Conversations: Loren Cameron @ AU

Loren Cameron is a revolutionary photographer and trans activist. Meet him and see a slide show of his work next week. Cameron came gained notoriety with his book Body Alchemy: Photographs. Although getting to AU is a pain don't miss this rare opportunity.

Loren Cameron
Wednesday, April 2nd at 8:15pm
Room 200 @ American University

[photo courtesy of lorencameron.com]

On View: Marlon Riggs @ 6th & I

Marlon Riggs ignited controversy with his 1987 film Tongues Untied. At a time when HIV/AIDS was ripping through the gay community, Riggs called gay culture on it's continuing racism. In this piece Riggs brings performance art, video, documentary and dance perfectly together. I remember watching this piece in college and losing it. Tongues Untied is truly powerful and entertaining art (snapp-ology is my favorite part).

A friend of mine worked at a PBS station in Buffalo, NY when Tongues Untied originally aired in 1991. The station received so many homophobic threats that employees had to be escorted home by police.

After the screening a panel discusion called: African-American and Gay: 20 Years Later will be held. Panalists include: Ron Simmons, PhD Executive Director Us Helping US and Cast Member Tongues Untied; Sylvia Rhue, Director of Religious Affairs, NBJC; Earl Fowlkes, President, Int'l. Federation of Black Prides; and moderated by Earl Plante, NBJC and One in Ten.

Tongues Untied: Screening and Panel Discussion
March 26th @ 7pm
Sixth & I Synagogogue 600 I Street NW
$10 (tickets are available online)

Weekend: Craigslist @ Civilian Art Projects

Andrea Pollan director of the The Curator's Office put together one my favorite shows in recent years. Working directly with Civilian Art Projects she confronted the cultural and artistic challenges of this online communitiy.

Craigslist features the talent of:

Joseph Dumbacher
John Dumbacher
Jason Horowitz
Jason Zimmerman
craigslist @ Civilian Art Projects
Friday, March 21 - Saturday, April 26, 2008
406 7th Street NW, 3rd Floor

[images by steven frost, work by jason horowitz (top), jason zimmer (middle, bottom)]

On View: Hatnim Lee @ Transformer

If you didn't make it to the packed opening for Hatnim Lee (Corcoran College of Art + Design '06) at Transformer Gallery this weekend... Don't worry, it's on view for several more weeks: Wednesday - Saturday, 1-7pm & by appointment (through April 26th).

If you did make it and can't get enough Hatnim (god knows I can't) check out her blog.

Hatnim Lee: 09.06-12.07 @ Transformer
March 22nd -April 26th
1404 P Street, NW

[image courtesy of hatnimlee.blogspot.com]

Weekend: Pics from Project 4 and Randall Scott

On View: Lisa Blas: meet me at the mason dixon

Meat Market Gallery presents Lisa Blas' collection of strange objects from the South. If you're not attending the WPA Art Auction this is the next best place to be.

Opening Friday, March 7th, 6-8:30pm
1636 17TH Street NW

meatmarketgallery.com
lisablas.com

(courtesy of lisablas.com)

On View: Patrick Holderfield: pilgrim

Project 4 features another dynamic young artist this weekend. Saturday, Patrick Holderfield (BFA, SUNY Buffalo) unveils his new series, pilgrim. Holderfield said this series is about "a journey that is both benevolent and manevolent." This series reminds me of the work of Julie Mehretu or Irvine Contemporary's Ju-Yeon Kim. Holderfield adds an architectural and painterly element not present in their work.

Patrick Holderfield: pilgrim
Opening: Saturday, March 8th, 6-8:30PM
@ Project 4
903 U Street NW, Washington, DC.

(photo courtesy of project4gallery.com)

On View: Cara Ober: i am who i pretend to be

Some bloggers may encourage DC art collectors to buy up screen saver dots on paper but I would spin them in the direction of Cara Ober. Thank you Randall Scott Gallery for showing Baltimore based artist Cara Ober. She's a little bit graphic designer, print maker, and story teller. Ober blends together the typical urban outfitter style of Victorian decals and flash graphics with a post secret sensibility.

Washington Post art critic, Blake Gopnik recently wrote about Christine Bailey's exhibit New Work, where she assimilated Ober's style in a series of prints. Bailey (currently at the School 33 Art Center in Baltimore) propelled Ober further into the limelight.

Ober previously showed at Flashpoint Gallery in DC and currently teaches at MICA, John Hopkins Univesity, and Towson University.

Randall Scott Gallery

Opening Saturday, March 7th 7-9pm

1326 14th Street NW, Washington, DC

RandallScottGallery.com

CaraOber.com

(photo courtesy of caraober.com)

Bus Trips: Whitney Biennial

The Whitney Biennial opens on Thursday. It's safe to say I will avoid the crowds and head north next month. The Whitney has developed a great website featuring bios and background info on all the artists in the exhibit. Including this year are the artists: John Baldesari, Robert Bechtel, Leslie Hewitt, and Frances Stark. Spend some time with this site.