Goldstein says, that sometimes characterizes Capitol Hill culture, political and otherwise. “People who are trying to look the most normal...it’s like a Capitol Hill cover up. Just be yourself. What’s the worst that is going to happen?” But Goldstein said that can be hard, especially when fears of falling behind or not succeeding can pervade even the most basic daily decisions. “People are afraid Artist Laura Elkins’ work “Self as Lady Bird Jackie” , Oil on to leave their houses without checking Canvas, Diptych, 20” x 16” each, 2011. Showing as part of the the weather.” Goldstein added, “that’s “King Me” exhibit at The Fridge in March. Photo courtesy of Adam Dwight. why I don’t have a TV.” On the theme of domination, French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu, in his work of his West Coast projects by Catherine Language and Symbolic Power, writes “domKoch. Moses, who has done both underinated individuals make common cause with the-radar and commissioned graffiti art, said discourse and consciousness, indeed with scihe sees graffiti as an act of defiance. ence, since they cannot constitute themselves “Mentally, physically, spiritually the act as a separate group, mobilize themselves, or of defiance is an act against prescribed, conmobilize their potential power unless they ditioned behavior and [about having] the question the categories of perception of the courage to do what you are compelled to do,” social order...” Moses told me. With this month’s The Fridge exhibThis February at The Fridge, the Red it “King Me: Studies in the Uncivilized Eye Gravy Theater staged an all-volunteer World”, visitors to The Fridge just might performance Romeo and Juliet – a same-sex have a chance to confront some of those catinterpretation of the classic – and raised over egories of perception, accompanying sym$10,000 for the Trevor Project, a national orbols and their own potential power. ganization providing crisis intervention and “King Me: Studies in the Uncivilized suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, World” runs March 3 through 29 at The bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth. Fridge and also features works by printmaker Norman Strike, collages by Saleshi Feseha, a Healing Through the Arts video work from Sean Monohan & Gregory I attended the Red Eye Gravy Theater Fong, as well as works from Matias Cuevas, Company’s performance of Shakespeare’s Lisa Parker Hyatt, Rebecca Katz, Hannah “Romeo and Juliet” at The Fridge on FebruNaomi Kim, Hermonie Only, Adrian Parary 11 with my parents. Reckoning silently sons, and Stan Squirewell. with our own emotions in the aftermath of As part of “King Me”, an artist talk a death in our own family, the performance will be held on March 11 from 2 to 4 p.m. offered us a kind of release. As the snow fell The exhibit will also be accompanied by a that night, we reflected on the play together, lecture, “To What Strange Place: 78s Listhankful for the theater and the space it had tening Session”, with Ian Nagosaki, a music offered us for catharsis and reflection on the researcher, on March 22 at 7 p.m. The exuniversal human experience of tragedy in our hibit’s closing party will be held March 29 own time of mourning. from 7:30 to 10 p.m. H As I shared this experience with Goldstein later, when we finally caught up in person one sunny day in late February at Tunnicliff ’s Tavern in Capitol Hill, he nodded, affirming that the gallery aims to be the kind of space for what he terms a kind of “art intervention.” “The whole reason the Fridge exists is to encourage healing through the arts,” Goldstein told me. Another mission of The Fridge, Goldstein says, is to support freedom of expression and the freedom for both artists and gallery visitors to find the courage to be themselves, to question dominant prescriptions of normalcy in atmospheres of regimentation and conformity. It is just that sort of atmosphere, Alex Goldstein, Fridge owner, with gallery patrons.
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