DisGender Euphoria: Nayland Blake Hosts International Gender Discard Party

Image credit: Nayland Blake, courtesy Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.

Join an evening of music, dance and transformation at artist Nayland Blake’s (Art MFA 84) DisGender Euphoria, billed as the first “international, intergenerational gender discard party,” this Sunday (Jan. 26) from 8 pm to midnight at Zebulon in Los Angeles.

The celebration marks the close of Blake’s exhibition No Wrong Holes: Thirty Years of Nayland Blake at ICA LA, a comprehensive survey of the artist’s career. Their exhibition ran concurrently with fellow CalArtian Sadie Barnette’s (Art BFA 06) neon installation The New Eagle Creek Saloon. Both artists and their ICA LA exhibitions were noted in an August 2019 feature of the LA art scene by renowned art auction house Christie’s. 

Party activities include a BYOB (bring your own baggage) swap of gendered items to discard and donate, a makeover station for a new look and an open mic for audience members to share their gender discard stories. 

The night also features an array of DJs, including CalArtian Bradford Nordeen (Art BFA 05), founder of the LA-based film collective Dirty Looks, and an assortment of performances. Among these are Gender Reveal Party, a “rollicking ride” during which Conchita the Zumba instructor (portrayed by multimedia artist Nao Bustamante) reveals your gender alongside doula and hype-man Cecilio Nazario (portrayed by curator Marcus Kuiland-Nazario). Xina Xurner, an experimental music and performance collaboration by Marvin Astorga and Young Joon Kwak, offers a cathartic, multigenre performance amplified by DIY and power electronics and distorted vocals. Event organizers promise: “Xina Xurner will make you sweat.”

Note: DisGender Euphoria is a 21 and over event.