If there’s one thing people know about Superchief it’s that they know how to throw a party. The opening on Saturday for “Boiled Angel” is exactly what you would expect (free beer, DJ) and what you wouldn’t (piñatas of Pikachu and Donald Trump filled with money and dildos). DJ Mabson at times stole the spotlight, which is difficult to do given the artwork, with classic ’90s R&B and mashups. One of my personal favorites was one mix of a trap beat and the Seinfeld theme song. I was surprised and disappointed that a full-fledged dance party failed to break out.
The opening was celebrating the release of a new book containing the drawings that put Mike Diana in jail in Florida in the ’90s for obscenity charges. Given this history, it’s no surprise that the accompanying paintings and prints would offend retirees from the Bible Belt, along with my mother (who I pray doesn’t see the photos with this story). Penises, grotesque sexual illustrations, and anti-religious images abound—one can guess the open-minded crowd that the show would attract—most notably makeup artist Malina Stearns and documentarian Justin Henry Jernigan who stole the show in BDSM lingerie and a head-to-toe devil outfit. While the piñatas have been smashed, the paintings and prints will continue to be on view for the rest of the month.
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