(image by Nayland Blake)
No Wrong Holes: Thirty Years of Nayland Blake is a career-spanning survey of the work of the mercurial artist who explores such challenging issues as America’s painful racial history and the AIDS crisis through sculpture, performance, and drawing. It is also an exuberant celebration of personal and political liberation, making visible Blake’s complex identity as a queer, biracial, nonbinary person. A focal point of the show is an installation of their voluminous record collection — from disco to punk, hip-hop, and beyond which visitors can utilize to DJ, providing entertainment for fellow visitors, thereby remixing Blake’s personal aural archive through their own lens.
This Sunday, on the exhibition’s last day, Blake has organized their “First International Intergenerational Gender Discard Party” at performance and music venue Zebulon. The 21+ event will feature an irreverent “Gender Reveal Party” from Nao Bustamante, performing as Conchita, an eight-and-a-half-month pregnant Zumba instructor aided by fellow artist Marcus Kuiland-Nazario as Doula/Hype-man Cecilio. Industrial-noise-house duo Xina Xurner, composed of Young Joon-Kwak and Marvin Astorga, will bring their infectious brand of high-energy, cathartic performance. Party games include “BYOB: Bring Your Own Baggage,” in which guests are invited to bring gendered clothing items to discard and swap; an open mic; and a makeover station. An all-star line-up of DJs — including curator Jamillah James, performance legend Ron Athey, and founder of queer film and performance platform Dirty Looks Bradford Nordeen — will keep the party going well into the night.
When: Sunday, January 26, 8pm–11:59pm
Where: Zebulon (2478 Fletcher Drive, Frogtown, Los Angeles)
More info at ICA LA
