Chandalier Fashion Show 1982 at Performances Staged, with Jack Smith wearing one of my Chandaliers and a very young me in the back getting the lights to come on...

I recently found this photo taken by Rafik Azuni of Jack performing in my 1982 performance, at the old loft in SoHo, thought it would be fun to share, especially for those who were there...

16TH ANNUAL POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE

It's nice to be in this company if only just this once...

                                         The 16th Annual


                             POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE 


                                          is coming soon!

Featuring artworks by Uzi Parnes, Janine Antoni, Jim Hodges, Donald Baechler, Janet Cardiff, Polly Apfelbaum, Catherine Opie, Tony Feher, Marcel Dzama, Ed Rusha, Kiki Smith, Mary Heilmann, John Baldessari, Ida Applebroog, Burt Barr, Julie Mehretu, Ragnar Kjartansson, Cary Leibowitz, Rirkrit Tiravanija, L.J. Roberts, Robert Longo, Moyra Davey, Danh Vo, Kate Shepherd, Geoffrey Hendricks, Ross Bleckner, Jane Hammond, Lawrence Weiner, Jessica Rankin, Dotty Attie, Kay Rosen, Jack Pierson, Robert Buck, William Wegman, Hans Haacke, Joel Shapiro, Marilyn Minter, McDermott & McGough, Louise Lawler, John Waters and over 1300 others!!!


Tell your friends - and join us at the Preview Party and Benefit Sale!



All events hosted at 
Luhring Augustine
531 W 24th Street, NYC

PREVIEW PARTY: FRIDAY, JANUARY 24th
The only opportunity to see the entire exhibition. 
Silent Auction & Raffle Prizes. (No postcard sales.)

* Artist Preview from 6pm-8pm
Participating artists can attend the Preview for free, starting at 6pm, one hour after VIP Preview. Additional guests $50 each. 

* VIP Preview begins at 5pm
Don't like crowds?  $50 admission (payable at the door or online here) allows guests into the gallery one hour before the general doors open.  Beat the crowd and get an extra close look at all the amazing artwork. 

BENEFIT SALE 
SATURDAY, JANUARY 25 from 10 AM - 6 PM  (Buy 4 - Get 1 More)
SUNDAY, JANUARY 26 from 12 PM - 4 PM      (Buy 2 - Get 1 More)

All postcard artwork only $85 each.  Artworks displayed anonymously.  Artist's name revealed after purchase.  First-come, first-served.  On Saturday, buy four postcard-sized artworks and choose a fifth one as a "thank you" from us, and on Sunday, buy two postcards and get a third.  $5 suggested admission.  With so much wonderful art on display, you are bound to find something you love - and all proceeds supports the programs of  Visual AIDS.

SEE YOU THERE!
 

Still from BATTERER Friday 10/19 at 2:15 and Saturday 10/20 as part of HOMOVIES at the IFF, Kino Moviemento Berlin

QUEER LOVE: The Homovies will be screening in Berlin Friday 10/19 at Moviemento 2:15 pm and Saturday 10/20 at 10:15 pm

http://www.israelfilmfestivalberlin.com/de/?p=856

UZI PARNES: QUEER LOVE – THE HOMOVIES, 1978 – 2010

Israeli-born Uzi Parnes is a prolific member of the New York Underground Scene. As a filmmaker, performer, photographer and club founder he shaped and influenced queer art practice in the US-American metropolis since the 1970s.

SEX PIERS

Uzi Parnes, USA 1978/1983, 8 min, English OV

In 1978, Uzi Parnes started taking photos of the piers – primarily slides for use in his slide shows. These included both classic shots documenting the architecture and fantasy shots where he would shoot a roll of film at the piers and then superimpose other images on this first layer by running the slide film through the camera more than once.

QUEER LOVE POEM

Uzi Parnes, USA 1991, 10 min, English OV

A portrait of the boy who got away.

SEVEN DAYS WITH THE SAME DICK (GINGER ViTAS, PART 1)

Uzi Parnes, Ty Ginger, USA 1992, 17 min, English OV

The film captures the first throes of lust and desire that characterize the primary stages of hooking up with the filmmaker’s Israeli boyfriend Ty.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

Uzi Parnes, USA 1994, 5 min, English OV

A coming out story. After visiting the filmmaker for Passover, his mother called and asked if he is laying down with that Israeli man.

BATTERER (GINGER VITAS, PART 3)

Uzi Parnes, USA 1995, 28 min, English OV
mit: Rosa von Praunheim, Uzi Parnes, Sweetie, Carmelita Tropicana,  Lou Maletta, Slave Dale, Tom Murrin, Jason Reeves, Don Boyle, Darrell Perry, Ela Troyano

On June 20, 1994 the filmmaker strangled his domestic partner – Ty Ginger. "Batterer" is a fictional exploration of what might have happened had he not released his hold once Ty stopped struggling. It explores the motivation behind this act of violence, but as a surreal black comedy.

MEMORIMORTI

Uzi Parnes, USA 2010, 23 min, English OV

A dark, multi-layered portrait of Parnes’ parents and their reaction to their son’s queer identity as his father slowly dies.

Guest: Uzi Parnes

Ticket reservation

All images are copyrighted by their respective authors.
Guest: Uzi Parnes
http://www.israelfilmfestivalberlin.com/de/?p=856

I WILL BE SHOWING MY HOMOVIES IN BERLIN ON 10/19 AND 10/20 AT MOVIMENTO AS PART OF THE ISRAELI INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL BERLIN

Some stills from 7 DAYS WITH THE SAME DICK 1992

                               Some stills from QUEER LOVE POEM, 1991

  

VAGINAL DAVIS'S review of our Berlin show

NEVER TRAVEL ON A ONE WAY TICKET

Last night saw the amazing intro Spective on the dynamic East Village art tag team of Ela Troyano & Uzi Parnes.  Kudos to Arsenal Empress Stefanie Schulte Strathaus for bringing this standout program to Berlin.  Its just what the city needs.  I unfortunately missed the opening and the La Lupe Queen of Latin Soul (2007)film which everyone is talking about.  During Camp/Anti-Camp I had already seen Carmelita Tropicana:  Your Kunst Is Your Waffen which is hilarious and stars the divine Carmelita who is Ela´s sensationally talented sister.  I feel horrible that I missed Uzi´s Structuralism & Sex Program of lovesexxxy shorts. 

Thank god I was able to see Uzi´s magnificent queer love home movies that includes the slide show Sex Piers, Queer Love Poem (1991) that features a stunning Latin youth lust object, the mad cap Seven Days with the Same Dick (1992) Happy Mother´s Day (1993) the disturbingly transcendent Batterer(1995) and triumphantly personal Memorimort (2010)

It was also a treat and pleasure to watch Ela´s 1997 feature Latin Boys Go to Hell which was produced by Jurgen Brunning who also did a fab job as moderator in conversation with Ela after the zany David Does Venus(1984-1989) and another rare short subject flicker featuring a riotious Nick Zedd.  When the brilliant Tante Jurgen is on, he is really ON!!!!!  Daniel Hendrickson was also charming during his Q&A with Uzi.  In the audience:  Empress Stefanie, Uli Ziemons and Pauline Beaudry and an assortment of German, & Greeks trying to escape from football madness.

Tonight is the last evening of the intro Spective with a joint program that includes some rarely seen classix like Carmelita Gets the Spirit (1988) and Loisaida Lusts(1985) and perhaps some surprises, so come on down to historic Potsdamer Platz for your ElaUzi fixxxx.

