THU.SEP. 28
Center Orientation & Out and Faithful ”Out and Faithful: LGBT People, Religion and Spirituality” series kicks off its 2006-2007 season with an open house to introduce our community to places of worship representing a variety of religious traditions and spiritual paths that are welcoming and affirming to LGBT people in New York City. Come learn about the many places to pray, chant, sing, and worship that embrace and celebrate all sexual orientations and gender identities. These are the spiritual homes that can give lives greater depth and meaning, and which, for many, provide additional avenues for developing community and life-long friendship. The LGBT Community Center, 208 W. 13th St. 212-620-7310. 6:30 p.m. Free.
Celebrating Willi Ninja Queer Black Cinema presents “A Tribute to Willi Ninja and Other Ballroom Legends,” an event in honor of Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija, Marcel Christian, Eriq Christian Bazaar, and Gerald Dupree LaBeija. Activities will include a reading of “Legends” by event host, spoken-word poet, and House of Xavier founder, Emanuel Xavier, plus a screening of Wolfgang Busch’s film “How Do I Look: From Fantasy to Reality.” Enter the $3 raffle to win signed a copy of “How Do I Look?” All proceeds go to Esther Leake, mother of Willi Ninja, in honor of all of Willi Ninja’s contributions to the LGBT community. The LGBT Community Center, 208 W. 13th St. 212-620-7310. $6 in advance, $8 at the door; limited seating. Group rates available for 20 or more at 347-789-1070 or queerblackcinema.com.
Shen Wei Dance Arts A contemporary dance company imbued with Asian aesthetic, New York-based Shen Wei Dance Arts makes its Joyce debut with the New York premiere of “Re-,” a work based on the spirituality of Tibet’s culture, people and land with music sung by Choying Drolma, a Tibetan nun. The evening also includes “Rite of Spring,” a kinetic conversation between movement, music, and visual images set to Fazil Say’s four-hand piano version of the Stravinsky score. The Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Ave. at 19th St. $38 at 212-242-0800. Thru Oct. 1.
The Man In My Head With all roles played by Obie Award-winning actor Darius de Haas (“Running Man,” “Children of Eden,” “Marie Christine”), this R&B tour-de-force follows Drew Durango’s search for a loving relationship with a rock-steady African American man. Along the journey toward self-discovery, complications arrive in the form of a handsome attorney, a Zen-like basketball coach, a deluded bride-to-be, a hard-partying male nurse, and Drew’s teenage nephew visiting from the Midwest. “The Man in My Head” is a vibrant coming of age story that celebrates African American men who love men. The powerhouse solo performance depends upon de Haas’ near boundless resources. “We set out to craft a piece of musical theatre in a one-person format that is neither a cabaret nor a retelling of de Haas’ life,” says composer/lyricist Michael Wartofsky. The result is a multi-character fictional narrative in which a young man begins to recognize himself, but only after falling down a rocky path of complicated relationships. 45th St. Theater, tonight at 8 p.m., Sat. at 4:30 p.m., and Sun. at 8 p.m. $20 at nymf.org or 212-352-3101.
FRI.SEP. 29
Lesbian Cinema Arts Established in 1991, Lesbian Cinema Arts remains the only ongoing film series nationwide dedicated to showcasing films specifically for a lesbian audience. On the fourth Friday of every month (except July and August), Lesbian Cinema Arts presents genres of comedy, documentaries, drama, foreign films, shorts and works in progress. Lesbian Cinema Arts provides a venue for lesbian filmmakers and videographers and seeks out work that is reflective and inclusive of the diverse lesbian community. This month LCA presents “The Journey” by Chicago filmmaker Ligy J. Pullappally. In an idyllic Indian village, two life long friends fall in love, but their lesbian relationship causes a scandal in the community. When Delilah’s mother discovers that she is romantically involved with Kiran, she forces Delilah into an arranged marriage in order to mollify the scandal and preserve the family name. Delilah suggests to Kiran that they each marry a man and continue to see each other whenever possible! Kiran refuses; she cannot live a lie. Will their paths ever cross again? Where will their journeys take them? Where will their journeys end? “The Journey” has been honored with the Chicago Award from the Chicago International Film Festival, The Lankesh Award for India’s Best Debut Director, and the John Abraham Special Jury Award for Best Malayalam Feature Film. 6:15 p.m. social, 7 p.m. screening at The LGBT Community Center, 208 W. 13th St. 212-620-7310. $10/$6 center members.
