University to screen video installation
NY artist will discuss his work examining colonialism
“100 Tikis” looks at tiki kitsch, tourism, militarism, sexism, homophobia, negative attitudes toward transsexual individuals, and the genocide of indigenous peoples in the Pacific Islands.
(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Sept. 30, 2015) A video assemblage exploring colonialism in the Pacific Islands will premiere at California Lutheran University on Wednesday, Oct. 14.
The screening of “100 Tikis” by Dan Taulapapa McMullin of Hudson, New York, will begin at 7 p.m. in Preus-Brandt Forum. McMullin will be on hand to discuss his work.
The event is the last in a series tied into the exhibit “Biomythography: Secret Poetry and Hidden Angers” in the William Rolland Gallery of Fine Art on campus.
“100 Tikis” examines colonialism in the Pacific Islands from Hawaii to West Papua. It looks at tiki kitsch, tourism, militarism, sexism, homophobia, negative attitudes toward transsexual individuals, and the genocide of indigenous peoples.
McMullin, whose parents are from American Samoa, creates paintings, sculptures, installations and performances. The artist’s work is currently featured in the Oakland Museum of California’s “Pacific Worlds” exhibition and has been on display at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Cambridge, the Gallery at the Asian/Pacific/American Institute at New York University and many other galleries. His film “Sinalela” won the 2002 Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival Best Short Film Award.
He is also a poet. The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Round Table of the American Library Association named his book of poems, “Coconut Milk,” among its top 10 on the 2014 Over the Rainbow Project list. His performance poem “The Bat” and other early works received a 1997 Poets&Writers Award from The Writers Loft.
The “Biomythography” exhibit, which runs through Oct. 16 in the William Rolland Gallery of Fine Art, investigates the weaving of myth, history and biography into visual arts. It features video, performance, installation, sculpture, photography and two-dimensional mixed media works in which artists juxtapose historical facts, life experiences, pop culture, ritual, mythology, anthropological conjectures and notions of identity.
In addition to McMullin, the featured artists are Zenia Baltagi, Crystal Z. Campbell, Chris Christion, Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle, Abdul Mazid, Thinh Nguyen, Juliana Paciulli, Glynnis Reed, Rachelle Rojany, Yoshie Sakai, Monica Sandoval and Jessica Wimbley. Christion and Wimbley curated the exhibit.
Admission to the screening and exhibit is free. Lundring Events Center is located north of Olsen Road between Campus Drive and Mountclef Boulevard. For more information, call 805-493-3697, email rollandgallery@callutheran.edu or visit CalLutheran.edu/rolland.