SMUT! III


{photo by Francesca Bates}

It’s that time again….The Lowbrow Society SMUT! show!!!

We are so excited that this years show will be held at 950 Hart Gallery, and will also be marking their 25th show to date!  950 Hart Gallery began in October of 2010 with four partners. It began as an experiment in developing a community art experience, and since then has grown into a bustling art hub featuring art by over 50 artists. Their shows focus on themes surrounding love, community, and hope.  Their mission has been to provide a loving and supportive environment for those engaged in the creative process. With this environment  they strive to showcase and garner attention for excellent artwork and further the maturation of young artists.

This years SMUT! show is broken down into two distinct events, so hold on to your pants (or not) and continue reading for our full SMUT! weekend line up:

FRIDAY MAY 4th:
Intersections of Erotic Performance Art & Pornography
*space limited*
RSVP HERE
PRESALE TICKETS HERE 

We welcome San Francisco’s Femina Potens art gallery for a night of film screenings, panel discussion, and interactive performance art on the intersections between erotic art and pornographic film curated in collaboration with Lowbrow Society’s Najva Sol.

The panel of feminists, queer artists, activists and counter culture renegades raise questions such as, where does conceptual performance work end and where does our libido begin? Is queer feminist pornography inherently progressive? And how do queer performance artists who are also in radical pornography, decipher the difference between what is art & what is porn?

SATURDAY MAY 5th:
SMUT! Artist Reception and After Party
RSVP HERE

Our opening party for the SMUT! group art show curated by Lowbrow Society Co-Director, Gwynn Galitzer, and independent curator May Yeung. Artists Francesca Bates, Jennifer Blowdryer, Bobby Busnach, Don Pablo Pedro, Anthony IaconoChris Retsina, Annie Sprinkle, and Gerry Visco deal with a variety of mediums and NSFW taboos from voyeurism, to female power through sexual liberation, to gender exploration, and everything in-between.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of any works in the show will be donated to Planned Parenthood as a reaction to the recent and illogical debate over female reproductive rights that reflect a crazed society bent on squashing what they consider SMUT.

Get your photo taken by Tamara Porras at our Lynda Benglis inspired photobooth!
Dance your pants off!
Buy some art!
Rip the sink out of the bathroom wall (again)!
Push your own boundaries!
Find someone to take back to your place!
Most importantly, get your butt to the show!!!

Check in here or on our FB page for more info, artists and music acts as they are announced.

 

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Dress Up / Get Down: About Our Performers

Have we told you all about the stellar line-up that we have stitched together for you, for Something New presents: Dress Up / Get Down? No? Well! Prepare to be amazed.

Mykki Blanco

Mykki Blanco is a rapper, poet, and performance artist living and practicing in New York City. This spring, Blanco will be releasing two musical projects: a new record, titled Mykki Blanco & The Mutant Angels, and an upcoming mixtape Cosmic Angel, to coincide with the premiere of her first ever music production slated to debut in May. She has performed at Art Basel, and most recently, this year’s Winter Music Conference in Miami. Website: mutantangel.tumblr.com  [Photo: Terry Richardson]

Rococo CaineSophisticated, yet transgressive, Rococo Cain combines classical dance and opera training with performance art. She has grace the stages of NYC’s most exclusive cabarets, Montreal’s sordid speakeasies, Buenos Aires’ chic puerto cerrados, and San Francisco’s seedy gay clubs. She has also appeared on MTV and the Oprah Network.

“An East Village socialite with a penchant for overarching, theatrical opulence.” – Urban Daddy

[Photo courtesy of the artist]

Ryan O’Connell

Ryan is a writer and editor at Thought Catalog. His work has also appeared in the New York Times, Huffington Post, BlackBook, Interview, Refinery 29, and Buttmagazine. He really likes shoegaze and The Olsen Twins.Website: Thoughtcatalog

[Photo: Danielle Reuther]

Leo GuGuGuGu is a true performer with a background in dance and fashion but is open to exploring all mediums of art. Patricia Field stylist by day, nightlife sensation and host of Eastern Bloc’s My Chiffon is Wet party by night, Leo commandes the room wherever he is and can get even the most timid wallflower up and dancing on a table.