Unveil The Blythe Eden Dance Company of Albuquerque, New Mexico, tours their most provocative work called “unveil,” a series of coming out stories. This dance-theatre work features seven dancers, text, and live musicians presenting original music compositions by New York City composer Jennifer Ruffalo. This work embodies the heart of the company’s mission to provide movement invention with socio/political intention. 7 p.m. The LGBT Community Center, 208 W. 13th St. 212-620-7310. $15.
Of(f) The Street Graham Blondel makes noisy pictures. When trawling the streets of his native city, Sydney, or scouring the alleys of Beijing, Bangkok, Paris or New York, he creates a trompe l’oeil mind game from the lewd and loud image bits he collects. Witty and whimsical, yet clever and caustic, he pastes and paints pictures and words into a detritus dialogue that tempts us to look again at absurdities that surround us. But he is anything but a visual trickster—a three-way conversation between Chairman Mao, Colonel Sanders, and Frida Kahlo seems plausible; as might a military makeover in Burberry; or dogs in control of the dada and the do do; or an abrupt rebuke of East meets Best. It may be of the streets, and off the wall, but it’s always on the mind. Pearl Street Gallery, 57A Pearl St. in DUMBO. Fri.-Sun. 12-5 p.m. 646-338-9636. Ends Oct. 1.
SAT.SEP. 30
Finding and Keeping a Husband Jim Sullivan, author of “Boyfriend 101” will lead this workshop on how to assess a mate. Learn the five stages of relationship building—and why many men get stuck in stage one—and the skills required to maintain a monogamous and sexually satisfying partnership. Discover the top 25 Places in New York City to meet husband material and learn how to customize your own dating action plan to jump-start your love life. Join other single men in this informative, fun, and results-oriented workshop, a combination of lecture and interactional exercises. 1:30 p.m. at The LGBT Community Center, 208 W. 13th St. 212-620-7310 Reservation suggested. $30 at 212.946.6560
Transgressive Gloss Accomplished fashion photographer Steven Klein has created a series of iconic yet risqué images not just of Madonna and Branjolina, but Tom Ford, Justin Timberlake, David Beckham, and Naomi Campbell, treating these superstar subjects as actual collaborators in order to realize his own vision. Willing to subvert their own images, they show us that even modern celebrities can experience the existential ennui that we all feel from time to time. Wessel + O’Connor Fine Art, 111 Front St., Suite 200, btwn Adams and Washington Sts. in DUMBO. Through Nov. 4. 718-586-1700.
Tradiciones Pier Queen Productions in association with Yamil X & Megatop celebrate Latin and Hispanic Heritage Month 2006 with a showcase of performance art, dance, music and spoken word by New York’s own and highly-praised Latino artists Emanuel Xavier, La Bruja, Edwin Torres, Anthony Rodriguez, El David and DGuevaras. “Tradiciónes,” a benefit for the Nuyorican Poets Café features some of New York City’s most significant voices from the Latin community. From writers/performers like Miguel Piñero to Willie Perdomo, the Nuyorican Poets Café has provided a stage and nurtured the talents of many of our most captivating spoken word artists. Featured performers include Emanuel Xavier, La Bruja, Edwin Torres, Anthony Rodriguez, El David, and Dguevaras performing Latin rock-infused vocals, guitars, and drums. 236 E. Third St. 7 p.m. $10 at 212-505-8183.
