Sunday, September 21, 2008

Desperation in Los Angeles October 26-November 16

After stops in rural Illinois and New York City, The Audacity of Desperation will open in Los Angeles Sunday October 26, 2008 at Sea and Space Explorations.

Taking to heart the idea that random acts of kindness are central to social change, each artist has made a work of art in multiple editions visitors to the exhibition can take away. The exhibition creates a free exchange of ideas that challenges the culture at large as well as the international art market of which Los Angles has become a central location. The exhibition includes a series of events addressing the Nov. 4th elections:

Sunday October 26: Exchange Rate: 2008 presents performances in the gallery space. Exchange Rate: 2008 is an international performance exchange organized by artist Elana Mann in response to the US presidential elections and includes artists from Brazil, Denmark, Israel, Mexico, South Korea, Ukraine, and the US among others.

Saturday Nov. 1: Evil Dead 8: the end is near, a Day of the Dead inspired memorial for the final days of the Bush administration. Celebrating the end of one evil while not knowing what is lurking ahead, Evil Dead 8 includes skill sharing, music, dancing, a bookmobile project created by Irina Contreras and Kelly Besser called The Miracle, and guerilla interventions by AK-Ami and her mother Maleeka Kobrah.

Tuesday November 4: Election returns will be projected in the gallery with several of the participating artists present and Lee Azzarello and Sarah Kanouse "Voices of America” internet radio project will be broadcast.

Saturday November 8: FOCUS Group Findings -- What Now?
Jeff Foye and Gordon Winiemko, present their findings from focus groups staged this summer as part of Trade and Row’s Campaign Trail project. The duo solicited ideas about ways artists can reclaim their power in the political process. Stay for a dance party following the presentation.

Sunday November 9: A screening of video works that address the numerous political disasters, violations and obfuscations of the past eight years. Curated by Nancy Popp. 6-8pm

Sunday November 16: “So now what?” or “HOLY FUCK! NOW WHAT?” Whether it is Obama/Biden or McCain/Palin, immediately after the elections we’re still in debt, looking for work, without universal health care, and occupying Iraq. Adam Overton and Nancy Popp facilitate conversation and activities that will lead to concrete actions to make change in our own communities.

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The stakes are changing as we near the November 4th elections. When we first came up with the concept and curated the show, we had room not to focus in on specific candidates or personalities. It has come back to the cult of personality culture that is US politics. Which makes it even more important to offer critical analysis of systemic issues and not just get lost in the fray.

This is of course tricky when we are in the midst of a presidential race that has shifted the playing field many times resulting in the phenomena of a black man who rose to prominence as a community organizer being criticized for elitism, a rich white woman became a working class hero for a minute, and the 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling did not resuscitate feminism but instead left us with a gun-toting, anti abortion, evangelical pin-up girl turned hockey mom VP candidate.

Yikes.

Check out the new links posted addressing some of the issues of race and gender being discussed these days. Some are probably familiar, some are hopefully new information. Send us more to share.

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