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NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY
THROUGH SEPTEMBER 22
LETTING LOOSE AND FIGHTING BACK explores the history of LGBTQ bars, clubs, and nightlife in New York City during the second half of the 20th century. Our Nineties Meat Market haven JACKIE 60 is represented by our door sign (photo above) and four Jackie invitations, including the 1991 classic "The Silence of the Lunchpails", an uncomfortably prescient blending of club kids with serial killers (featuring Michael Alig's face superimposed on the "Silence of the Lambs" graphic.)
CHI CHI VALENTI's "Nations" article in the original Details magazine is also displayed, along with other items from she and JOHNNY DYNELL's projects and collections. These include a gown worn by FLAWLESS SABRINA in the 1960s from their DOWNTOWN COSTUME INSTITUTE collection and the first of MARCEL CHRISTIAN's seminal ballhouse broadsheets "THE IDLE SHEETS" circa 1986. (Christian was a contributor to Factory zine VERBAL ABUSE in the early 1990s.)
The exhibition highlights the ways in which nightlife—though subjected to policing, unfavorable public policies, and Mafia control—has been critical to finding identity, building community, developing political awareness, and fostering genres of creative expression that have influenced popular culture worldwide. It includes so many clubs and people sacred and dear to us - CLIT CLUB, HOUSE OF XTRAVAGANZA, MEAT, DORIAN COREY, PARADISE GARAGE et al - and is beautifully curated by REBECCA KLASSEN and museum staff. The exhibit reminds us that STONEWALL was - before anything - a club. If this resonates, the exhibit is a perfect way to begin your own Pride Month remembrances.
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