***

My interview with Manuel Schubert for internet radio program Film Highlights:

 http://www.mixcloud.com/filmanzeiger/rising-stars-falling-stars-with-vaginal-davis-june-2012/

Manuel Schubert • filmanzeiger • filmhighlights» filmanzeiger.de

» filmhighlights - das Kinomagazin

It's OK it's just white chocolate...

WORLD PEACE my very rarely screened 1987 short will play this Friday in Berlin, after two amazing movies by Ela Troyano.  And yes it is only white chocolate.  (The cast preferred to remain nameless.)http://www.arsenal-berlin.de/en/calendar/single-view/calendar/2012/june/21/article/3453/3004.html

This Weekend in Berlin at The Arsenal Kino 2, at the Sony Center

IF YOU ARE IN BERLIN 6/21-6/23 PLEASE COME SEE MY WORK AT THE ARSENAL KINO 2 FOR MY INTROSPECTIVE WITH ELA TROYANO

Girls Can't Help It! 1986 by Uzi Parnes plays Thursday at 9pm

Batterer by Uzi Parnes 1995 plays Friday at 7pm

 

Loisaida Lusts by Ela Troyano and Uzi Parnes 1985 plays Saturday at 7pm

http://www.arsenal-berlin.de/en/calendar/single-view/calendar/2012/june/22/article/3453/2796.html

Installation view of "Summer Camp". L-R: John Waters, Ken Weaver, Thomas Lanigan-Schmidt and Uzi Parnes. Love!

Installation view of "Summer Camp". L-R: John Waters, Ken Weaver, Thomas Lanigan-Schmidt and Uzi Parnes. Love!: Installation view of "Summer Camp". L-R: John Waters, Ken Weaver, Thomas Lanigan-Schmidt and Uzi Parnes. Love!

I've been invited to Summer Camp

No not in the Catskills this one is at Schroeder Romero at 531 West 26th, opening June 7th from 6-8pm.

I'll be showing three color photos of Jack Smith shot in 1982, including two from I WAS A MALE YVONNE DE CARLO FOR THE LUCKY LANDLORD UNDERGROUND.  You can see him peeking through the U in summer.
.http://srandsgallery.com/index.php?/exhibitions/future

BERLIN "INTROSPECTIVE" JUNE 21-23

Ela Troyano and I will be having a joint Introspective at the Arsenal Institute for Film and Video Art  June 21-23 and I will be showing work that has not been seen in more than 20 years, so I hope you can join us there.http://www.arsenal-berlin.de/kalender/filmreihe/calendar/2012/june/23/article/3453/2796.html

WORLD PEACE 1987

GIRLS CAN'T HELP IT! 1986 

Jane Lawrence Smith, Maureen Angeles and Assotto Saint in LOISAIDA LUSTS by Ela Troyano and Uzi Parnes 1986

Holly Hughes,  Maureen Angeles and Ethyl Eichelberger in Uzi Panes's The MS. LOISAIDA PAGEANT, 1984

http://www.arsenal-berlin.de/kalender/filmreihe/calendar/2012/june/23/article/3453/2796.html

Mick at the Rock

             An amazing moment at last night's SNL wrap party.

Queer Life NY: The Piers: Art and Sex along the New York Waterfront

NOW EXTENDED THROUGH JULY 7!

Queer Life NY: The Piers: Art and Sex along the New York Waterfront

Now 30% more LOVE AT THE BEACH

Uzi Parnes, LOVE AT THE BEACH 2012 You can get these projected in Times Square by voting to collect: http://UziParnes.artistswanted.org/atts2012http://UziParnes.artistswanted.org/atts2012

Uzi's Two Day Sweet Brisket and Spicy Tuna Gefilte Fish

For my semi-Seder this year I made a sweet brisket as our main course but since the Seder fell on Good Friday and at least one of my guests doesn't eat meat on G.F. I felt I had to make a fish dish as well and home made Gefilte Fish out of Tuna seemed like a great way to go. 

