My Taste in Men - March 21-25, 2011

My Taste in Men is a project by Onya Hogan-Finlay that maps a queer archive from the holdings of ONE National LGBT Archives. To see these works for yourself please visit ONE Archives at 909 West Adams Boulevard in Los Angeles and make a contribution to our shared LGBT history.

Thank you for coming to The Gayle & Ed Roski Master of Fine Arts Gallery at USC in Los Angeles to celebrate the closing reception of My Taste in Me on March 25th, 2011 and for making the night a success!

These photos of the closing reception event  and installation shots of the exhibition are by Joshua White Photography, Byan Yen, as well as lifted from TryHarderBlogspot.com and courtesy Onya Hogan-Finlay.

Gathering for the walk-though of the exhibition lead by ONE Archivist, Loni Shibuyama and Art Collection Curator, Mia Locks as well as President, Joseph Hawkins.

 Viewing Homofile Industrial Complex and Reed Erickson vitrine displays, custom wallpaper and paintings (left) and peering into the archival installation (right).

Detail shots of archival installation with original protest placards (c. 1980s-1990s), photocopied reproductions of Vice-Versa (1947-1948), video (78:15 min) of Chuck Rowland interviewing Lisa Ben (editor of Vice-Versa) and artist/activist Donna Smith in 1988.

Video of All-American-Jewish-Lesbian-Folk Singer, Phranc (left) with her ukulele singing, "If you knew Susie (Like I know Susie)". This song was written in 1925 and previously performed by male impersonator, Miss Hetty King. JJ Levine (of Montreal, Quebec, CANADA) making L.A. look hot(ter) with her "Lesbian Haircuts for Everyone"! (right).

 

Behold, The Miracle Bookmobile sets-up shop outside the MFA building to redistribute and exchange used literature for your reading pleasure, for FREE. The Miracle always accepts new donations of all kinds of printed matter.

Viewing station for video of ONE Archivist, Michael C. Oliveira, presenting the Society for Pat Rocco Enlightened Enthusiasts (SPREE) scrap book (left). This giant felt banner, made by an unknown artist(s) circa 1990s is a reproduction of ONE Magazine's cover from May 1957 originally designed by Eve Elloree.

Owen Trainer by Gordon Pollack, 1993-1994 (painting on far left), Greg Lougani's Speedo (signed and framed), Amyl nitrate pill box by B. Bow, 1970 (box in pocket of blue jeans mounted on board), Abstract Fold #119 by Rick Herold, c. 1970s (painting), painting by unknown artist (painting of bursting heart with inscription “HARRY: I HOPE THAT THIS BIRTHDAY IS SO GREAT YOU SHIT YOURSELF”, Homage to Jean Genet by John Quitman Lynch, 1971 (painting on far right). Lougains's Speedo (detail, right).

 

The Many Lovers of G.I. Joe by Tomata du Plenty, 1991 (painting on far right), Marty's Party by Mel Wiken, 1978 (large painting in center), Morris Kight by Don Bachardy, 1992 and Ground Zero, 1969 by Paul Butler, 2000 (two paintings on far left). And, Vitrines of archival displays and paintings by John Quitman Lynch and others (right)

Self-Portrait by Jim Highland, 1951(painting on far left), Tom and Nat Johnson by John McAlister, both 1976 (center paintings) and Moon Walk by Alva Rogers, 1945 (far right). Paintings are installed against wallpaper with motif that illustrates excerpts from the biography of transender educator, philanthropist, and ONE Archives benefactor, Reed Erickson.

Lesbian Content Vitrene, curated display of early publications including WOMAN POWER T-shirt by Ivt Bottini, Dyke Sex Calendar 1990, Lesbian Concentrate (LP), issues of Hag Rag, Lesbian Tide, Onyx, Furies, The Ladder, ONE and Deneuve Magazines and more! Artist Sidney Bronstein's personal photos, drawings and correspondences with ONE (c. 1945-1955) in the Homofile Industrial Complex Vitrine (right).

Gay Wedding by Mel Wiken, 1979 (painting in foreground on far left). And, paintings with unknown titles, respectively, by Cerveny (painting on tan interior wall, date unknown), and Manning, 1984 (painting in foreground) above twin video viewing stations (right).

