TV Party @ MirrorLab - 3/22/24
Review and photos by: Drey Kereakos, Writer @drey.d.k.
Edited by: Andrew Perrizo, Owner/Editor @PlaylistTC
If you like what we are doing, please consider supporting us on Patreon, PayPal, or Venmo.
Do you ever find yourself staying in to be comfy and watch TV instead of going out? Maybe the weekend has simply crept up on you, and after a long week, you’d prefer to just take it easy. Or, alternatively, maybe you’ve hit the wall with things to watch, and are looking for something fresh to consume or experience visually? If any or all of these apply, TV Party is the event for you.
MirrorLab, a DIY space located on the corner of 34th and Cedar, holds space for a number of art openings/galleries, live performances, and film screenings, and this event incorporated all of that and more. Organized, curated and hosted by May Klug (@mayklug_), this event had everything from live DJ’s, interactive soft sculptures, archival visual media, to live noise sets. This very much was a queer dominant and led event, which I do feel important to emphasize, as it is growing rarer to have an authentically queer dominant space that isn’t solely a bar or rager of some kind. This event also served as a fundraiser for a family currently in Gaza, who like millions of other folks there, are starving, trapped, and trying to stay alive (and when able, fully evacuate) amidst the bombing of their land and home. If you have the financial means, and/or networks to assist them further, I will be attaching that information below.
From the moment I walked in, I felt at home, surrounded by many familiar faces of South Minneapolis. A variety of soft sculptures and make-shift plush furniture scattered the floor, made by an artist named Mad (@mad_sux via Instagram). Off to the right corner of the room, also on the floor, was a tower of about six television screens, two larger ones on the left, and four smaller ones on the right. A projector casted on a wall nearby what played on the screens, for those who may not have been able to see the screens as clearly from other vantage points. There was one isolated television closer to where a few rows of folding chairs were set, making for a total of eight screens altogether.
The night’s programming kicked off around 7:30pm, starting with a series of about 45 minutes worth of queer archival footage, curated by an artist named KX. There was footage that dated as far back as 1986 to around 1992, based on some of the few years displayed visually, otherwise most of the rest remained unknown in timeframe. From talk show commentary, to drag performances, interviews, puppetry, satirical plays, and more, those who were present and tuned in remained engaged and amused from start to finish. Next, Moqui Joy premiered a series of animated shorts compiled into a project called The Channel. Incorporating stop motion, public domain footage, archival commercials and self-shot digital films and hand drawn imagery, Moqui executed a truly personalized and unique visual experience reminiscent of the early days of MTV’s Liquid Television or Adult Swim. Following this, was a collaborative noise set with accompanied visual projections performed by the event host May and a creative colleague Paul Franceschi. Capturing the two of them was difficult to do from where I was positioned, but I did my best to capture the vibe of the room during the performance. Small bursts of color and sound gradually swelled, eventually enveloping and vibrating the entire space. Closing out the night, were the DJ’s Visa Card and DIE/ASPORA, who filled time in between each of the screenings and performances. By the end, the chairs set out were put away, making way for folks to dance.
Rumor has it, and hopefully so, another TV Party will take place! As for where, when, and who might be involved the next time around? Is to be determined. Certainly keep up with May Klug on Instagram, as well as an affiliated collective of hers Dykes 2 Watch Out 4, to stay in the know, and I hope to get to watch TV with some more of you next time!
