Angela Featherstone: Fuck Pretty, with Catherine Opie, Susan Meiselas, Tierney Gearon, Alison Van Pelt

Angela Featherstone: Fuck Pretty

Mon, Jul 04, 2011

Actress Angela Featherstone’s first curated show is a collection of photographs by world-renowned and unknown women artists, whose work moves and inspires her. Opens July 21 at Robert Berman.

There are images from contemporary photographers Catherine Opie, Susan Meiselas, Tierney Gearon, Alison Van Pelt and equally important to the curator, an array of emerging artists, some of whose work the curator is proud to be showing for the very first time. The exhibit is accompanied by a musical score created by film composer Claudia Sarne (Book of Eli).
“In Dec of 2010, I found myself frustrated by forces beyond my control, alone and having just spent most of the year dealing with childhood trauma. I woke up, alone, right before Christmas and a conversation I had with my dear pal, Richard Jeni (r.i.p) came to mind. I had ranted to him about a deal gone south, ‘they always say, ‘she's so pretty and funny’ but I say fuck pretty, gimmie money, get it now!’ Jeni laughed so hard and said, ‘Angie, FUCK PRETTY has to be the title of your autobiography.’
In a matter of minutes I found two great clips on youtube: The Network 'I'm mad as hell and I’m not gonna take it anymore’ speech and a kickass clip of L7 at Cannes playing ‘Questioning my sanity’. I then found the quote: ‘in order for something to be beautiful it doesn't have to be pretty’ - Rei Kawakubo.

Naomi Harris, Sisters Getting out of Ocean / Haddon Hall Hotel/ Miami Beach, FL., 2000, Cibachrome print, Numbered 1/5, Signed on verso, Image 20 x 24 inches; Framed: 24 x 31 inches, Image courtesy of Naomi Harris and ROBERT BERMAN GALLERY
Having had two to three good ideas before in my life - I knew I had something. I called my old pal, Gallerist Robert Berman and said I wanted to curate an all female photographer show called FUCK PRETTY. Luckily, he said yes.
Since December, the show has really come into perspective, thanks to the amazing collaborative efforts of these brilliant photographers. I have come to realize that this show reflects my life - where I've been, where I am and where I want to go - in a way I couldn't articulate on my own: from abuse and desolation to anger, alienation, acknowledgment and unification. The photographs are all, in some way, a reflection of who I am. So in the end, Jeni was right. It is an autobiography of sorts.”

Sharon Johnson-Tennant, Malibu Road,  2008, Archival Inkjet Print, Numbered 2/25, Signed on verso, Image: 20 x 30 inches, Image courtesy of Sharon Johnson-Tennant and ROBERT BERMAN GALLERY
Artists featured include: Anonymous, Sarah Baley, Sally Davies ,Tierney Gearon, Sandy Gray, Naomi Harris, Hana Jakrlova, Sharon Johnson-Tennant, Siri Kaur, Gillian Laub, Kristina Loggia, Lauren Marsolier, Mary McCartney, Susan Meiselas, Catherine Opie, Alison Van Pelt, Cydney Puro, Marjorie Salvaterra, Jessica Shokrian, Deanna Templeton