Barbershop: The Art of Queer Failure  embraces the ethos of queer failure as a productive way of proposing alternatives  rather than adhering to traditions of barbershops, which under the guise of giving haircuts, often reinforce notions about het

Barbershop: The Art of Queer Failure embraces the ethos of queer failure as a productive way of proposing alternatives rather than adhering to traditions of barbershops, which under the guise of giving haircuts, often reinforce notions about heteropatriarchal masculinity. The installation itself resembles a barbershop, but, rather than using the aesthetics found in a cis-normative, hetero patriachal barbershop, Barbershop: The Art of Queer Failure, which debuted at the Wassaic Project in 2019 is comprised of loud patterned textiles, images of queer icons giving haircuts, it’s robustly textured, with pompoms, tinfoil, fuzzy fabric, faux fur, sequins, and much more. Glitter curtains mark the entrance; the walls are adorned with juxtapositions of multi-colored fabric stretched over plywood and staple gunned much the same way one would stretch a canvas or upholster furniture. Strings of multi-colored pompoms appear throughout, and Andy Warhol’s factory is referenced by the use of aluminum foil on the walls. A playful mix of various queer musical outfits punctuates the air, while party lights, a disco ball, and a faux zebra rug all adorn the space to create an ambiance that is akin to a queer club coupled with a campy parlor.

The project has been presented at numerous venues around the United States.

 This poster is hand-drawn and then screen printed in the style of iconic barbershop posters, but instead of showcasing various versions of hetero-patriarchal, cisnormative, masculinity masquerading as haircuts this poster images queer and trans cult

This poster is hand-drawn and then screen printed in the style of iconic barbershop posters, but instead of showcasing various versions of hetero-patriarchal, cisnormative, masculinity masquerading as haircuts this poster images queer and trans culture producers, artists, and scholars of various sexual and gender orientations that all have short, barbered hairstyles. The poster is for sale and part of the proceeds go to the Transgender Law Center.

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