I've found myself in a constant state of stress, anxiety, expectation, pride, disappointment, amazement, fatigue, adrenalin and exhilaration.
Have I begun a wild, torrid affair?
Moved to a new city?
Joined the NYFD?
Nah.
I've been co-producing (along with my new fave boy buddy Dror) an art festival.
I never thought I could find something to do that would so totally combine every aspect of my past.
When I was 16, I worked as a barker on the Long Branch Amusement Pier, calling people in to spin the wheel and win cigarettes. Closing night (this Friday), I'm supposed to be the art auctioneer.
At the age of 17, tired of pacing the gallery streets begging the snotty curators to look at my portfolio, I produced the first of several alternative art shows. Twenty years later ... here I am again.
I spent five years in my early 20s working as one of NYC's more flamboyant bartenders and five hours opening night ... making sure all the beer and champagne was iced down.
I've been a caterer in New York for 12 years now, and aside from the fact that I kept waiting for the bride to cut the cake ... I felt exactly like I was on the job at Friday's art opening. Actually, I was on the job. I catered opening night; 1,000 hors d'oeuvres, to be exact.
Thank God for Neil, my fabulous chef, who allows me to be in three places at one time.
In my late 20s, I joined up with some of my gal pals (which included two ex-lovers ... natch) and founded Nasty Girl Productions. We promoted wild girl nights and had the distinction of being the first dyke party in New York with strippers. We were even picketed by the dykes-against-pornography posse, many of whom I have since seen in women's clubs tipping go-go girls.
Of course, what have I been more than anything else? A promoter, handing out flyers, emailing, constantly on the phone, calling the newspapers, getting liquor sponsors ... and hey, we almost had a stripper opening night!
A woman with a full back tattoo paced about as the walking display piece for one of our artists. The artwork creeped down unto her waiting buttocks. Nice; very nice. I did not put any money down her backless, buttless dress, although it was very tempting.
Lastly and perhaps mostly ... I am and have always been an artist, either as a writer or a painter.
In this show I displayed my paintings with written text on them, I suppose this is my last ditch effort to try to smash both parts of my brain together. Everyone seemed to like it. I hope. Actually a few people said the work was powerful. I like that word a lot.
Powerful.
I guess powerful is how I've been feeling ... and yeah, pissed off, exhausted, burn-out and terrorized. With 13 artists and 7 performance artists in the show, I feel like the mom, but not of The Brady Bunch ... more like of the Osbourne clan.
I'm not sure where all of this is going, although I do know that we haven't even hit closing night yet, and Dror and I are already chatting up ideas for our next show.
I do know that producing a weeklong art festival/exhibition/benefit in Manhattan feels like a very excellent "fuck you" to the pricks who thought September 11th was going to crush our souls.
What better way to fight against terrorism: to survive and excel and help create something new and magical.
The labor pains have lasted six months, and I know I'm gonna have some vicious stretch marks, but the baby is pretty damn adorable.
By the way, if you're in New York this week, come to closing night! No strippers, but there are some sexy cocktail waitresses in low-cut red dresses. Don't put any money down their cleavage though; they don't seem to like that. ... Odd.
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REACTION
A Multi-Media Art Exhibition/Festival To Benefit the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council
At the DNA Studio Gallery
2174 3rd Avenue (between 118th and 119th Streets)
Friday, May 10, 2002
7-10 PM
Live Auction at 8 PM sharp.
Some art festivals open with a bash; Reaction did. 700 art lovers attended opening night, but Reaction has a lot more celebrating to do.
Closing night promises to be the biggest event of this weeklong art festival with a live auction, MC'd by two noted New York City performers: Joanna Lange and David Tornabene.
There will also be a night of music by the world famous DJ $mall ¢hange of WFMU!
...and special live performances by Laura Dubrule, Suzie Evjen and Max Evjen!
This week long Art Festival at the DNA Studio Gallery in Spanish Harlem, which opened May 3, offers a chance to celebrate the great surviving spirit of New York artists. Reaction explores the ripple effects of September 11th on the work of a wide range of painters, sculptors, photographers and performers working in a variety of media. Each artist shows samples of pre-9/11 work allowing the viewers to note whether or not subtle and sometimes not so subtle changes have occurred in their style, media, or subject material. The bulk of the work on exhibit are pieces created after Sept. 11th, 2001.
Fifty percent of all sales from the show go directly to The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, a non-profit organization known for having provided free art studios in The World Trade Center. Funds go towards LMCC's programs that provide workspaces, grants and exhibitions for emerging artists
throughout New York City. The remainder of income goes directly to the exhbiting artists. DNA Gallery is donating its space and services for the exhibition/festival.
Visual artists in Reaction include Gus Murphy, Brenda Bradley, Lisa Barnstone, Jeremy Garrett, Dan-thanh Ton-That, Kathleen Perkins, Dror Katz,
Rossi, Yehudit Feinstein, Fawn Potash, Melissa Cacioppo, Ed Williams and John Daquino.
Performance artists include Caroline Brown and Sally Sockwell, Laura Dubrule, Joanna Lange and David Tornabene, Suzie Evjen, and Jen Abrams.
Exhibition/festival produced by Dror Katz and Rossi.
Contributors- Campari, Anheuser-Busch, Coca Cola Enterprises, New York Beverage, Tri-Serve Party Rental, The DNA Studio Gallery, The Raging Skillet, Association of Community Employment Programs for the Homeless and Paul Smart
**Bring cash or checks for the auction **
Silent auction from 7-8 PM
For further information go to www.dnastudio.org, or call 212-289-8959.
