Art Pick: The Every Woman Biennial Dances Into Los Angeles

Shana Nys DambrotArts

Nneka Osueke; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Nneka Osueke; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Meegan Barnes; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Nneka Osueke; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Alani Aceves-Piceno; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Nneka Osueke; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Ale Martinez; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Nneka Osueke; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Heather Rasmussen; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Nneka Osueke; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Laurelin Gilmore; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Nneka Osueke; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Cindy Rehm; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Nneka Osueke; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Lia Halloran; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Nneka Osueke; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Macon Reed; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Nneka Osueke; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Anne Lauroz; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Nneka Osueke; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Siri Kaur; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Nneka Osueke; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Sarah Wertzberger; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Nneka Osueke; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Suzanne Wright; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Nneka Osueke; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Vielula; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Nneka Osueke; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Oona Nelson; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Nneka Osueke; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Paige Silverman; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Nneka Osueke; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Sav; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.Nneka Osueke; Credit: Courtesy of the artist / Every Woman Biennial L.A.

The Every Woman Biennial began life as a wild idea and a most excellent pun. Its first iteration was called the Whitney Houston Biennial, conceived by artist and curator C. Finley in New York as an all-woman response to the male-dominated institutional survey over at the Whitney Museum. Now the Every Woman Biennial, the 2019 iteration expanded its footprint in New York earlier this month, and further expands its reach with its first Los Angeles edition, which opens downtown on June 2.

A witty and wonderful one-night art installation and performance event in 2014 grew to a two-week exhibition and events program in 2017. This year in New York included a stand-alone film festival, and preparations are complete for a ten-day version here in L.A. — though the organizers promise that the local edition will be very much its own thing. For one, it will focus on L.A.-based artists, and for another, there will be multiple local girl-band concerts central to the programming.

The Bendix Building in downtown will be home to the biennial, with daily hours of 1-7 p.m., and of course the building is already home to a dozen galleries and about 40 artist studios, so it should be bustling. Envisioned as a sprawling salon-style installation, the EWB is inclusive of works in all mediums and by an intersectional group of women chosen from an open-call format.

As founder and curator C. Finley stated: “The goal is to develop a heightened consciousness in the art world favoring encouragement, connection, inspiration and love.” While the roster is mostly emerging artists, stars like Mickalene Thomas and Swoon have been involved since the beginning, as have Betty Tompkins and Marilyn Minter who are known as supportive allies for women artists.

everywomanbiennial.com

Bendix Building, 1206 Maple Ave., downtown.
Opening Reception: Sunday, June 2, 4-7 p.m.
Biennial dates: June 3-12
Hours: 1-7 p.m. daily
Admission is free

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