(all photos by Mama)
Why, hello honeys! Mama’s gonna take you on a tour of the current NYC exhibit Party Out Of Bounds: Nightlife As Activism Since 1980 (throughout Oct. 10) at La MaMa Galleria presented by Visual AIDS. Now, I know many of you can’t attend the exhibit so Mama brought her trusty little iPhone and took a pot-load of pictures so yinz (sic) can live vicariously. ‘just like the Louvre on-line! So, grab yourself a dirty martini (or any beverage of your choice), “park it” in your Lazyboy, toss your mac on your lap and enjoy the following photos!
Full disclosure: Mama is the mama of one of the co-curators, Emily Colucci. And, what a proud mama she is! Emily and her co-curator (and fellow FD contributor), Osman Can Yerebakan worked their tails off for “God-knows-how-long” on this show. And, they are quite a team! ‘like Butch Cassidy and Sundance (‘reference too old?), finishing each other’s sentences, laughing at each other’s jokes, visiting artists, writing moving essays…spending a lot of time working together and they’re still friends! Amazing.
Mama’s thoughts on Party Out Of Bounds: Mama loves this exhibit, not just because her baby was co-involved, but because of the multifaceted messages. There are and have been many art/photography shows based on the AIDS epidemic. And, who hasn’t been personally touched by a loss (Mama’s family has) or knows of someone who continues to live with HIV/AIDS? I believe this is why Emily is so passionate, in the exhibit and in her writings. What Mama likes about this exhibit is the JOY, the elevating of the lives, not the deaths, of those passed, and the living now. The JOY of the clubs, the propinquity of community and the dissemination of pertinent information…and the dancing. And, oh!, the dancing! Like Emily and Osman, who literally danced at Jessica Whitbread’s No Pants No Problem party (another disclosure: so did Mama and her honey, Daddy!), we dance for the past, we dance for the present and for the future. We dance for the pure JOY.
Nayland Blake, Still In Hock, 2015, Steel and disco balls
Nayland Blake, Freek Victory Zone (In Memorium: The Fag Club),, 2015, Vinyl banner and plastic
Dean Johnson in Nelson Sullivan, Gabriel Rotello’s Eclectic Circus at Limelight, March 10, 1986 , DVD-R
Kia Labeija, Death Mask, 2015, digital print on metal
Lovett/Codagnone, Death Disko: Fanzine Rack, 2015, Paint, magazine rack and mirrored Plexiglas
Installation view of drawings by Chloe Dzubilo
Nayland Blake, Entry (In Memorium: Club Uranus & The Box), 2015, Wood, plexi, duct tape, rope and plastic
Eric Rhein, Ode to El Mirage, 2011, book cover and found objects
Marc Lida, The Saint, c.1982-83, watercolor on paper
Installation view of vitrine with David Wojnarowicz, John Sex and Keith Haring ephemeral materials
Genesis P-Orridge, Sigil For Derek Jarman (To Eternity), 1994, mixed media
Kia Labeija, Rebirth, 2015, digital print on mirror
Charles Lum, black (n, adj.), 2004, DVD
Caldwell Linker, The Bars Are Our Churches, 2015, Beadwork and plate
Detail of Caldwell Linker’s The Bars Are Our Churches
John Waters, Rush, 2009, Polyurethane, oil, PVC plastic
Chad States, A Towel For The Gods, 2013, Gold silk and hand embroidered gold silk thread
Installation view of vitrine including the Aldo Hernandez Archive, CLIT CLUB Archive/Julie Tolentino and Linda Simpson’s My Comrade
Installation view of photo wall including photographs by Elegance Bratton, Luis Carle, Robert Getso, Peter Hujar and Joseph Modica
Lovett/Codagnone, Obliterated 2, 2015, Unlit neon signs, rubber strap and metal hooks
Jessica Whitbread, NPNP Facilitating Makeouts Since 2004, 2012, Cloth, felt, glitter and underwear
Scott Ewalt, Gaiety Male Burlesk, 1994, mixed media
Nelson Sullivan, Ethyl Eichelberger’s Leer at 8BC, July 27, 1985, DVD-R
Hunter Reynolds, Untitled, 1998-2015, photo weaving
Wu Tsang & RJ Messineo, Alter (Life Chances), 2011
Wood, spray paint, photos, frames, plastic flowers, rhinestone clutch
Conrad Ventur, Untitled (Amanda Lear, “Follow Me”), 2015, Mixed media installation: mirror ball, motor, wire, projected video animation using footage found on YouTube
Mama, I’m so glad for your review. I’m constantly touched by this show–so much was put into it–and I’m grateful for access to it even though I couldn’t make it. You need a talk show. Love ya!
I’m so touched by your lovely comment, Marion!…and from a co-founder of FD! I was glad for the opportunity to share my photos and thoughts.
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