While today’s sweet Valentine’s Day rituals are far removed from its violent roots in Ancient Rome, February 14 often brings a touch of tension. It’s a time for contemplating romantic love, accompanied by the stress of planning the ideal date or rejecting plans altogether. This year, consider letting the vibrant city guide your experience. Embrace the artistic spirit in the air and let creativity lead the way. After all, it’s just another Saturday with a good chance of scoring some free heart-shaped treats. Here are 10 artsy cultural events that dive into themes of desire, intimacy, passion, and tenderness.
An Exhibition About Sex and Cults: A perfect outing for your whole polycule, the Museum of Sex presents ‘Utopia: Three Centuries of Sexuality in American Cults and Communes.’ This exhibit highlights 20 historical ‘intentional communities,’ ranging from the Shakers to the Cockettes, exploring the intersection of spirituality and sexuality with over 300 artifacts, photos, films, and garments.
Nightlife Ephemera at Dover Street Market: For graphic design aficionados, a showcase of rare 1970s and 1980s NYC nightlife print materials might be more thrilling than a lover’s handwritten note. Geoff Snack, founder of Wrong Answer and curator, comments, ‘We look to the past to explore design that got it wrong in exactly the right way.’
Writers Against the War on Gaza’s Reading and Raffle: WAWOG, advocating for a cultural stance supporting Palestine, hosts an event for the most revolutionary romantics. Proceeds benefit a local fund for Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees and The Sameer Project’s Ramadan Campaign.
“Ask for a Love Note” at Brooklyn Museum: If you’ve ever wanted to ask those typewriter poets for a personalized poem but felt too shy, the Brooklyn Museum offers a chance to be a muse for the Poetry Society of New York all afternoon.
8Ball Zine Fair and Afterparty: 8Ball community radio station brings its renowned zine fair to Bushwick’s Life World, with 43 exhibitors showcasing their printed creations from 2 to 7 pm. Enjoy a casual meal nearby and return at 9 pm for the afterparty.
Vaginal Davis: Magnificent Product at MoMA PS1: Only two weeks remain to experience Vaginal Davis’s expansive exhibition at MoMA PS1, showcasing five decades of her gender-challenging art, making V-Day an ideal time to explore her creative universe.
Women’s History Museum at Amant: Amant in Brooklyn offers a poignant take on love with its winter program finale. The Women’s History Museum presents their first U.S. institutional exhibition, ‘Grisette à l’enfer,’ with custom garments, sculpture, prints, and videos exploring femininity, labor, and worth.
Film Forum’s Tenement Stories Series: Celebrate love by relaxing in a dark theater and witnessing tales of yesteryear. From February 6 to 26, Film Forum features 50 films spanning a century of American cinema, in collaboration with the Tenement Museum.
Shop for Vintage Valentines and Bespoke Millinery: Surrender Dorothy, a new concept store founded by Leah Hennessey, Ruby McCollister, and Arabella Aldrich, offers a treasure trove of exquisite visual inspiration, highlighting underground designers and artisans.
¡Bailamos! at Museum of the City of New York: If past awkward school dances haunt you, the Museum of the City of New York invites you to create fresh memories with its salsa and mambo night. Taking a break from dancing is encouraged, as the exhibition space stays open late.
