In Conversation: Chris Vargas, Garth Amundson and Pierre Gour

Exhibition

As part of the the 2019 Faculty Biennial at the Western Gallery, a series of noon artist talks will be held. The artists will discuss their process, history, and exhibited works.

Pay-by-the-hour parking is available in Lots 6V, C/CR, and 12A. Please consider using alternative transportation and carpooling. More information and transportation and parking.

Speakers

Chris E. Vargas

“My work deploys humor and performance in conjunction with mainstream idioms to explore the complex ways that queer and trans people negotiate spaces for themselves within historical and institutional memory and popular culture. From 2008–13, I collaborated with Greg Youmans to make the web-based trans/cisgender sitcom Falling In Love…with Chris and Greg. I also co-directed with Eric Stanley the movie Homotopia (2006) and its feature-length sequel Criminal Queers (2015). I am currently the Executive Director of MOTHA, the Museum of Transgender Hirstory & Art, a conceptual arts and hirstory institution highlighting the contributions of trans art to the cultural and political landscape.”

 

Chris Vargas received a BA from University of California, Santa Cruz and an MFA in Art Practice from the University of California, Berkeley.

Garth Amundson and Pierre Gour

“The work Mr. & Mr. is in keeping with the rest of our experiments with appropriation of vintage photography. In this context, we have paired turn-of-the-century studio portraits of two men into single images. Referencing the complexities of queer identity and the often convoluted morphing of two beings into a single relationship, these "couples" awkwardly hold space in an absurd and monstrous fashion. As if they were suspended trophies, the couples hang together in a strange and whimsical groupings.”

Garth Amundson received BA from Central Washington University and MFA from Syracuse University. Pierre Gour received AA from Fanshawe College of Art & Design, BFA from Concordia University, Montreal,         Canada and MFA from University of New Mexico.