 Brisket recipe:  about a 3.5 lbs brisket.  (I got mine at the W.F. on Union Square),  2 large onions, 1lb white mushrooms, 3 or 4 carrots, garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste, 12oz can of apricot nectar, 2 cups sweet red wine (I used kosher wine because we had some in the house for D.D.'s charoset, but any sweet wine will work.)  Preheat oven to 325.  Chop onions and carrots into one inch pieces.  Remove mushroom stems.  Put all the vegetables in an oven safe pot or baking sheet.  Cover brisket with garlic powder, salt and pepper and place over vegetables in pot.  Add apricot nectar and wine.  Cover and roast long and slow at 325 for at least 5-6 hours.  If your oven runs hot lower to 275-300.  After cooking for at least 5 hours remove from oven, and let cool.  Remove meat from pot and let rest on a board.  Meanwhile skim as much fat off the pot as possible.  When the meat has cooled, cut it into slices across the bias and add to the vegetables and sauce.  Let cool and store in fridge overnight.  Before serving the NEXT day, reheat again low and slow at 325 or so until warm throughout-at least an hour or two.  The meat needs to be cooked, sliced, and stored overnight to get all the flavors.  You can substitute liquids you prefer if apricot nectar or sweet kosher wine are not on hand.  Only must is low and slow and storing sliced overnight.

Fortunately this Gefilte Tuna recipe is not quite as time consuming.  i got a 1.5 lbs of packaged frozen spicy orange tuna at W.F. on Union Square.  I defrosted, cut in pieces and placed it in the food processor along with 1/2 an large onion, two scallions, an egg, and half a package of Streitz's Matzo Ball mix.  I processed thoroughly into a thick doughy consistency.  I let the mixture rest in the fridge for about 15 minutes and meanwhile boiled two quarts of water.  When the water boiled I generously salted and then added 4oz of hot sauce and 4 or 5 bay leaves.  Using a teaspoon I shaped 12 small ellipses and gently dropped into the spicy boiling water mixture.  Once the water came back to a boil I lowered the heat to low and cooked the fish for about 45-60 minutes at low heat.  I removed the fish and strained the cooking liquid of all solids then returned the water to the pot.  I reduced the liquid until less than two cups remained.  Let it cool and then poured it over the fish and cooled in the fridge overnight.  Serve cold with lots of horseradish and the sauce.  Nouvelle style gefilte a la Uzi...

69 more collectors will get LOVE AT THE BEACH closer to Times Square

http://UziParnes.artistswanted.org/atts2012
I've entered the Artists Wanted: Art in Times Square contest to get LOVE AT THE BEACH projected on a billboard at T.S.  Please help me by logging in to the link above and collecting "LOVE AT THE BEACH"  its free but you need to log in.  Thank you.  Uzi

                                      One of the photos in the series LOVE AT THE BEACH
P.S. stay tuned for my now sought after Sweet Passover Brisket and Spicy Tuna Gefilte Fish recipes.

The Piers: Art & Sex Along the New York Waterfront

The Piers: Art & Sex Along the New York Waterfront

At Leslie Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art in SoHo, 26 Wooster Street.   The exhibition is curated by Jonathan Weinberg & Darren Jones and runs from April 4-May 12.  It will include the work of Vito Acconci, John Fekner, Leonard Fink, Ivan Galietti, Frank Hallam, Peter Hujar, Gordon Matta-Clark, Uzi Parnes, Shelley Seccombe, Shunk and Kender, Lee Snider, Stanley Stellar, Tava, Arthur Tress, and David Wojnarowicz.             

Opening April 4 from 6-8pm.  Hours Noon-6pm, Tue. – Sat.

Uzi Parnes: Beach Club, 1981; in-camera multiple exposure

Uzi's Easy ChillOut Chile

This is one of my favorite easy Uzi recipes.  It takes a long time to cook but prep time is minimal and once you've got it simmering on the stove you just et it cook undisturbed for a few hours.  This recipe is very flexible and you can add any ingredients that work for you and adjust the spice level.

