Collecting Matisse and Modern Masters: The Cone Sisters of Baltimore
Currently on view at the Jewish Museum is “Collecting Matisse and Modern Masters: The Cone Sisters of Baltimore.” The exhibition tells the remarkable story of the two Jewish sisters, Claribel and Etta Cone, who amassed thousands of works of modern art by artists ranging from Paul Gauguin to Vincent Van Gogh. A close friendship with Gertrude Stein, which began in the German-Jewish social circles of Baltimore, led to connections to artists in Europe. The Cone sisters began collecting drawings by Pablo Picasso when he was virtually unknown, and early works by Henri Matisse when he was still disparaged as one of the “wild beasts” of the Fauve movement. On view here are paintings by Matisse that the Cone sisters avidly collected in the 1920s. Following her sister Claribel’s death in 1929, Etta continued to add to the collection, acquiring major works of sculpture as well as Matisse’s “Large Reclining Nude” — all which eventually became part of the Baltimore Museum of Art’s extensive Cone collection. “Collecting Matisse and Modern Masters: The Cone Sisters of Baltimore” remains on view at the Jewish Museum until September 25.

Lincoln Center Festival
New Yorkers returning from the July 4th holiday weekend will be welcomed back with a slate of world-class premieres at the Lincoln Center Festival. This year’s festival opens on July 5th with the U.S premiere of “A Magic Flute,” Peter Brook’s stripped down and intimate interpretation of Mozart’s masterpiece. At the Met Opera House, the Mariinsky Ballet, formerly known as the Kirov, returns to the festival for 8 performances. Highlights include the U.S. premieres of “Anna Karenina” and “The Little-Humpbacked Horse,” evening-length ballets by critically acclaimed choreographer Alexei Ratmanksy. And at the Park Avenue Armory, in a specially constructed replica of the theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, the Royal Shakespeare Company will present 44 performances of five Shakespeare plays. Over the summer, audiences can choose from among over 100 additional performances by ensembles and artists from some 20 countries.

Dance at River to River Festival
Downtown, at the World Financial Center, the River to River Festival presents “Extraordinary Moves,” a celebration of dance through film, art and movement. The festival is anchored by “The Dancer Films” -– a series of short films produced by Ellen and Judy Dennis. The dances are choreographed by Susan Marshall and Larry Keigwin and are inspired by the whimsical cartoons of Jules Feiffer. The films, directed by Judy Dennis, feature Big Apple landmarks like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Broolyn Botanic Garden and the Brooklyn Bridge in a celebration of dance and the city. A selection of Feiffer’s cartoons, which ran for 40 years in the Village Voice, will also be on view at the Courtyard Gallery of the World Financial Center. Feiffer himself will create new dancer drawings at a “dance-in” on July 10th. Additional live events include acrobats in a work inspired by the dancing waters of the Bellagio fountains in Las Vegas and dancers atop 13-foot poles.

Otherworldly
The Museum of Arts and Design invites you experience familiar worlds and enchanted landscapes, in miniature. “Otherworldly: Optical Delusions and Small Realities” is an exhibition that explores the art of diorama — both as art object in itself or as a stage in the artistic process. The exhibit features tiny hand-built installations that display meticulous attention to detail and the treatment of familiar environments made strange. Artists included in “Otherwordly” are connected by their low-tech and hand-made processes. For example, none of the photographic images in the exhibition have been digitally altered or manipulated. The exhibit challenges us to navigate the differences between the fantastic and the real.

Marilyn!
At BAM Cinematek, summer heats up with that quintessential American movie star Marilyn Monroe. Presenting 14 films over 13 days, Marilyn! traces the arc of the movie star ‘s career from walk-on to icon, in films ranging from “All About Eve” to “Some Like It Hot.” Often wonderfully typecast as a dumb blonde, Monroe was not frequently given the chance to shine in nuanced dramatic parts. But she showed she was much more than a mere beauty in roles that highlighted her considerable comedic talents, and her undeniable screen appeal.