© Nandipha Mntambo

Undercover: Performing and Transforming Black Female Identities

Featuring work by: Mequitta Ahuja, Emma Amos, Sheila Pree Bright, Nick Cave, Renée Cox, Lalla Essaydi, Ellen Gallagher, Myra Greene, Lyle Ashton Harris, Lauren Kelly, Marcia Kure, Deana Lawson, Kalup Linzy, Kalup Linzy, Beverly McIver, Nandipha Mntambo, Zanele Muholi, Wangechi Mutu, Lorraine O'Grady, Magdalene Odundo, Gordon Parks, Jessica Ann Peavy, Jessica Ann Peavy, Etiye Dimma Poulsen, Berni Searle, Cindy Sherman, Coreen Simpson, Lorna Simpson, Renée Stout, Mickalene Thomas, Sheila Turner, Iké Udé, Doris Ulmann, James VanDerZee, Pat Ward Williams

: Wed, Sep 9, 6:30pm - 8:30pm

This exhibition explores the complicated practice of black women disguising themselves as well as the historic trend of others camouflaging themselves as black women. It is based on the premise that people manipulate their outward appearance for many reasons including: to gain access that they would not otherwise have, mimic, deflect attention, or garner confidential information. The project also surmises that artists incorporate the practice of disguise as a critical strategy to carry out or debunk cultural traditions, confront or reinforce stereotypes, explore fetishes, and challenge sociocultural norms.

"Undercover" considers the reasons and ramifications of disguise and the multiple implications it has on race and gender. It examines seemingly disparate types of disguise including, self-portraiture, cross-dressing, and blackface performance. Featuring a range of media including painting, video, and photography, "Undercover" investigates the multi-layered strategies for and outcomes of disguise. While it includes works by well-known artists including Lorraine O'Grady, Cindy Sherman, Lorna Simpson, Doris Ulmann, and James VanDerZee, it also introduces promising emerging and mid-career artists such as Renée Cox, Lalla Essaydi, Ellen Gallagher, Myra Greene, Lyle Ashton Harris, Lauren Kelley, Kalup Linzy, Nandipha Mntambo, Magdalene Odundo, Berni Searle, and many others.

For a corresponding lecture from participating artist Renée Cox, please see ACP 11 Collaborations.

Exhibition: Thu, Sep 10 to Sat, Dec 5 2009

Spelman College Museum of Fine Art
Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby, Ed.D. Academic Center
350 Spelman Lane, SW
Atlanta, GA 30314  [map: Google Maps]
hours: Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri: 10am - 4pm
Sat: 12pm - 4pm
web: http://www.spelman.edu/museum
permalink: http://festivalguide.acpinfo.org/listings/view/172
ACP Listing #: 028