Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 – Saturday, Apr. 18, 2020
Nick Vaughan and Jake Margolin’s new large-scale, multimedia exhibition, 50 States: Louisiana, unearths a 1720s history of a same-sex couple involved in the burgeoning indigo trade in colonial Louisiana. The work uniquely connects this tale to a series of gay Mardi Gras Balls that were held at the New Orleans Longshoremen’s Union Hall in the 1960s. Through video, sculpture, and sound, the installation envelops audiences in a 300-year span of queer life along the Mississippi River.
As of March 16, 50 States: Louisiana is closed due to the ongoing public health emergency. The artists have created a single-channel adaptation of the work:
Nick Vaughan and Jake Margolin, from 50 States: Louisiana, 2020, audio and single-channel video (adapted from six-channel multi-media gallery installation at DiverseWorks, Houston). Courtesy of the artists and Devin Borden Gallery, Houston.
Bringing together their research into Louisiana archives; interviews with members of New Orleans’ LGBTQ community, historians and indigo experts; and travels to Louisiana and Dauphin Island, Alabama to shoot on-site video footage, the artists have created a fascinating visual experience that connects lost historical narratives to contemporary queer culture and LGBTQ community organizations.
Commissioned by DiverseWorks, 50 States: Louisiana is the sixth part of a long-term project by the artists that brings to light little known LGBTQ+ histories from each U.S. state. To date, they have completed and presented innovative, multidisciplinary projects about Wyoming, Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Arkansas, in addition to Louisiana. The 50 States series is not only a visual art project giving visibility to suppressed historical narratives, but a life-structure allowing manifold avenues of inquiry, including lectures, performances, activist forums, an upcoming publishing collaboration, and the creation of interpersonal connections between otherwise siloed members of LGBTQ+ communities.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Nick Vaughan and Jake Margolin are a collaborative artistic duo based in Houston, Texas. They have presented their work nationally in solo shows at Oklahoma State University Museum of Art (2019), Aurora Picture Show (2018), Devin Borden Gallery (2018), Houston Community College Gallery (2017), Art League Houston (2016) and Invisible Dog Art Center, Brooklyn (2016), and in group exhibitions at Fotofest (2017), 108 Contemporary, Tulsa (2016), and BRIC Arts Media/Brooklyn Historical Society (2015), among other venues. Their work was included in Stonewall 50 at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (2019), a group exhibition marking the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising. They are recipients of a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship, a Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and grants from the MAPFund, The Idea Fund, and the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance. Learn more about the artists at www.nickandjakestudio.com.
HOURS & ADMISSION
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Hours and location vary by project, please visit our website for the most up-to-date information -
DiverseWorks.org - Exhibitions and public programs are free; ticketed performances are pay-what-you-wish.
Directions & Parking
- Paid Parking
- Street Parking
- MetroRail: The MetroRail makes a stop a half-block south of the MATCH at the Ensemble/HCC Station. Mid-Main: Close to the MATCH is the Mid-Main Garage (directly to the south at the corner of Holman and Travis). This garage is accessible through Holman or Travis Street and is open 24 hours. Parking can be paid by credit card or cash at the designated pay machines. And lastly, Street Parking: Metered street parking is available in Midtown. Please read all parking signs carefully, as available street parking changes depending on the time of day.
Events at DiverseWorks
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