Lenora Claire Wants You to Put Your Face Here
Lenora Claire (Photo by Austin Young)
Lenora Claire surrounds herself with talented artists and colorful people. As a curator she has helmed Golden Girls Gone Wild, Bettie Page Heaven Bound and countless other unique art shows and events.
Now Lenora Claire is bubbling over with excitement. Her newest project involves an opening night at a new gallery featuring blank walls. Saturday night Lenora Claire and popular drag performer Phyliss Navidad will launch of their new gallery Pop tART, as well as a solo exhibition, Your Face Here, part portrait, part participatory, part performance by Los Angeles based artist, Austin Young. This exhibition marks a rare and glamorous moment when Young will open his lens onto the public.
We caught up with a very busy Lenora Claire to find more about her friendship with Austin Young and how the Your Face Here plan was hatched.
LAist: How did you meet Austin Young?
Lenora Claire: I crashed his birthday party! I had been a fan of his for years and we had many mutual friends but somehow our paths had never crossed. I was at Purple Circle having my hair done by the owner Andrew Marlin who often does hair for Austin when they collaborate with artists like Siouxsie Sioux and Diamanda Galas. Andrew asked if I was going to Austin's party because he assumed we were already friends. When I told him we didn't know each other he suggested I crash it and gave me all the details. Boy, am I glad I did, now he is one of my best friends! Oddly enough Purple Circle is one of the sponsors of the show and will be providing hairdressers for the mini-makeovers. Coolest salon in LA!
How will the Your Face Here show be set up at Pop tART Gallery?
It's beyond unconventional to throw a gala opening reception and have all the media, celebs, and crowds show up to blank walls but that is exactly what we are doing. People will show up and see Austin with his set up along with the mini-makeover team. 100 lucky participants will be able to purchase their spot in the show for between $100-500 depending on the size of the print they purchase and will literally be allowed to secure their place in pop culture all the way down to where their portrait will hang on the walls. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to work with the man who shoots for Interview magazine, Flaunt, Rolling Stone, etc and just broke attendance records at LACMA with his group Fallen Fruit. Have your facebook or Okcupid profile shot by the man who shot Debbie Harry, Oliver Stone, Simon Cowell, and Margret Cho. Pretty incredible!
What's planned for the opening night party? Can you tell us some of the people who are going to be there?
Well, we have gorgeous floral displays being done by Tenley Young, winner of the LOGO show the Arrangement. She is also doing all the landscaping on the patio. One of my favorite musical acts in Los Angeles Killsonic, a 50 piece bombastic musical ensemble will be there to blow everyone's minds. There will be the mini make-over stations with hair by Purple Circle and makeup by Urban Decay plus the excitement of watching Austin shooting people live. Many of the celebs who Austin has shot, as well as people that I'm friends with and who attend my shows will be there but people will just have to come see for themselves. Anyone who is familiar with the kinds of shows I do, knows Austin's work, or my partner in the gallery drag diva Phyliss Navidad will already be familiar with the Felliniesque art extravaganzas we are known for. Everyone else can stand their with their mouths open for a bit before joining in on the fun.
What else are you working on these days?
Well, I have some incredible things planned for the gallery which I'm certain will make national news, but right now I'm pitching a TV show called Manthropology with Peter Stuart. He directed/produced one of my all time favorite shows Eurotrash which was hosted by Jean Paul Gaultier. We're also working with the team who produced Mad TV and In Living Color on that project. I'm co-hosting Mr. Black, which is still one of the most outrageous clubs in LA and is only getting bigger. I just did a TV show for A&E, that will air in the spring. We're doing a docu-series on Pop tART produced by reality tv producer M.J. Loheed and I'm about to start a musical project with Jer Ber Jones. I'm still modeling and acting and will appear in Olivia's new book that comes out soon as well as the sequel to Showgirls.
What are some of your favorite LA restaurants?
Lenora Claire: La Boheme, Little Door, and Cliftons (not for the food I just think its a magical place. Like if the Splash Mountain ride served pudding.
Favorite bars...
Lenora Claire: Mr Black at Bardot naturally, the now defunct tranny bar with garbage bag curtains Black lite, Bar Marmont, and I love to play the trivia machines at Spotlight.
Favorite art galleries...
The now defunct World of Wonder gallery where I did many shows was a fave. I love Corey Helford, Fahey Klein, 1988, and I think Nucleus has great stuff coming up including a pin-up show featuring art by Olivia that features Julie Newmar and I as special guests.
Favorite places to shop...
Stop Staring Clothing where I get almost all my dresses, Jenette bras where the alphabet begins at D, and Skylight books.
Favorite LA landmark...
Does Angelyene count?
YOUR FACE HERE by Austin Young opens Saturday, January 29. Pop tArt Gallery is located at 3023 West 6th Street just east of Virgil Avenue. The opening night festivities will be from 7-10pm. Celebrity make-up artists will be on site as well as a performance by Killsonic, a 50 piece ensemble band. Austin Young will continue to take portraits throughout the run of the show and display them as they are completed until March 5.