Press Release for "Jelly Loves Lipstick"

Below is the Press Release I wrote and designed for my first curatorial project in NY, Jelly Loves Lipstick.  It was a pleasure to work with the actress Julia Morrison (see her website here), who created this wonderful body of work.  Thank you to all the wonderful and inspiring people from all over New York (and some out-of-towners) who attend the show.  Hope to see you all again at my next event.<3

-Ashlee 

Jelly Loves Lipstick

Curated by Ashlee Jewel

Thursday, October 24, 2013

ONE NIGHT ONLY: 6pm to 12am 199 Cook Street, 3^rd FL, Brooklyn, 11206

Jelly Loves Lipstick is an exhibition comprising rarely seen video works by NYC actress, Julia Morrison. Together these videos project a feeling of carnal ambiguity and being astray, yet essentially aim to challenge customary ideas of feminine roles and public conduct. Morrison visually dissects widely practiced norms by recording herself performing guerilla style in public venues in New York City, and uploading the videos to social media sites through her iPhone.

These performances were inspired by Margaret Thatcher (Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1979-1990), whom was known not only for her infamous “Iron Lady” image in the UK, but also for applying her “pristine” lipstick in cabinet meetings among her male counterparts. This exhibition of feminism was considered illicit over the course of Thatcher’s career, yet continued due to Thatcher’s mission to redress gender conventions in a male dominated field.  

Although today’s public venues in NYC are far from being male dominated political cabinets, modern social norms continue to be contradictive by demanding high expectations for women and their appearances.  Society expects the transition from “dressed down” to “dress up” to be seamless, and want to see the finished product of women’s efforts to be a stunning beauty, yet feel uncomfortable at the sight of a female openly asserting her physical attractiveness.  Furthermore, women in power are expected to be plain and mannish, and are considered less qualified to hold powerful positions in a competitive work force if she chooses to dress femininely.  In the case of Margaret Thatcher, however, it is shown that one can be the “head of state,” be seen as an “Iron Lady” and still use femininity to her advantage.  As the French President Francois Mitterrand said about Thatcher: “She had the eyes of Caligula and the lips of Marilyn Monroe.”  A woman of power indeed.  

In Jelly Loves Lipstick, each video is created with the audience in mind.  Julia demands the audience’s attention by making something taboo (applying her lipstick in public), seductive.  Also referencing human evolution, Morrison uses a variety of red lipsticks to tap into the male primal instinct:  red glossy lips are a visual subconscious reminder of a human female’s vagina as she’s about to reach a sexual climax.  Thus, Morrison combines the notions of power, femininity, evolution, and primal instincts simultaneously. 

These perennial ideas are brought to the foreground in “Jelly Loves Lipstick” by addressing them through contemporary mediums and outlets.  As social media continues to grow in popularity, so does the proliferation of the “selfie”: a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a Smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media.  OxfordDictionaries.com. 2013. http://oxforddictionaries.com/us/…(2 October 2013).  In Jelly Loves Lipstick, the “lipstick ritual” (repetitively applying her lipstick in public) performances disguise themselves as “video self-portraits” or “video selfies,” and thus touches upon the tendency for modern people to excessively self-promote and express one-dimensional sensuality through a manufactured “digital” gaze.  All these ideas are tied into one well-rounded body of video work and can be seen along side the artist for one night only in Brooklyn, NY.  

Julia Morrison studied Biology at William & Mary University, and Acting at the Maggie Flanigan Studio in NYC.  She currently lives and works in New York.

About the Curator: Ashlee Jewel is an Independent Curator based in New York City.  She studied Visual and Critical Studies at The School of the Arts Institute Chicago and Philosophy at the University of Missouri St. Louis.  “Jelly Loves Lipstick” is her first curatorial project to be presented in New York. 

 For information on her future projects, email Ashleeletter@gmail.com.

 Jelly Loves Lipstick Videos

"Jelly Loves Lipstick at La Zarza Lounge" by Julia Morrison

"Jelly Loves Lipstick at Union Pool" by Julia Morrison