Ingredients: two and a half lbs of 85% ground beef, 1 medium-large white onion, 4-5 cloves of garlic, 1 can of kidney beans (I prefer the low sodium kind) 1 can of whole tomatoes (28oz), 1 can tomato sauce (26oz), 3-4 tbs of olive oil, 1 tbs chile powder (more or less to taste and depending on potency and freshness, 2 tsp of salt, dash of black pepper.

 I started by adding the chile powder and 1 tsp of salt to the hot oil In a large enameled dutch oven, then added the chopped onion and let it soften.  When the onion has softened I added the cloves of garlic and then the chopped beef and browned the beef completely, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, and added the rest of the salt.  This took about 5-8 miutes.  Meanwhile I rinsed the beans repeatedly and once the meat has browned I cleared a space in the middle of the pot and poured the rinsed and strained beans in the pot so they brown slightly.  Next I added a pinch of pepper and the tomato sauce and can of whole tomatoes.  I broke up the tomatoes with the wooden spoon and let the pot come to a boil.  I lowered the flame to a simmer and then skimmed as much of the fat off the top as possible with a ladle; later once it cooled I got most of the rest.  I let it cook for about 3 hours at first uncovered and once it has thickened with a lid.  I couldn't help tasting it along the way and it was yummy at every stage but it was even better as leftovers a few days later.  I made this version very mild but you can add more chile powder... Enjoy.

Mario Montez at MoMA at the Jack Smith retrospective

'TWAS THE MONTH BEFORE CHRISTMAS

One of my in-laws wrote a very funny poem satirizing the Republican presidential candidates.  I found it very funny and thought I should share it here.

 

'Twas the month before Christmas and who should appear
It was Drunken Rick Perry to give Christians cheer.
He prayed and he joked and then he got serious
"I'm all for the killing." The crowd went delirious.

 

Herman Cain came on next with his big booming voice.
"Where's all the white women? I'll give them their choice."
"I'll find them a job if they do as I say."
"Just give me a b-job and get out of my way."

 

Who could ever forget Bachman's shrill screech
"It is me. It is I and I'm going to preach."
"I know all the right things; I know what to do."
"For I'm the only American who's tried, tested and true."

 

 I will remember Mit Romney as he strolled through the fray
"Just listen to me. I've come to save the day."
"I'll flip and I'll flop with such cunning and dare,
You won't even notice my Holy Underwear."

 

Ron Paul shook his head with disdain and disgust
"Just look at them all. There's not one you can Trust."
"We must destroy the whole system, go back to the start."
"Adhere to the original and our forefather's first fart."

 

Newt couldn't be there but he sent all his best.
His wife was in the hospital and he was hitting on guests.
She wasn't quite gone but he was thinking ahead
"Who next should I have in my home, in my bed?"

 

Then out on the lawn there occurred such a clatter
Ann Coulter was screaming "My new book! It's a Tattler."
"Death to all who doubt me or fall from my grace."
That brought a big smile to old Rick Perry's face.

 

Rush Linbaugh was reporting with his usual pout
But he got very lost when drugs began to run out.
John Bonher was there but had little to say.
Repeating "Yes that's my name but don't pronounce it that way."

 

Eric Cantor showed up but he only walked through
He heard it was for Christians but he was a Jew.
He went to the Tea Party. He thought it would be nicer.
Their motto: "Believe what we say or step into the slicer."

 

Only Christians were there like Condolica and George,
Dick Chenney, Don Rumsfeld, the Republican hoards.
When only the good people, you know who we mean,
the money people who support and are not seen.

 

They closed the doors and they started to sing
About all of the wonders of Christ their great King.
They brought forth the picture of the Christ they had known
It was Ronald Reagan with a crown on a thrown.

Uzi's Easy Baked Japanese Sweet Potatos

I got some lovely Japanese sweet potatoes at the Union Square Farmers Market yesterday and made them for dinner.  Since they turned out amazingly yummy and are so simple I thought I should share the recipe.

