We’re Still Working: The Art of Sex Work

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We’re Still Working: The Art of Sex Work is a multidisciplinary group exhibition created by, and in celebration of, sex workers. Curated by Maxine Holloway and Javier Luis Hurtado, We’re Still Working is the second exhibition in the 2016–2017 season of the SOMArts Curatorial Residency. The exhibition will encourage viewers to challenge dominant narratives about sex workers.

Opening with a free public reception on Thursday, January 26, 6–9 pm, We’re Still Working addresses the complexity of sex work through multiplicitous and diverse sex worker perspectives, creating a space for sex workers to creatively tell their own stories and insisting that sex worker contributions to the history, art and culture of the Bay Area are seen and valued.

“We are not outsiders examining the sex worker community, but insiders with art to share. We strongly believe that placing sex workers at the center of our own narrative is one of the best ways to fight for sex worker justice. Art is a form of activism, and we are committed to creating opportunities for sex workers to share our stories through artistic outlets,” Holloway and Hurtado observe of their curatorial debut for We’re Still Working.

The opening reception on January 26 will feature performance activation of artworks by Arabelle Raphael, Joseph Liatela, and LYRIC LGBTQ Youth Center, as well as an opportunity to share your thoughts on the exhibition in a community audio booth.

Public programs in conjunction with the exhibition include a Sex Worker Health Panel in collaboration with LYRIC Youth Center on Saturday, February 4, 1–4 pm and a Failed Films evening of films by and for sex workers on Friday, February 17, 6–9 pm.

WE’RE STILL WORKING
EXHIBITING ARTISTS
Aida Lizalde in collaboration with Julius Caesar
Ana Quintanilla in collaboration with Sthefany Galante Bautista & Lluvia Chávez
Arabelle Raphael
Brothel Girl
Chucha Marquez & Gina de Vries in collaboration with youth from LYRIC LGBTQ Center
Emmet Logan in collaboration with Kalash Ka
Grace Van Ness in collaboration with Juliette Stray
Jacq the Stripper
Joseph Liatela
Katherine O’Toole
Lake Anderson
Laurenn McCubbin
Logout
Lyric Seal aka Neve Be
Pluma Sumaq
Rae Threat
Shae Rayder Walsh

We’re Still Working Community Partners

St. James Infirmary
El/La Trans Latinas
LYRIC Youth Center

RELATED EVENTS

Opening Reception
Thursday, January 26, 6–9pm
The opening night celebration features performance activations of artworks by Arabelle Raphael, Joseph Liatela, and LYRIC LGBTQ Youth Center.

Sex Worker Health Panel: An LGBTQ Youth Perspective
Saturday, February 4, 1–4pm
Presented in collaboration with LYRIC Youth Center’s SWAG, the panel features Alix Lutnick and young people who have artwork in the We’re Still Working exhibition. The panel will highlight the necessity of centering young people’s voices and expertise when advocating for sex worker justice.

Failed Films presents #Fuckyoupayme
Friday, February 17, 6–9pm
The We’re Still Working Project teams up with Failed Films to present an evening of film made by and in celebration of sex workers.

Image credit: We’re Still Working, photo by Chani Bockwinkel.

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