Do You Want the Cosmetic Version or the Real Deal?: Los Angeles Poverty Department 1985–2014

Curated by Larissa Harris

January 31  – May 11, 2014
Queens Museum – New York City Building

January 24 – May 15, 2016
Armory Center for the Arts
, Caldwell Gallery
Pasadena, California

About the Project

The work of LAPD was the subject of a large retrospective gallery show, one of the first in the renovated and expanded Queens Museum. The Queens Museum in Flushing Meadow, Queens, New York has gained a reputation for curating exhibitions that directly relate to contemporary urban life. The exhibition included documentation of five works from 1987 to 1998, live performances of two major recent works, a Skid Row Oral History section, and a six-week residency.

Performances

Two major recent performance projects: State of Incarceration and Agentes y Activos (Agents & Assets), were presented as part of the retrospective.

State of Incarceration

Performances: January 31 & February 1.
February 2 exhibition opening celebration and performance.

LAPD’s State of Incarceration is the centerpiece of the retrospective exhibition. State of Incarceration’s 60 prison bunk-beds are installed in 1200 feet of gallery space along with video excerpts for the 4 month duration of the exhibition.

LAPD’s large State of Incarceration cast came to NYC for a week of performances and residency activities, which included public conversations and workshops on reforming the criminal justice system.

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Agentes y Activos (Agents & Assets)

February 28 @ the Queens Museum.
March 1 @ Langston Hughes Library, Corona, NY.
March 2 @ Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural Center, Flamboyán Theater, Manhattan, NY.

During a month long residency, LAPD engaged Drogadictos Anonimos, a Corona, Queens-based recovery group, in a unique partnership creating the North American, Spanish spoken premiere of Agentes y Activos (Agents & Assets): with English Supratitles.

In conjunction with the exhibition, Queens Museum and Autonomedia co-published Agents & Assets: Witnessing the war on drugs and on communities.

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AandAbook Agents & Assets: Witnessing the war on drugs and on communities

In conjunction with the exhibition, Queens Museum and Autonomedia proudly co-published Agents & Assets: Witnessing the war on drugs and on communities, a publication focused on a decade of Agents & Assets performances and conversation.  The book can be purchased for $12.95.

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