Queer Caucus for Art business, January 2001
Letter from the
Caucus Co-Chairs
This year’s CAA annual meeting in Chicago will feature a number of activities sponsored by the Queer Caucus for Art. They include a catered reception, business meeting, and Caucus-sponsored special session. We hope to see you at all of them. Additionally, a number of panels in this year’s general program reflect varying degrees of involvement with LGBTQ issues.
Please note the following Caucus activities, times and locations:
- Coffee and pastry reception for Caucus members and their guests. Thursday, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Hilton, 4th floor, Room I
- Caucus Business Meeting (agenda below). Friday, 12-1:30 p.m., Hilton, 4th floor, Room E
- Caucus Special Session: “Reclosetings: museums, sexuality, and the politics of display.” Saturday, 12:30-2 p.m., Hilton, 8th floor, Lake Michigan Room (feel free to bring lunch). This special session will feature a roundtable discussion of curators and artists discussing the issues informing -- and circumscribing -- the exhibition of queer work.
There’s a lot going on at the business meeting that you won’t want to miss. Please check the preliminary agenda below (we can change or add to it). Among the important topics are Caucus-sponsored exhibitions and professional politics -- how can we support each other? We will also take up the issue of the Caucus Awards, vote on the nominees, and plan a press conference to announce our winners.
If you are unable to attend but nonetheless wish to vote for awards or volunteer for Caucus projects (we need you to make them happen), please see either Erica or Jonathan. Our thanks again to Sherman and Tee for their hard work in putting together this newsletter.
Yours,
Jonathan and Erica
Proposed Agenda for the
Caucus Business Meeting
The Caucus business meeting will take place from 12-1:30 p.m. on Friday, March 2nd. Please feel free to contact the co-chairs in advance with suggestions for additions or changes, or bring those suggestions to the meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend. In fact, we strongly request your presence.
1. Welcome and introductions
2. Approval of the Agenda
3. Bylaws (see newsletter insert)
4. Reports from officers and committees on:
- Finances
- Membership
- Conference plans: what’s up for
Philly in 2002?
- Newsletter
- Website and e-list
5. Officer elections and committee
formations
6. Items for substantial discussion.
- Money. What should the Caucus be
spending money on? Do we need to
review our membership policies,
which are lax in terms of collecting
fees? Should we accept advertising
inserts in the newsletter? Should
we sell the mailing list?
- Shows. Does the Caucus want to
sponsor/organize exhibits? If so,
what kind? When? How regularly?
How to make them happen?
- Professional support. How can the
Caucus support its members
professionally and institutionally,
in terms of both helping to navigate
the generally difficult terrain of
academic institutions and the
particular problems brought by
homo/transphobia,
homo/transhatred?
- Caucus activism: additional roles,
within and outside CAA.
- CAUCUS AWARD NOMINEES
7. Other business & discussion
Caucus show cancelled
We’re sorry to report that we had to cancel “In the city of big shoulder pads,” the planned Caucus show that we announced in the previous newsletter. Although we had a location and some key volunteers, we could not find Caucus members located in or around Chicago who could take charge of staffing and installing the show. At the business meeting, we need to discuss the future of Caucus shows. Do members want them and, if so, how can we make them happen? If you can’t be at the meeting, but want to work on this issue in general, or a 2002 Philadelphia show in particular, please contact us.
Also during the annual CAA conference (28 February-3 March 2001):
The Museum of Contemporary Art will be showing “A.A. Bronson: negative thoughts” and “Gilbert & George: nineteen ninety nine.” The Catherine Opie and Isaac Julien shows will have closed. The MCA has been very supportive of queer-related art. If you get the opportunity, thank them. Chris Reed especially suggests your expressing your appreciation to curator Michael Rooks who is a participant on the “Reclosetings” panel (see co-chairs letter).
Harmony Hammond will sign copies of Lesbian art in America at the Rizzoli book booth on Thursday, March 1st from 3-5 p.m.
The commercial gallery district is located North of the Loop, a few blocks West of North Michigan Avenue.
For general info on GLBTQ activities and locations in Chicago, pick up a copy of Chicago free press which is available in blue distribution boxes on the street, even in the Loop. The long-established gay ghetto is located just East of the Belmont stop on the El, to the North several stops from the Loop.
There is a self-portrait by Beauford Delaney in the Art Institute collection. Delaney (1901-1979) was a gay African American whose paintings became increasingly abstract. He lived in New York (1920s) and Paris (1950s). (The editors make no promises that it will be on view in February.)
Reports from the conference, including minutes of the business meeting, will be in the next newsletter. The editors are always grateful to receive notices of shows, etc., as well as reports on queer art activities in your town.
The deadline for
the next issue of
the newsletter is
10 April 2001
... proceed to news of members, etc. ...