PIÉCE DE CRAP

Forget about your Monets and Rembrandts. The second annual Bad Art Auction, presented by New York magazine, will be selling works of literally abysmal art to lucky bidders. Proceeds from the event—hosted by Judah Friedlander (the guy with the trucker hat from 30 Rock who is also auctioning off works from his own bad-art collection)—will benefit New York Cares, in case anyone feels guilty about paying money for crap. Last year’s auction featured a colorful print of former NASCAR driver Richard Petty and a portrait of a tunic’d nerd throwing a piece of chicken pot pie, so you can just imagine what gems will be on sale this time. But don’t go assuming bad art means a cheap buy; selections flew way past the $100 mark last time: The chicken-pot-pie piece, for example, sold for $240. Indie rockers Xiu Xiu follow the auction.

Wed., Nov. 19, 8 p.m., 2008