Join us at Sustain, Friday November 17th, for Ring True. A one night exhibition of performance art curated by Luis Mejico.

Ring True is a look back at feminist performance artists that have exhibited radical force in their practices. For this one-night event, the works of these artists will be reperformed by femme artists of today, as a means of honoring and remembering their work, while also understanding what their legacy opened the door to. The performers will include not only women, but also trans and non-binary peoples, as a means of recontextualizing and building upon the works.

“Why is femininity so often equated to softness? Is there not an inherent force, a power, a roughness in texture to the way feminine bodies withstand pain, scrutiny, and ridicule? Don’t feminine bodies deserve recognition for the way they remain stalwart when faced with a world unwelcoming, that treats them as things to be coddled and loved, rather than taken seriously? There is a radical strength within vulnerability. A power and force propelled by allowing oneself
to be susceptible that incites revolt towards oppression.”

These works all present what it means to be a woman – cis, trans, or nonbinary, the feminine experience can be defined as existing in radical opposition to that of the patriarchal male. The works invite audiences to interrogate their own participation in the continued oppression of women, as the reperformed works lose no potency or impact 20 or 30 years after their first iteration.
Luis Mejico reperforms Faith Wilding’s Waiting
Frida Fitter reperforms Yoko Ono’s Cut Piece
Kevi Montgomery reperforms Adrian Piper’s Catalysis III
Vicente Ugartechea reperforms Carolee Schneemann’s Interior Scroll
Uchenna reperforms Guillermo Gomez-Pena and Coco Fusco’s The Couple in the Cage
Kevin Whiteneir reperforms Martha Rossler’s Semiotics of the Kitchen
Celia Calder reperforms Hannah Wilke’s Gestures

This event is open to the public with a suggested donation of $5-$10
All ages with parental advisory

Luis Mejico is a multidisciplinary artist and independent curator. Xe has performed and exhibited work at the Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Contemporary Art of Chicago, Queens Museum in New York, Mana Contemporary Chicago, Links Hall, Zhou Brothers Art Center, The Oak Park Art League, The Uptown Arts Center, and Jan Brandt Gallery, among others. Xis first solo show, I Will Hurt You, recently opened in February 2017. Mejico just finished a summer-long fellowship at Oxbow, and will begin a curatorial project with AIR Gallery in New York, set to premiere in 2019. Xe is a 2017 FIELD/WORK Resident.

https://www.luismejico.com/

This event is in conjunction with ongoing installation, That Feeling When, by exhibiting artist Alex Peyton-Levine.

https://www.facebook.com/events/347330769046555

Sustain is a multi-media art gallery and consortium in Uptown. Featuring a selection of artwork, ceramics, zines and plants. Our work is sourced directly from artists, creators and their supporters.

http://sustainchicago.com/

Official Website

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Tags: Adrian Piper, Carolee Schneemann, Celia Calder, Chicago, Coco Fusco, faith wilding, Frida Fitter, Guillermo Gomez-Pena, Hannah Wilke, Kevi Montgomery, Kevin Whiteneir reperforms Martha Rossler, Luis Mejico, Ring True, Sustain Gallery, Uchenna, Vicente Ugartechea, Yoko Ono