Fabian Pena’s Skull Made From Fragmented Cockroach Wings

If you are looking for an unforgettable “Oh Wow,” experience to take you away from the mundane and fill an hour or two of your all too limited leisure time, look no further than Manhattan’s Museum of Art & Design (MAD), where you’ll find one “Oh, Wow” reaction after another on the two floors occupied by a unique exhibit called Dead or Alive. Brought to you by the creative minds of over thirty international artists, Dead or Alive features sculptures and installations made up of such things – some formerly living, some merely by products – as botanical specimens, feathers, silk cocoons, bones, hair and insects. If you enjoy the idea of The Museum of Natural History filled with the work of Damien Hirst (who is also a participant) this exhibit is for you.

The Apothecarium Moderne

While I was pretty much blown away by each work, I was especially fascinated by Tim Tate and Marc Petrovic‘s collaborative installation, The Apothecarium Moderne, which resembles a 19th century apothecary. Take a closer look though and you’ll see that the contents of these bottles represent cures for modern day ills such as Loss Of Faith, Financial Insecurity, Identity Theft and Erectile Dysfunction.

Levi Van Veluw Landscape Self Portrait

I really loved Jennifer Angus’ insect-occupied dollhouse set against a background covered with thousands of exotic dried insects pinned to mimic the designs of vintage wallpaper. There was also an amazing light installation matrix of mounted wire cubes filled with tiny white lights, each light contained within a dandelion seed puff. So beautiful. Oh wow, you really must check out this exhibit. The best part is that you have lots of time to see it, and then see it again.

Dead Or Alive at The Museum of Arts and Design, located at 3 Columbus Circle (near 59 Street and Central Park West) runs through October 24, 2010. Admission is $15.00.

Christy Rupp’s Dodo, Mauritius (2007) Made From Fast Food Chicken Bones

Mad Cow By Billie Grace Lynn, Full Cow Skeleton Covers Working Motorcycle