(Re)Thinking Sex through Contemporary Art: The Politics of Scandal, Pleasure and Disappointment

Hernan Bas, Untitled (Crystal Ball), 2001 Work on paper, 11 in. x 8 ½ in. Collection of Museum of Contemporary Art, Gift of Debra and Dennis Scholl. October 19 and November 16 at 7 pm

MOCA by MOONLIGHT Contemporary Art Boot Camp will present an exciting new lecture series in October and November(Re) thinking Sex through Contemporary Art: The Politics of Scandal, Pleasure and Disappointment” draws from queer theory and interdisciplinary sexuality studies to examine the role contemporary art influences the way we think about sex.   The two-part lecture on October 19 and November 16 at 7 pm at MOCA,( 770 NE 125thStreet, North Miami).  Admission is $10 for museum members and $15 for non-members.

The lecture will examine how contemporary art has challenged the norms of sexuality and how artists today provoke the viewer to confront the complexities of sexual pleasure, pain and disappointment.  The controversy surrounding art works that have become targets of political scandal such as David Wojnarowicz’s A Fire in My Belly(1987) which was removed from the National Portrait Gallery’s 2010 exhibition Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture will also be addressed.

 

“(Re)Thinking Sex Through Contemporary Art: The Politics of Scandal, Pleasure and Disappointment” will be presented by Jillian Hernandez, MOCA’s coordinator of outreach education programs, creator of the museum’s acclaimed Women on the Rise! program, and PhD candidate in Women’s and Gender Studies at Rutgers University. Ms. Hernandez is also an independent curator whose research interests include contemporary art, sexualities, girls’ studies, feminist, queer and critical race theory and visual culture.  Her dissertation “The Politics of Sexual Aesthetics: Women and Girls Crafting Bodies” investigates how teenage girls and contemporary women artists such as Nikki S. Lee challenge norms of race and sexuality through styling the body.  Ms. Hernandez has published work in peer-reviewed and edited publications and presented her research at the College Art Association, Cultural Studies Association and National Women’s Studies Associations among others

 

 

MOCA by MOONLIGHT, the museum popular Wednesday evenings for adults, presents new perspectives on contemporary art and design through rotating weekly programs. Contemporary Art Boot Camp lectures by MOCA art professionals cover key figures, themes and movements in contemporary art.  Arts for All offers hands-on art projects inspired by the work of renown artists.  Spotlight is a series of directed conversations with cultural practioners who make corrections to MOCA exhibitions on view and current topics in contemporary art and design and in 5 Minutes of Fame, local artists share how and why they create.  MOCA galleries are open until 9 pm on Wednesday evenings. A listing of all MOCA by MOONLIGHT dates and topics are available at  www.mocanomi.org.   MOCA by MOONLIGHT is sponsored by Stephanie and Tom Bloom.

 

 

The Museum of Contemporary Art is located at 770 NE 125th Street, North Miami, Florida.

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