GLOSSY LEAF kiss Connor Fitzgerald & Louie Zalk-Neale

Opening preview: Wednesday 3 March, 5.30pm
Exhibition runs: 4 March – 10 April 2021

Queerness is not new. This is an expression of our past, present and future beyond binary gender and sexuality. Through whakapapa we find our deepest roots in the natural world, where we ground ourselves and move freely, blossoming as a queer abundance. Join us for a live performance from 5.30pm on the exhibition opening night.

Public Programme: 

Pause Blur Grass Witch | Workshop
Thursday 4 March, 4pm - 6:30pm
Blue Oyster Art Project Space, 16 Dowling Street

GLOSSY LEAF kiss | Performance
Saturday 20 March, 2pm
Woodhaugh Gardens (exact location to be announced)

CLOSE UR EYES, MAKE A WISH
Film screening and artist talk - feel the grass, kissing the wind.
Sunday 21 March, 7pm
Blue Oyster Art Project Space, 16 Dowling Street

All events are free to attend all welcome, nau mai, haere mai.

 __

Louie Zalk-Neale (Ngāi Te Rangi, Pākehā) is a queer artist based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, originally from Hokitika. Louie grounds their practice in bodily adornment created from found and natural materials, making reference to clothing while inviting adaptive usage. By activating these material explorations in interactive performances and re-imagining them in images, Louie allows space for their audience to critically observe and embody the absurdity of normalised experiences; with LGBTQI+ traditions and Mātauranga Māori supporting their practice.

Louie’s work has recently featured at Artspace Aotearoa’s New Artists Show (Tāmaki Makaurau 2020); Critical Costume Conference (Norway 2020); Shared Lines Collective at Birdo Flugas Gallery Sendai (Japan) and Kaikōura (2019); and at MEANWHILE in Te Whanganui-a-Tara where they are currently a board member.
Instagram: @louiemole

Connor Fitzgerald is a nonbinary artist based in Te Whanganui-A-Tara, with a multi-disciplinary practice in video, writing and installation. They let their experience as a transfeminine person lead the direction of their research. Centring themself within the wider context of their surroundings opens opportunity for their creative output to be a process for grounding.

Connor has recently been in the group show 2+2+2 at Precinct 35, 2020. Solo show What is Faith Without Doubt? at Clearview Gallery 2020. They have a BFA from Massey University and are a current staff member of Gender Minorities Aotearoa and is a facilitator at play_station.
Instagram: @connor.tation