A new documentary exploring the work of several contemporary female artists reveals that Bushwick is home to a new wave of critics of the Art Establishment’s gender biases.
The film, entitled “The F Word,” is the work of producer-director Robert Adanto and features local artists Narcissister, “radical, transnational queer feminist art collective” Go! Push Pops, Leah Schrager, Rebecca Goyette, Rafia Santana, Sadaf, Michelle Charles, and Claudia Bitran, among others.
The rigorous examination of sex positivity in fourth wave feminism is at the core of the film, though the critiques extend far beyond that subject as well. One artist explains: “My biggest problem is when people say, ‘oh, that’s already been done before! Feminist performance art? That already happened! That’s a movement, move on! They did it, and it was interesting when they did it, but now it’s passé.’ What about all the terrible abstract painting that’s being created? No one is saying that to all these young men who are getting flipped right now and being successful, and no one is being like, ‘oh, comments about painting about painting, that’s already happened before—’ so then you do realize it is because of their biases against women using their bodies.”
The film premiers this Saturday, June 11th at the 6th Annual Art of Brooklyn Film Festival downtown. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here, and the 95 minute screening starts at 5:30pm St. Francis College at 180 Remsen street.
Check out the trailer below: