Ralph Fasanella and Willem Van Genk at The American Folk Art Museum.

If you're around Lincoln Center, (and if not a special trip is well worth it) you might want to check out the two marvelous shows that are on now. The Willem Van Genk show is quite remarkable. Consisting of dense quite large works of "paintings" made up of cut clippings,notebook drawings, ads and more that show Genk's love for transportation and urban centers. They pretty much defy description, one simply has to see these complex works in person. Although Genk was diagnosed with behavioral problems as a child in the 1960's he traveled far and wide recording his impressions in these works and notebooks and drawings. In the 1980's he also made wonderful models of buses and trolleys from discarded stuff that look like they were in some pretty bad accidents and some of these are also on display. What I could have done without is his raincoat collection (very nice Willem) that take up a large wall that could have been better used by showing more of his terrific works. Also on view is a large helping of the self taught painter Ralph Fasanella who received a lot of attention in the late 60's for his intricate politically aware and cinematic vivid large paintings. For a time he was all the rage, and what is great about this show is how great his paintings are and what a pleasure to see such a large helping of them. I have never seen his paintings in person, as a teen I knew them from the press so this was an eye opening experience for me. They charm us with details, but he was also very aware and concerned about the political scene and injustices going on in the country and the world. Both shows are only up until Dec. 1 and admission is free.