Art, Memory & Celebration: A Multifaceted Evening at the ACFNY
NOVEMBER 19 | 4 PM (Doors) to 7.30 PM
Three events, one evening: Installation by Sascha Mallon, A(R)Talk on Austrian Jewelry Art, and a Festive Reception with Eva Petrič.
TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE
The Austrian Cultural Forum New York (ACFNY) invites you to an evening that bridges art, conversation, and community. On November 19, three distinct yet interconnected events will unfold across the Forum’s spaces: A poetic installation by Sascha Mallon, a performative A(R)Talk exploring a century of Austrian jewelry art, and the festive reopening of Eva Petrič’s seasonal installation Totem for Humanity – Tree of Life. This multifaceted gathering invites visitors to move between exhibitions and dialogue, reflection and celebration. Embracing the spirit of artistic exchange that defines the ACFNY.
4.15 PM | Exhibition View: “The Girl with the Green Apron” by Sascha Mallon | Upper Mezzanine
Inspired by the life and work of pioneering Austrian-American ceramicist Vally Wieselthier (1895–1945), New York–based Austrian artist Sascha Mallon presents The Girl with the Green Apron, a site-specific installation interweaving memory, myth, and modernism. Visitors are invited to join a curatorial tour offering insight into both the main exhibition “Vally Wieselthier: Sculpting Modernism” and Mallon’s special presentation, which forms part of this larger show. Image: Kevin Noble.
Drawing from Wieselthier’s childhood story of longing for a green apron, Mallon constructs a dreamlike landscape populated by symbolic creatures and sculptural motifs – from poppy-covered dreamers to a dog named Niki and a unicorn. The installation unfolds as a visual poem on identity, migration, and the reclaiming of women’s narratives that shaped modern art. Image: Sascha Mallon.
5 – 6.30 PM | A(R)TALK: A Century of Austrian Jewelry Art | Theater
In a performative talk set within an Austrian-style coffeehouse atmosphere, Stephanie Buhmann, Stephanie Morawetz, and Iris Hummer lead a lively journey through more than a hundred years of Austrian jewelry art. Through twenty key artistic positions – from Josef Hoffmann and Vally Wieselthier to Manfred Nisslmüller, Petra Zimmermann, and Ulrich Reithofer – the talk traces the evolution, diversity, and independence of Austrian jewelry design. This history is brought to life as a dialogue between past and present, highlighting the institutions, schools, and artist collectives that continue to shape Vienna’s vibrant scene.
6.30 PM | Reception: A Seasonal Celebration with Eva Petric | Lower Mezzanine
To conclude the evening, the ACFNY welcomes you to a festive reception celebrating the reopening of Eva Petrič’s beloved seasonal installation Totem for Humanity – Tree of Life. Commissioned by the ACFNY, this luminous, lace-formed work transforms the building’s vestibule into a symbolic space of unity and reflection. Installed annually from late November through early January, Totem for Humanity marks the beginning of the holiday season in New York, reminding us of the interwoven threads that connect humanity across cultures and time. Image: Kevin Noble.