[Photo: Ostin Torre]

Joseph Keckler

A Michigan-born singer and artist whose work takes form in music, interdisciplinary performance, video, and written narrative. He is interested in staging conversations among different art forms. Website: JosephKeckler.com

[Photo: Michael Sharkey]

Lucia Love“It’s true that I find the wedding of beautiful objects to economies history and unfortunate topic and a practice worth of disdain, but appropriating the language of couture takes some of this sting out. Making my own fashion feels a bit like having a burger made out of a sacred cow. Sophistication does not have to be a symbol of starus but rather, can be seen as a symbol of inventive communication once the economy is separated from the artistry.”- Lucia Love Website: LuciaLoveArt.com

[Photo courtesy of the artist]

Laura McMillianLaura was raised by a conservative Christian gym teacher in Alabama who taught her the importance of sexual purity and the art of owning a large collection of tracksuits. Six years ago, Laura moved to New York to pursue a career in fashion design, yet somehow wandered onto the beaten path of grotesque burlesque. She currently has a piece on exhibit in the Museum of Sex and is a regular performer at the Rubulad Art Collective in Brooklyn, as well as the Mudlark Public Theatre in New Orleans. Website: HuntingPlaid.com

[Photo courtesy of the artist]

3rd Earth Designs3rd Earth Designs was inspired by Brooklyn underground nightlife, meeting the versatile needs of traveling from industrial wastelands into booming warehouse parties. It originally started as an upcycled line and has branched out into items made of new materials. The creator, Tara McManus, took a break for a year to launch Fireproof, a line for fire spinners, and has now returned to 3rd Earth Designs to re-issue 5 new styles in many outrageous fabrics.
Website: 3rdEarthDesigns.com

[Photo courtesy of the artist]

Gerry Visco & the Twinks“Your life is crap. You need to learn how to have fun.” – Gerry Visco

Website: GerryVisco.com

[Photo courtesy of the artist]

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Are you ready for Something New?

Something New: Dress Up / Get Down

For the past few months, we’ve had our heads down over here at the Lowbrow HQ, brewing up some spectacular Spring events for you, and we’re excited to announce the launch of Something New! I’m excited, are you?

Something New is an underground creative showcase featuring a monthly hand-picked roster of our favorite brilliant creators from the NYC and surrounding areas.

Our first event is coming up on Tuesday, March 27th and is called “Dress Up / Get Down”. Check your press badges at the door – this is a night celebrating the other side of fashion. The side that’s not sponsored by a multi-million dollar car company; the side of fashion that’s happening in sewing studios and on the streets. We’re celebrating one of our favorite media: wearable art.

So what to expect?

Host and nightlife maverick Leo Gugu Geaux, avant-garde monster burlesque by Laura McMillan, cheeky readings from Thought Catalog editor Ryan O’Connell, a spandex circus runway show by Third Earth Designs, performance and videos by Andrea Diodati and Occupy Fashion Week, stylish rhyme-spitter Mykki Blanco, booty-short bumpin’ DJ Nolita Selector, and cosmopolitan cabaret by Rococo Caine.  We’ll also have local designers, including Klub Kid Vintage, prancing around in fresh duds, a mini pop-up shop, and a faux-shion contest with prizes donated by photographers, and local boutiques and event sponsors AUH2O, Yours Truly Brand and Uncropped Magazine.

Guests are encouraged to use this opportunity to show the world their inner-beauty, personality, and impeccable taste. Save the date, and get ready to dress up and get down!

PS. Here’s an insider tip: for your personal invite and a secret code to get reduced admission, RSVP at SomethingNewNY.com

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Gowanus Ruled, What’s up next?

Gowanus Art Fair was a raging success. Thank you for coming.

