighborhood, this exhibit of the renowned photographer Rebecca Lepkoff at the Whittaker Photo Gallery in the Educational Alliance features photographs spanning 30 years on the Lower East Side.

Larry Lederman Courtesy of the New York Botanical Garden

Azalea Garden
New York Botanical Garden
Starts Sat, May 7

The 11-acre Azalea Garden comprises one of the largest and most diverse displays and one of the most important collections of the plant in the world. The opening of the new garden is celebrated over two festival weekends: May 7–8 (Mother’s Day weekend) and May 14–15.

Parsons Festival Courtesy of the New School

Parsons Festival
New School
Sat, May 7–Mon, May 23

Parsons The New School for Design presents this first annual festival showcasing its students’ creations. Exhibitions, screenings, thought-provoking public programs, interactive installations, fashion shows and other events culminate in a daylong block party on Sat, May 21