'Manifest Equality' advocates for civil rights

Agit-prop has a long and venerable history in Modern art, and the practice is alive and well in Hollywood now through Sunday. "Manifest Equality," a sprawling show in the cavernous, former Big Lots! discount store on Vine Street, just south of Sunset Boulevard, assembles a wide variety of works by more than 150 artists, famous and unknown, to advocate for civil rights.

The impetus is the ongoing saga of Proposition 8, which, since passing in 2008, has prohibited marriage between homosexual partners in California. The show has a snazzy website, with a wonderfully ticklish home page, by Commune Design.

More than any individual work, the overall exhibition design is what resonates. Fragments of a house have been erected inside the store, with disparate paintings, photographs and graphics hanging on its surfaces, inside and out. The motif smartly recalls the 1970s work of the late sculptor, Gordon Matta-Clark.

Several things are accomplished at once. The house design highlights the crucial importance of domestic life in the LGBT community, where a general absence of public models leads to a premium placed on creativity and inventiveness. The array of broken building-parts suggests the stresses, strains and fracturing of family life caused by the routine discrimination embedded in hundreds of state and federal laws. And, last but not least, house fragments evoke the high stakes for the nation identified by no less than Abraham Lincoln, for whom "a house divided against itself cannot stand."

Lots more photos are after the jump. For more information on hours (admission is free) and events, check out the "Manifest Equality" Web site.

--Christopher Knight

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos: "Manifest Equality;" Credit: Christopher Knight/Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Mike]

"Homosexual" partners? Have you checked your style guide lately? Are still writing about Negros or Orientals ? Gay or same gender is the appropriate terminolgy; homosexual is only used in a clinical sense unless you're a rabid right winger. Otherwise, great article.

[Donald Frazell]

This has nothing to do with equal rights, no more than the Museum of Tolerance is much more than a cover for Jewish legimate grief's with their former homelands, though not here where Jews are white and have dozens of minorities abused much worse, actually as much oppressers as oppressees. The few installations of Turkey-Armenia, the African diaspora, and Native American genocide more covers and given as bief a mentioning as possible for comparison and weak attempt to universalize the museums true message, the oppression of Jews, while glossing over many of the reasons. Reasons that dont exist here as we are now a nation of minorities and cultural differences. A source of strength, as acceptance of homosexuality is within the balance of the whole. There is no freedom without responsbility, and total freedom but license to decadence, and chaos. From all "communities", which are one, whether we like it or not.

We would have to redefine what marriage is, what it has always been, it every single human culture ever. Thats fine, if we want to, but it is no more a natural right than any other, all must be fought for, and won, accepted by the people as good and beneficial to society. Slavery was actually quite normal in archaic societies, but we have evolved enough, ethically, economically, and technologically, as Gandhi new that newspapers and film were his allies, as did MLK, to show the hypocrisy of the status quo. Gays need to also, but so far failed.

So far, it hasnt. The Mayor of SF brought about the failure with Prop 8 as with Mexican's waving only flags of Mexico years ago in the English only proposition. That soundbite should be shown, saying "whether you like it or not" in that horribly arrogant and smarmy voice turned just enough voters, probably about 3-5% to change the vote. This is truth, whether you like it or not.

Marriage always has been, and continues to be, though not as much now because of many choosing not to procreate, about family, not individual "love". It binds them together to look after children, legally as one for both defense of the clan, and building wealth of the families invoved, with the children guaranteed being raised and look after, even if abused sometimes, they are alolowed to grow into adulthood, where new responsbilities await. This is the primary reason for marriage, and doesnt apply to LGBT "community".

However, issues like gays in the military are different completely, and based on hetero fears, so far never justified by data. Gays have always served, but sexual orientation and cultural differences should never arise in the workplace, as the military is a job, professionalism and a common culture must be obeyed in order to function in time of war and emergency. No questions can be raised unless those listed by the miltary as ethical and allowed, if proven. A difficult issue right there.

Life isnt perfect, never will be, as that is a subjective judgment, and only when the group as a whole accepts it as valid and acceptable. There are few black and white issues in life. Unlike racism which is hypocritical in the Abrahamic world view of god, and was a justification for economic advancement of one group at the expense of others. As Yeshua and all the prophets, including Mohammed, were brown and non Indo-European, Yeshua looking remarkably like Bin Laden according to the Shroud of Turin.

The two are not comparable, yet this is a legitimate issue. But must be accepted by the whole, as all laws are of humanity, not god. Thats called culture, something the arts commujnity left behind long ago, in its excess of Meism and Excess, ignoring the commonality of the whole, and so, self ghettoized. And so reaping the rewards. Looking in the mirror is often far more beneficial than finger pointing, sometimes, that finger should be reflected right back at us.

Whether you like it or not.

art collegia delenda est
Save the Watts Towers, tear down the Ivories.

[Cate]

Mike, style manuals change over the years. So do dictionaries. Word spellings, definitions and usage have a long history and are always subject to revision. Be patient and give it time. Your outrage over the term “homosexual partners” may very well be justified, but your “rabid right wing” comment is equally offensive to conservatives. It does nothing to bring the two sides (liberal and conservative) together and advance equal rights to all Americans.

They may be in the minority, but there are politically conservative gays and lesbians. Being gay, lesbian, transsexual, or bisexual does not necessarily define your general political views. Why should it? That’s like saying a Catholic MUST be a republican simply because of the church’s stance on abortion.

Abraham Lincoln’s words do not have to become a self-fulfilling prophecy of what lies ahead for the gay civil rights movement. Our nation survived the Civil War. Any house, government, institution, or individual that is divided against itself, even if engaged in a bitter internal conflict, still has the opportunity to reconcile and become whole once again. Strong leaders and a chorus of courageous small voices can bring the sides together.

This LGBT civil rights exhibit seems to be more of a school than an art museum or gallery exhibit. Art is arranged in such a way that combines not just the art, but also bits and pieces of common home construction. These fragments of a house can be related to the art and give it context in society and its place in history. The aim here is for viewers to make associations, promote discussion, and to teach. It’s not meant to be a sterile museum exhibit, but rather a culture garden where fertile minds can learn and grow. Best of all, it’s free and open to everyone.

Certain news reports recently stated that a majority of college educated individuals tend to support gay rights, and some ignorant viewers actually responded with their concern about what might be done about that trend. The answer is simple: Increase it. Knowledge is power. Never stop learning. You don’t need a college degree to become a responsible and well-educated citizen.

Donald, please keep your finger gestures to yourself or I’ll whack you with the Golden Ruler. You know what I mean—love your neighbor… consider it your lesson from Sister Cate of the Perpetually Flaming Heart and Burning Bush of Self-Absorption. Now you know I’m just ribbing you, Donald—I think you’re the cat’s meow.