A few photos by the brilliant Saskia Khan (who had a video featured)

 

There’s so much more coming over the next few months that we can’t even begin to tell you!  Look out for more opportunities & open calls, and meanwhile- we’re over & out.

Lenora, Gwynn, & Najva

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Gowanus Art Fair Video Artist Announcement!

We are so happy to announce the chosen video artists for inclusion in the Gowanus Art Fair!  Thank you so much to everyone that submitted, you made the task of choosing extremely hard by sending us outstanding work.

Now, with out further adue (and not in any order)

VIDEO ARTISTS:

Rute Ventrua
Ezra Wube
Hidemi Takagi
Chris Ritson
Sean Martin
Cat Del Buono
Pedro Vidal
Dave Herr
Sarah Dahnke
Edward Salem
Najva Sol
Saskia Kahn and Aisha Jabour
Maria Liebana

Congratulations to everyone, we can’t wait to see you all on Saturday!

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The Gowanus Art Fair in PAPER MAG

Lowbrow Society is so excited to be a part of this! Only 5 days away, are you ready?

RSVP on Facebook if you haven’t already.

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The Gowanus Art Fair: Keeping it Small

 {Ghosts by Eddie Ochoa}

If you follow us on facebook/twitter you probably already know, but for those who don’t we are happy to announce our partnership with Collective BK in presenting the first ever Gowanus Art FairKeeping it Small will be one night of local bands, one-act plays, visual art and tons of surprises held at the Gowanus Ballroom.  This 12,000-square-foot steel mill turned artists space will transform for one night into a multi-staged series of small retrospectives.

Visual art and video projections from some of the best emerging artists of the moment, curated by May Yeung and Lowbrow Co-Director Gwynn Galitzer. Projections and installation by Arch Collective NYC, and live video mixing by lowbrow favorite Joshua Sophrin.  It’s only $10 to get in, and best of all…this is a not-for-profit event, all money after expenses will be given to charity!

More info after the jump, or check out the FB event pageRead More »

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NYC: Drag, Masks, & Mirrors- October 27th

Lowbrow Society for the arts presents
“Drag, Masks, & Mirrors: A night of queer readings on seeing and being seen”
hosted by two time National Queer Arts Festival Feature, Najva Sol, and witty scribe of McSweeny’s “balls-out” column, Casey Plett.

Bar Thalia at Symphony Space is queering up for Halloween.
Costumes, hilarity, heartbreak, confusion, and glitter to be included.

Performers include:
Katie Liederman (Go Mag, Curve Mag)
Kelli Dunham (Showtime, Discovery Channel)
Shirin Borthwick (NY Press, Flavorwire)
Dusty Horn (The Believer, Aorta Mag)
Najva Sol (Bitch Mag)
Casey Plett (Mc Sweeny’s)
Berlin Reed (The Ethical Butcher/Original Plumbing)
Wil Fisher (Xanadude)
Calla

Bar Thalia
2537 Broadway at 95th Street/ NY, NY
Doors: 7:30
Show: 8:00
Flamboyance highly encouraged
FREE for all

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CONNECTIVITY: Chosen Artists!

Thank you so much again to everyone that submitted, we will be in touch with you regarding our next open call!

And congratulations to our CONNECTIVITY artists!

Taney Roniger
Richard Lund
Riad Miah
Kate Bae
Joyce Yamada

Join us at Bar Thalia on Thursday, September 22nd at 7pm for an opening artists’ reception presented by Symphony Space.  More info to come tomorrow <3

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CONNECTIVITY: Open Call Is Now Closed

Our CONNECTIVITY open call is officially closed. Thank you to everyone that sent in work, we are truly blown away by what an incredible and enthusiastic response we’ve had. In just two weeks we received submissions from 127 artists! Now we have the impossible task of choosing the final artists to be shown. If you aren’t selected fear not, we would love to show your work in our next exhibit, cause seriously EVERYTHING we’ve received is GREAT. We would show all of it if there was more space!

Check in tomorrow for the list of chosen artists!

<3

The Lowbrow Ladies

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