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Laura Aguilar
Cathy Begien
Lavielle Campbell
Alex Donis
Carlee Fernandez
Ulysses Jenkins
Michael Massenburg
Stacy Pyles
Hunter Reynolds & Maxine Henryson
Hank Willis Thomas
Lisa Diane Wedgeworth
MonaLisa Whitaker

Curated by Bruce Picano

April 7 - June 15, 2007
ArtNight Reception event: Saturday, April 7, 6:00 - 8:30pm
1639 18th Street, Santa Monica

Cross Sections examines identities related to race, gender, and sexuality by a diverse group of artists. These twelve emerging and mid-career artists speak to their personal experiences and observations and have pictured themselves or people with whom they can identify or relate. Working in photography, painting, sculpture, and video, they explore the ways in which they situate themselves within and find connections to these broad classifications. The exhibition images confront the viewer with insight, emotion, and unflinching observations.

MonaLisa Whitaker has created self-portraits in opposing costume and attitude representing expected norms of masculine and feminine appearance and behavior. Laura Aguilar photographs her nude body in nature as abstracted forms that force us to confront our own ideas about beauty and sensuality. Lisa Diane Wedgeworth’s examination of the texture, movement, and style of African American women’s hair encourages a dialogue about the acceptance or rejection of cultural signifiers, self-identity, social interaction, and conformity with societal expectations. Hank Willis Thomas transposes the physical symbol of ownership, the flesh-searing brand, onto the commercial landscape of corporate labeling and the objectification of the African American male body. Alex Donis offers the viewer an unexpected space of suspended animation in which the antagonistic relationship between street-gang members and police officers become homoerotic encounters involving dance.

CLICK TO READ CURATOR STATEMENT.

18th Street programs are supported by the James Irvine Foundation, California Community Foundation, Trust for Mutual Understanding, National Endowmwnt for the Arts, Santa Monica City Cultural Affairs Division, L.A. County Arts Commission, National Endowment for the Arts, Dana Foundation, J. Paul Getty Grant Program, and others.

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