Hammer Time

tater, R, and I went to the Hammer Museum tonight for the Kara Walker exhibit.

The sign says it all.

Leave the kids at home, folks. Ms. Walker has a penchant for penises, poo, and profanity.

But her work is not scatological without purpose.

An excerpt from my program:

She has created a poignant body of work that addresses the very heart of human experience, notions of racial supremacy, and historical accuracy. The exhibition, the first comprehensive grouping of the artist's work to date, features paintings, drawings, collages, shadow-puppetry, light projections, and video animations that offer an extended contemplation on the nature of figurative representation and narrative in contemporary art.

Drawing her inspiration from sources as varied as the antebellum South, testimonial slave narratives, historical novels, and minstrel shows, Walker has invented a repertoire of powerful narratives in which she conflates fact and fiction to uncover the living roots of racial and gender bias.

Really interesting and impressive stuff. I spent much of the exhibit saying, "Ugh!" while simultaneously thinking, "Wow!"




In terms of method, I marveled at the precision of all the cut paper. Seriously cool.

In terms of message, Walker's exhibit challenged me to see beyond unsettling silhouettes and to ask myself just why the silhouettes were unsettling.

Stark. Simple. Deep.

After enriching our minds, we went to enrich our tummies.



Diddy Riese wasn't the only deliciousness tonight. tater was sporting her new Tory Burch Patent Thora Thongs.

Mmm.