Leather-clad cruisers, charismatic glamazons, and ecstatic pleasure-seekers of all proclivities find themselves writhing on the dance floor in It’s Much Louder Than Before. This group exhibition features new work by 19 artists and is on view at 2660 S La Cienega Blvd from August 14 – September 18. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, August 14, 2021, 6-8pm. The exhibition is organized by James Bartolacci and Stefano di Paola.
It’s Much Louder Than Before explores various communities and aesthetics of queer nightlife. From libertine sex parties to the glitz of discos to the queer nightclub as a historic space for organizing and political activity, the importance of these parties and locales in creating connection has been amplified by their absence in the pandemic.
Beginning with the physical space as a locus, the exhibition also explores amorphous and ever-changing sites of sonic experimentation and self-expression, as well as the radiating experiences of melting eroticism, underground decadence, and the pagan religiosity of worshiping flesh. Composed of endless variations of status, identity, and homespun fashions, dark and pounding dance floors is the ritual site that brings them together.
A percentage of the sales from this exhibition will be donated to REACH LA, a youth-driven organization serving LGBTQ+ people of color and their communities to encourage creative expression, provide supportive safe spaces, and promote health and wellness since 1992.
