Activism, Social Identity and Body Politics at Frieze Los Angeles 2020
From a collective dance with Patrisse Cullors, to an inspiring talk with Ta-Nehisi Coates, dive into today's most urgent ideas with artists and non-profits
From a collective dance with Patrisse Cullors, to an inspiring talk with Ta-Nehisi Coates, dive into today's most urgent ideas with artists and non-profits
The second edition of Frieze Los Angeles brings together artists, activists and non-profits organisations to invite fairgoers to support and engage with contemporary social issues.
Non-Profits in the Backlot
As part of the curated program, an artist street fair will bring together socially committed non-profits such as Arts for LA, Artists for Democracy, Women's Center for Creative Work and grantLOVE, bridging art, activism and education, and offering visitors accessible ways of supporting them.
Frieze Projects
A performance by Black Lives Matters co-founder and artist Patrisse Cullors invites visitors to participate in a collective dance to reclaim time, space, and energy, especially for participants of color, who face a continued state-sanctioned racism and violence. The Frieze Projects performance will include merch and information in support of Reform LA and Black Lives Matter. This performance is part of the fair's curated program in the backlot of Paramount and will take place daily (Thu 3-4pm and Fri-Sun 2-3pm).
Other Frieze Projects offering a space to reflect upon ideas of self-fashioning, racial identity and Black autorship include a video installation by acclaimed artist Lorna Simpson, artwork by Jibade-Khalil Huffman, and paintings and an interactive photo studio by Gary Simmons.
Focus LA and a Special Talk with Ta-Nehisi Coates
In Focus LA, Various Small Fires (VSF) presents a solo booth with LA-based artist Calida Rawles. Her hyperreal paintings merge photo-realism with poetic abstraction, portraying African-American figures submerged in water. Echoeing religious rituals and elements of healing, Rawles attempts to wash away America's sins against the black body and touch upon topics of colorism, intersectionality and marginalization of the black woman. Calida Rawles will also be in conversation with curator Christine Y. Kim (LACMA) and author Ta-Nehisi Coates, about his latest book The Water Dancer. Book tickets here.
Main Section
A two-person presentation with new works by Derrick Adams and Lyle Ashton Harris offers a personal yet political exploration of African American heritage. Pairing Adam's ‘We Came to Party and Plan‘ series with Harris' assemblages of Afrocentric materials, Salon 94's booth aims to create an immersive space to explore globally shared experiences.
Plus many more!
Frieze Los Angeles takes place at Paramount Pictures Studios from February 14 to 16, 2020. Limited tickets are still available.
