You are cordially invited to the 4-Lecture series BREAKING THE GAY CODE IN ART supported in part by an Arts grant from the City of West Hollywood.
The lectures, which include free parking, will take place on the topics and dates indicated below at the LA LGBT CENTER, Anita May Rosenstein Campus, Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Senior Center, 1118 N. McCadden Place, Los Angeles, 90038. The first one is on Wednesday, March 15 3- 4 pm.
LECTURE #1: QUEER ARTISTS AND THE GODS: A SEXY COVER-UP MADE IN HEAVEN WEDNESDAY MARCH 15, 3-4 PM
Queer artists all over the world and from all eras have used classical, religious and mythological images as a perfect alibi to showcase beautifully homoerotic bodies. Get ready to see icons such as Saint Sebastian and some of the most important artists in history with completely new eyes.
LECTURE #2: QUEER DESIRES HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT: WEDNESDAY APRIL 19, 3-4 PM
Renowned queer artists of all eras created astonishing gay, lesbian and gender-fluid imagery hiding in plain sight. Undetected by the general population, these coded images, as well as portrayals of bathers, wrestlers, sailors, and athletes allowed them to express taboos and secret same-sex relationships in a way that wasn’t punishable.
LECTURE #3 : THE DOUBLE LIVES OF ICONIC QUEER ARTISTS: WENESDAY MAY 17 , 3-4 PM
Many queer artists created mainstream work which they showed openly, as well as homoerotic work which they, destroyed, hid or circulated just among friends. Discover Caravaggio’s audacious life, John Singer Sargent’s secret muses, the extraordinary female artists living in “Boston marriages” and Frida Kahlo’s intimate relationships with Georgia O’Keeffe.
LECTURE #4: DECODING THE CLOSET IN AMERICAN ART: WEDNESDAY JUNE 21, 3-4PM
Some of the most iconic images in American art and popular advertising history, from Thomas Eakins’ “Swimming” to J.C. Leyendecker’s groundbreaking Arrow Man ads, to Grant Wood’s “American Gothic” and Andy Warhol’s “Campbell’s Soup” were created by queer artists. Discover the connections behind their complex sexual lives and their trailblazing work
Hope to see you there!
Ignacio Darnaude
Thanks to Wehoville for letting me know about this lecture series. I attended the first one yesterday and I was blown away. The speaker did a tremendous job informing us about aspects of art history that were news to me, particularly the huge contributions of queer artists, which are not discussed in museums or in schools. Some of the images and stories he shared were jaw-dropping. It was extremely well researched and explained, entertaining and accessible. I’m planning to attend all four lectures and I encourage anyone who loves art to do the same. Thrilled that the LA LGBT Center… Read more »
As an artist myself, I can’t wait to attend these lectures to learn about the huge impact of queer artists in art history. My experience is that museums avoid addressing artists’ queerness, which in many cases is crucial to their work. Finally someone is discussing it openly. Looking forward to it!!
Oh Lordy….I hope they have a bouncer for the mens room at that location.
Actually, the lectures are described as covering both male and female artists so all bathrooms may need bouncers
This is WeHo in 2023. They will have to include male, female, AND other or we’re all gonna catch Hell for it.
I didn’t realize that it’s 1995.
These lectures sound amazing. I plan on coming. Finally, queer history brought to light.
Thanks for posting this WeHoVille!
What an exciting lecture series. I can’t wait to attend them. Thanks to the City of West Hollywood and to the Los Angeles LGBT Center for sponsoring such an important and relevant event. Keep them coming!
good grief
OK was not involved with Kahlo – Kahlo’s fantasy that they were.