here's the scoop-
R E V E A L E D
The Tradition of Male Homoerotic Art
May 12 - May 29, 2010
OPENING RECEPTION
May 11 (Tues)
6pm - 8pm
(George Platt Lynes, Male Nude (Bill Harris), 1945.Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction.
(c) The Estate of George Platt Lynes)
Robert Mapplethorpe's frank depiction of gay male sexuality both fascinated and shocked viewers when his retrospective exhibition, The Perfect Moment, opened around the U.S. from 1989 to 1990. In the twenty years since then, Mapplethorpe's renown has grown, but his art often elicits the same ambivalent response today. Yet, even Mapplethorpe's most notorious photography shares the same homoerotic intent as the artwork of one of the most revered masters of Western Art, Michelangelo, and of many others.
This exhibition, Revealed: The Tradition of Male Homoerotic Art, not only shows the similarities between Michelangelo and Mapplethorpe; it also asserts an artistic tradition of male homoerotic intent by gathering images of same sex desire that evolved over time from something secretive, suppressed, and suggested into something public, accessible, and explicit.
(DON HERRON. Mapplethorpe - Tub Shot, 1976- Leslie-Lohman Gay Art Foundation, New York. © Don Herron)
These paraphrased paragraphs from the curator's essay explain the aim of the exhibition, which first opened at the Central Connecticut State University Art Gallery in New Britain, Connecticut, on March 18, 2010. This landmark exhibition, which offered one of the broadest historical surveys of male homoerotic art ever presented at a public educational institution, now moves on to the Leslie/Lohman Gay Art Foundation in New York City.
(JAMES BIDGOOD. Apache, mid-1960s- Clamp Art, New York. © James Bidgood)
The viewer experiences a tour de force survey of the homo-sensual, homo-erotic, and homo-sexual male figure, spanning over a hundred years, from the late nineteenth century to the present day. Robert Mapplethorpe's provocative work from the late 1970s faces the exquisite and elegant photography of George Platt Lynes from the 1940s and 50s, which is also prominently featured in the show. The rarely seen Sex Parts (1978) by Andy Warhol, of Pop Art fame, mingle with homoerotic artwork by early 20th century masters, including Marsden Hartley, Charles Demuth, Paul Cadmus, Jared French, Pavel Tchelitchew, and Andrey Avinoff, as well as the campy but skillful drawings of Tom of Finland. Artists who openly explored gay identity in the era from Stonewall to AIDS include James Bidgood, Arthur Tress, Don Herron, Duane Michals, Paul Blanca, Mark Morrisroe, and Keith Haring. Robert Rauschenberg, who also treated homosexual themes in this era but in a much more subtle way, is represented by a photographic print of his one time lover, Jasper Johns (Ruminations series). Elsewhere, the vintage photographs of Von Gloeden and Plüschow; the classic photography of Horst P. Horst, Hoyningen-Huene, and Minor White; and the beefcake photography of Al Urban, Bruce of L.A., and Bob Mizer, reveal the inspiration and roots for artists such as Stanley Stellar, Herb Ritts, and the young 21st century contributor Mikel Marton, whose work indicates an innovative new direction for homoerotic art. Finally, fetish meets fashion with Rick Castro and advertising embraces homosexuality with David LaChapelle, both representing a visual culture that extends beyond the traditional confines of the "History of Fine Art."
(RICK CASTRO. Tony Ward as Biker Babe, 1997. Antebellum Gallery, Hollywood, © Rick Castro)
While the imagery in this exhibition mostly offers a celebration of the sensual male nude and homoerotic expression, a thoughtful and startling art installation by curator Robert Diamond takes us beyond the images and wall text and reminds us of one the exhibition's political undercurrents: a history of suppression and secrecy shaped the development of homoerotic art, and homophobia continues to affect the creative and artistic output of gay artists, as well as their personal lives. It reminds us of the importance of this exhibition, which seek to break no new ground academically but puts some thirty years of earnest gay art scholarship into mainstream consciousness. Although this is, in some ways, a new era for the representation of gay people in the arts, this exhibition defies the unwillingness at an institutional level to study and showcase gay history or to acknowledge gay presence in visual culture.
Curator Robert Diamond, who admitted that organizing this exhibition was a journey of "defying the odds," concludes his official statement with these words: "If this exhibition reveals more parts of the male anatomy than are usually seen in public exhibitions, it also reveals a need for recognition of and freedom of expression for homosexual artists. I hope the celebratory nature of this exhibition offers much to savor and to reflect on long after leaving the exhibition space."
Revealed: The Tradition of Male Homoerotic Art runs from May 12 to May 29, 2010. The opening reception takes place on Tuesday, May 11, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. All events are free. Regular gallery hours are 12 noon to 6 PM, Tuesday through Saturday.
All other inquires may be directed to- wayne@leslielohman.org
ABOUT THE LESLIE/LOHMAN GAY ART FOUNDATION
Described by Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times art critic Holland Cotter as "...a thoroughly nonmainstream pearl beyond price," the LESLIE/LOHMAN GAY ART FOUNDATION (LLGAF) is a non-profit foundation established to provide an outlet for artwork that is unambiguously gay and which is often denied access to mainstream venues. Founded in 1990, the Foundation mounts exhibitions of art in all media by gay and lesbian artists emphasizing subject matter that speaks to queer sensibilities, including works with erotic, political, romantic and social imagery. LLGAF also provides special support for emerging and underrepresented artists through The ARCHIVE (a quarterly art journal) and a permanent collection of more than 3,000 works, including pieces by artists Duncan Grant, Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, Jean Cocteau and Robert Mapplethorpe. Leslie/Lohman is the premier resource for anyone interested in the rich art legacy of the LGBTQ community and its influence on and confrontation with the mainstream art world.
LESLIE/LOHMAN
GALLERY
26 Wooster Street
(between Grand & Canal)
NYC 10013
(212) 431-2609
www.leslielohman.org
Gallery Hours
Tuesday - Saturday
Noon - 6pm
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