A collaboration between local artists AJ McClenon and Jared Brown, this project began as a residency at Roman Susan to incubate and inspire new work that reflects the ethos of the Edgewater neighborhood. McClenon and Brown have practices intersecting at sound, installation, text, and performance. A Girly Show at Berger Park Cultural Center is a variety show that presents the collaborative work between McClenon and Brown, while uplifting a variety of practices from their beloved community members. Poetry, drag, comedy, experimental sound, and improvisation are a few tools used to inspire guests to examine their intimate relationships to what they deem entertaining and why.
Jared Brown is an interdisciplinary artist born in Chicago. In past work, Jared broadcasted audio and text-based work through the radio (CENTRAL AIR RADIO, 88.5 FM), in live DJ sets, and on social media. They consider themselves a data thief, understanding this role from John Akomfrah’s description of the data thief as a figure that does not belong to the past or present. As a data thief, Jared Brown makes archeological digs for fragments of Black American subculture, history, and technology. Jared repurposes these fragments in audio, text, and video to investigate the relationship between history and digital, immaterial space.
AJ McClenon is a multi-disciplinary artist born and raised in Washington, DC, currently residing in Chicago. Alongside artistic experiences, A.J. is passionate about teaching and community collaborations with the goal that all the memories and histories that are said to have “too many Black people,” are told and retold again. To uphold these stories, AJ creates performances, installations, objects, sounds, visuals, and writings. These creations often revolve around an interest in water and aquatic life, escapism, Blackness, science, grief, US history, and the global future.
This event is presented as part of Roman Susan’s Navigations, an ongoing series of artist-led projects in and about public space. It is supported by Hyde Park Art Center’s Artists Run Chicago Fund as part of Art Design Chicago.
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An initiative of the Terra Foundation for American Art in partnership with artists and organizations across the city, Art Design Chicago is a series of events and exhibitions that highlight the city’s artistic heritage and creative communities.
