Stream of Consciousness: Joe Mama-Nitzberg

Onement, at least twice... (57k)

Stonewall/Speedball (137k)

In a critical but humorous take on the numerous possibilities of identity, Joe Mama-Nitzberg wrestles with the relationship between his artistic allegiances, his gay sexuality, and his Jewish heritage. His series called Self-ish Portraits explores monochrome paintings and such '80s artists as Cindy Sherman or Jeff Koons through scenes from Judy Garland movies. In New-ish Work he enacts--literally, embodies--the work of Abstract Expressionist painter Barnett Newman via the figure of Boy George from the popular music group Culture Club. In each work Mama-Nitzberg finds a visionary idealism that paradoxically informs both the source work and his own. His performance in these photographs is masquerade with a double twist, not only role playing per se, but specifically dressing in drag (which has its own elaborate history) and furthermore recreating drag performances that are themselves legendary.