I used eight small Japanese sweet potatoes-their skin is more reddish but inside they are yellow.

1lb small Japanese sweet potatoes.  Wash and clean ends.  Make a slit in each potato along its length and going down about 1/2 to 3/4 of its depth.  Place in a 9X13 glass or ceramic baking dish and bake covered with foil for an hour at 350.  Remove from oven and pour or squirt some honey (to taste)  in the slits. I used about 2 or three ounces of a local farmers market honey then added a light sprinkling of kosher salt.  Recover with foil and return to the oven for another 25-30 minutes.  This will serve four.

On today's menu vegetarian cauliflower soup

I had to wait for the refrigerator repair man today and had a large cauliflower on hand so I decided to make some soup while waiting.  I used to make this using a chicken stock but because D.D.'s niece is a vegetarian and eats here occasionally, I have been experimenting with vegetarian cooking.
Ingredients:
One large cauliflower-cut into fairly small pieces, a large yellow onion-chopped, 1 quart of vegetarian stock, 1/2 cup of half and half, teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper, 1 ounce of soy sauce, few dabs of hot sauce, 5 or 6 tablespoons of olive oil.
Heat the oil and sweat onions in a soup pot, add salt and pepper.  Add the cut cauliflower and saute with the onions and oil till cauliflower softens, about ten minutes.  Add the soy and hot sauce and saute another 3-5 minutes.  Pour in the stock to cover cauliflower and cover pot with a lid.  Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes.  Mash up cauliflower in the pot using a hand blender ( a potato masher will do as a substitute) until the texture is rough but no whole chunks remain.  Add the half and half, bring almost to a boil then reduce heat and let simmer for an hour or longer.  Add additional seasoning to taste.

This is delicious served with some grated parmesan on top or a crustini with melted mozzarella.

Mario Montez in Ronald Tavel's the Life of Juanita Castro Slideshow by Uzi Parnes 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9rAiaMH1r4

Pashtida

Uzi's Swampthing Spinach Pashtida
Pashtida is a crustless quiche.  I prepared this particular version for a Halloween eve dinner with the legendary Mario Montez who is in town to speak at MoMA's Jack Smith screening November 13 at 3pm.
It was a particular hit and I've been asked to share my recipe.

1lb ricotta, 1/2lb mozzarella cheese-grated, 1/4lb parmesan-grated, 4 eggs, 1lb frozen chopped spinach, 1 largish onion-chopped, 5-6 garlic cloves-chopped, dash of salt, pepper,  2tbs olive oil.  Heat oil in large skillet at med-high heat, soften onions, add garlic and then spinach, mix untill the spinach has soften and almost cooked through.  Let mixture cool.  Whip eggs in a large bowl, add salt and pepper than ricotta.  When it is an even color add the 2/3 of the mozzarella cheese and 2/3 of the parmesan to mixture, mix well and then add the cooled spinach and allium and mix well again.  Pour in a ceramic or glass 9x13 baking pan and sprinkle the remaining cheeses on top then bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.  It is done when a fork plunged in the center comes out clean.  Pashtida is very flexible and all of the ingredients except the eggs can be modified to taste.  It can be served hot, at room temperature or straight out of the fridge and is yummy for at least 2-3 days after baking.

Photo of Jack Smith by Uzi Parnes 1982

Jack Smith at Moma November 13-25

Untitled. Jack Smith. 1982. Copyright Jack Smith Archive. Courtesy of Gladstone Gallery, New York. Photograph by Uzi Parnes

I am very grateful to the Barbara Gladstone Gallery for getting MoMA to give me the photo credit for this photo.

This should be an amazing show and I recommend it to everyone.

It is Ironic that 22 years after his passing Jack finally get a show at MoMA.

When he passed a group of his friends tried to get MoMA to take his films and we were rebuffed...