Title unknown by Wayne J. Fox, 1990 (painting on far left), Eddie Ayers by John McAlister, 1978 (painting in center) and a painting by an unknown artist (title and date also unknown) (far right). Fagots-Stay Out! from Barney's Beanery in West Hollywood, c. 1985 (right).

THANK YOU

Co-Sponsors:

USC Libraries, Roski School of Fine Arts, GPSS, USC Lambda LGBT Alumni Association and the LGBT and Ally Resource Center of USC
The exhibition was shaped in collaboration with; Brooke Woosley, Shin Fujita, and Sarah T. Kang of We Are Matik design, Meredith Bayse, Phranc and The Miracle Bookmobile, with special consultation from architects Frank Escher and Ravi Gunewardena. Printing of custom designed wallpaper was generously donated by Astek Inc.
Warm thanks to my thesis committee members: Jack Halberstam, Bruce Hainley, Frances Stark, and Charlie White.
I would like to recognize ONE Archives Board Members, archivists and staff members: Joseph Hawkins, Tracy Moore, Thomas De Simone, Carol A. Grosvenor, Bud Thomas, Loni Shibuyama, Micheal C. Oliveira, David Mia Locks, Evans Frantz, and Susan McCullough for their contributions to this exhibition.
Special thanks to:
Linton, Courtney Dailey, Paige Gratland, Marty Windah, Samantha Roth, Leila Pourtavaf and Montreal de-install crew, DJ Lynne T, Jen Smith, Dwayne Moser and my fellow students in USC MFA classes of 2011 and 2012 for their elbow grease and feedback, 

and from the lifetime of encouragement from Mary Hogan-Finlay and Padraig Finlay!

My Taste in Men

March 21-25, 2011

Gayle and Ed Roski Master of Fine Arts Gallery, IFT Building USC
University of Southern California

3001 South Flower St

Los Angeles, CA

Gallery hours: Monday- to Friday, 10 AM- 5 PM
Closing Reception
Friday, March 25: 6-10pm


ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives joins Onya Hogan-Finlay, Master of Fine Arts (MFA) candidate at the University of Southern California’s Roski School of Fine Arts, to launch, My Taste in Men. 

This exhibition examines hidden treasures from the ONE Archives art and archival collections and features a range previously “unseen” holdings including paintings, drawings, photos, videos, fanzines, postest placards, periodicals, buttons and banners that date back to early homophile culture, as well as FBI files on blacklisted artists.


The exhibition will conclude with live presentations at a closing reception with refreshments on Friday, March 25th featuring:

• 6 - 10 PM - The Miracle Bookmobile will distribute free, used queer literature from co-founder Kelly Besser’s Jeep. 
• 7 PM - Exhibition Walk-through with ONE Archivist Loni Shibuyama and Visual Art Collections curator Mia Locks will provide historical context, counterpoint and quirky anecdotes for the artworks and archival material on display. 
• 8 PM - “All-American Jewish Lesbian Folksinger”, Phranc with her ukulele musical interpretations of vintage Vaudevillian songs originally sung by male impersonators in a short video screening.

The exhibition has been designed with LA-based design trio We Are Matik and offers visual excerpts from LGBT sub-cultures. For example, the life story of ONE Archives’ first benefactor, philanthropist and pioneer of transgender social justice movement in America, Reed Erickson, is narrated through custom designed wallpaper. The installation strategically juxtaposes artwork by men with archival material of women (early lesbian publications, T-shirts, comedy albums, ect...) to reveal the disparity between genders represented in the Archives’ collections. The exhibition also includes work by anonymous and little known artists such as Sidney Bronstein whose life’s work contributed to Dr. Alfred Kinsey's research, activist Donna M. Smith, editor of Vice Versa, Lisa Ben and many others.


My Taste in Men is made possible by generous support of the following co-sponsors: ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, Roski School of Fine Arts, GPSS LGBT and Allies Concerns Committee, LGBT Resource Centre, and Lambda LGBT Alumni Association. Consultation from EscherGuneWardena Architecture and wallpaper printed by Astek Inc.


About ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives

Incorporated in 1952, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives is the oldest ongoing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) organization in the western hemisphere. ONE Archives is dedicated to collecting, preserving, documenting, studying, and communicating LGBT history, challenges, and aspirations. With more than two million artifacts, ONE Archives is believed to house the largest collection of LGBT memorabilia in the world. 
Visit ONE Archives online.


COME OUT!

xoxoxOnya

Facebook Event
Article about Miracle Bookmobile by Chris Vargas on Original Plumbing blog.
Phranc's Cardboard Cobbler blog.

Launch of ONE Offs: DROP OUTS - Monday November 15, 2010 7:00-9:00PM in Los Angeles

ONE Archives and Onya Hogan-Finlay present the launch of a new feminist and LGBTQ cultural series this fall  
ONE Offs: DROP OUTS
November 15 from 7:00-9:00 PM
 

What happens when an artist drops out of the art world? What has driven thousands of women to gather at a separatist music festival in Michigan for the past 35 years? How can we interpret the decision of one woman to boycott communication with other women? Drop by the world’s largest LGBTQ research collection on Monday, November 15th to explore these questions through new projects about the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival and the legacy of American artist Lee Lozano (1930-1999).

Guests enter the discussion following brief show-and-tell presentations by writer/curator Sarah Lehrer-Graiwer, actor/musician Daniela Sea and artist/organizer Onya Hogan-Finlay. Refreshments will be served. (See address and link to google map below) 


ONE Offs: DROP OUTS will feature presentations by...    

Onya Hogan-Finlay is a Canadian-born artist, organizer and MFA candidate at the Roski School of Fine Arts at USC. She co-founded the touring exhibition projet MOBILIVRE-BOOKMOBILE project (2001-2005) and her drawings have appeared in LTTR, The Younger Than Jesus Artist Directory and C Magazine.  

Onya will show documentation from a recent action entitled, What Would Lee Lozano Do? that she performed while working as a sign painter at the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival. This project explores individual and collective expressions of separatism through the lens of an art historical subject and a temporary feminist community.

Sarah Lehrer-Graiwer is an art writer and curator in Los Angeles pursuing ongoing research on Lee Lozano. Earlier this year, she organized Joint Dialogue, an exhibition examining the relationships between Lozano, Dan Graham and Stephen Kaltenbach for which a catalogue is forthcoming.  

Sarah will present work from her on-going research about artist, Lee Lozano. A radical figure committed to "total revolution simultaneously personal and public," Lee Lozano left us a still-volatile body of work--drawings, paintings, text, documents--that continue to resist assimilation long after she dropped out of the New York art world in the early 1970s, moving beyond art.  

Daniela Sea is an actor, artist and musician based in Los Angeles. She brings her creative west coast perspective and extensive traveling experiences to her roles in film and video work, including Shortbus (2006) and The L Word (2004-2009). 

Daniela will be joined by Eden Batki to share stories and images from their hybrid installation, Archive Project. Collaborating with artist Dawn Kasper and photographer Eden Batki, Daniela captured interviews on site at the Michigan Womyn's music festival in August of 2010. This work-in-progress represents, preserves and archives the voices of over 150 of the multi generational and culturally diverse women at the 35th annual Festival.

 

About ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives 

Incorporated in 1952, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives is the oldest ongoing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) organization in North America.


ONE honors the past, celebrates the present, and enriches the future of all LGBT people by fostering acceptance of sexual and gender diversity through support of worldwide education and research about LGBT heritage and experience. ONE Archives is dedicated to collecting, preserving, documenting, studying, and communicating LGBT history, challenges, and aspirations and with more than two million artifacts is believed to house the largest collection of LGBT memorabilia in the world.

ONE Offs are free bi-monthly events featuring live presentations by feminist and LGBTQ artists, writers, activists and students. Each session introduces audiences to thematically grouped interdisciplinary projects that seek to expand understandings of the archive. Take part in this dynamic gathering and add your voice to the archives!   


Location: 
ONE Archives, 909 West Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90007
Free parking behind ONE from Scarff St.  $5 Donation Requested. 


This project is a co-presentation of:

ONE Archives, USC's LGBTA Committee at GPSS, Roski School of Fine Art, and LGBT Resource Center.


Facebook event