SUN. OCT. 1
Visual AIDS Every month, Visual AIDS invites guest curators, drawn from both the arts and AIDS communities, to select several works from the Frank Moore Archive Project. For September, Jeffrey Walkowiak curated the current on-line exhibition “Do You Remember the First Time?” Sexual awakening is a subtle progression that beckons the feelings of lust, desire, love, shame, fear and hope. These feelings transcend description and yet are often recalled by visual references. This collection of images from the Visual AIDS slide library gesture towards these emotions through their simplicity, playfulness, seriousness and their ability to emote. The most visited HIV/AIDS-related site on the web, The Body contains a rich collection of information on topics ranging from HIV prevention, state-of-the-art treatment issues, humor, and art. thebody.com/visualaids.
MON.OCT. 2
Uncle Lige’s Sword Eric Rhein presents a selection of his wire drawings and sculptures from the last decade. Rhein creates delicate constructions from wire, paper, and found objects, weaving personal stories and experiences into intricate patterns. Works from “The Leaf Project,” which Rhein conceived in 1996 to pay tribute to friends who had died of complications from AIDS, anchor the exhibition with recognition of the magnitude of loss during the height of the epidemic. The work reflects the transformation that Rhein has experienced as a long-term survivor, from a concentration on AIDS-specific issues to a broader reflection on humanity and the natural world. Rhein dedicates this exhibition to the memory of his uncle Lige (Elijah) Clarke, a pioneer along with his lover Jack Nichols, in the Gay Rights movement of the late 1960s and early ‘70s. The sword is used as a metaphor for Clarke’s courage and indomitable spirit. Manhattan-based Rhein has been exhibiting his sculptures and wire drawings for over 20 years in the U.S., London, Paris, Munich, Stockholm, and Tokyo. Free. The LGBT Community Center, 208 W. 13th St. 212-620-7310. Through Nov. 3.
TUE.OCT. 3
I See No Stranger Sikhs live in the popular imagination—they are known for their courage and resolve, and for their striking appearance and distinctive dress. Less well known, however, are Sikh beliefs and ideals, and the roots of Sikh culture and art in the traditions of North India. This exhibition will present approximately 100 works from the sixteenth through the nineteenth century, including paintings, drawings, textiles, metalwork, and photographs that identify core Sikh beliefs and explore the plurality of Sikh cultural traditions. The Rubin Museum of Art, 150 W. 17th St. Through January 29, 2007. Mon. & Thu. 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Wed. 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Fri. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sat. & Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. $10; free on Fri. from 7-10 p.m. 212-620-5000.
Last Chance Andrea Meislin Gallery is pleased to present “Arena,” the first New York solo exhibition for Toronto artist Frank Rodick. In the artist’s own words, the title of this exhibition refers to “a place of spectacle, a place of combat and/or entertainment, a place where we come together to watch other members of our species encounter each other in ways that perhaps take us simultaneously outside of ourselves and deeper within.” Each photograph within the series evokes a wide spectrum of primeval human emotions, taking the viewer on “a journey into primal territory.” The imagery is often highly sexual, suggesting pleasure and ecstasy, while concurrently evoking pain and death. These oppositions are also present in the compositions of each work, which are at times deep and confining, and ambiguous and distant, especially in the depiction of a typically intimate, tangible, and inviting subject matter. The juxtaposition of these conflicting sensations directly confronts and provokes the viewer. 526 W 26th St., # 214. 212-627- 2552. Through Oct. 7
WED.OCT. 4
Brian Brooks Moving Company The queer young choreographer presents his latest work for his dynamic troupe, “again again,” working with repetition and rigorous physicality, pushing the limits of endurance and perception. Dance Theater Workshop, 219 W. 19th St. $20 at 212-924-0077. Through Oct. 7
THU.OCT. 5
Georgia Boy This cabaret show is a true story of Robert Vest, a former evangelistic music minister (think Jerry Falwell) who was married with three children and trying to ignore his homosexuality. He came out. He divorced his wife. He lost his job. He lost his religion, was shunned by the church. He had to move to away. Leaving children … now 14, 13, and 11, he moved to New York to be embraced by gay society… not… and is still trying to rediscover himself through his religious beliefs. He will be moving back to Florida to be with children in October, and with this show, is in the process of reinventing himself. Tonight and Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. The Triad Theater, 158 W. 72nd St. 212-352-3101 or theatermania.com. $15 cover plus two drink minimum.
gaycitynews.com
