The Lodge Gallery: TGF Sports (New York)
Curated by Paul Brainard
Artists: Paul Brainard, Chris Caccamise, Peter Daverington, TM Davy, Franklin Evans, Evie Falci, Dawn Frasch, Duncan Hannah, Kurt Kauper, Hyun Jin Alex Park, Jean Pierre Roy, Tom Sanford, Lane Twitchell, Eric White, Barnaby Whitfield, Kelli Williams
Self-actualization is defined as the process by which an individual achieves a more authentic version of oneself; a realization of one’s full potential. Sports, or more specifically, the athlete engaged in a sport, are often seen as a celebration of this process. The Olympian. The champion. The lone long distance runner determined to consistently improve on her performance. Pushing the boundaries of our known human limitations.
This journey of self-discovery is possible if the individual is free to address their personal nature and discover what lies within. We’ve forgotten this. The relatively recent celebritification of athletes, and the mania of modern fan culture, has changed the game.
It is from this perspective that we have arrived at our current position; “Totally Gay for Sports” combines an irreverence for the culture of sports celebrity while wrestling with one of the major issues of our time, equality for all. -Paul Brainard
