mighty real/queer detroit at hatch art
Home/Happy Carefree and Gay with live performance by Vagner Mendonça-Whitehead
Hatch Art is proud to be part of Mighty Real / Queer Detroit: a grand-scale representation of the range and depth of Detroit queer art. "Home" and "Happy, Carefree, and Gay" are the themes at Hatch, a show that celebrates the contributions that the LGBTQ+ community has made to the Detroit art scene.
With drips, expressive marks and a dynamic palette, Family Seaside is a classically well-made abstract. Discernible figures and a touch of horizon substantiate the painting’s title.
From a distance this piece doesn’t read as delicate as it is. Origami folds and beaded strings supply texture and dimension. A figure in a hoodie turns from the viewer with hands in pockets concealing any detectable characteristics generating associations with misidentification that can result in violent assault. They gaze over a fence into a pond, perhaps containing the carp that frame this tranquil but loaded narrative.
Matthew Papa redefines the nude from the ubiquitous female presentation—think Manet’s Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe—to an equally beautiful treatment of the male figure. He uses projected colored lighting for drama while one finger, almost imperceptibly, indicates the nature of the subjects’ relationship.
On Thursday June 9th, Vagner Mendonça-Whitehead staged an hour of his ongoing endurance performance where he knits while listening to an audiobook. This piece combines meditation, active listening and anti-racism learning. “It aims to imply disturbance of public space, gender nonconformity, non-violent protest, and emotional labor, as well as epidemic/pandemic/endemic isolation,” Mendonça-Whitehead states. This image is a still from a 5-minute recording available to paid subscribers.
This year’s Mighty Real/Queer Detroit exhibition has been ambitious, poignant, beautiful and wildly successful. Thank you to the participating venues for supporting these voices.
Featuring: Robbie Aaron, Seuil Chung, Michael Connelly, Andrea Costantini, Cyrah Dardas, Gary Eleinko, Michael Gute, Bryan Hoffman, Tom Livo, Maura Latty, Matthew Papa, Gordon Price, Julie Sabit, James Stephens, Jeremy Tacon-Heaslip, Joyce Tinkham, Charzette Torrence, Kevin Weeder, and Vagner Whitehead.
On view through June 25th at Hatch 3456 Evaline Hamtramck
Artist Talk June 25th 2P-4P
Participating MR/QD spaces: Cass Cafe, College for Creative Studies, Detroit Artists Market, Galerie Camille, N'Namdi Center for Contemporary Art, Playground Detroit, Anton Art Center, David Klein Gallery, Affirmations Center, Hatch Art, M Contemporary Art, Norwest Gallery, Oloman Cafe, Public Pool, Collected Detroit, Metropolitan Museum of Design Detroit.
*images are mine except where otherwise noted
direct quote from exhibition materials
SHOWS OPEN THIS WEEKEND