Leap Day | 2.29.2020 | The Carpenter’s Shop at Snug Harbor

Queer Van Kult: Leap Day was inspired by the folklore legends surrounding the elusive day.

Returning to Snug Harbor’s Carpenter Shop, QVK: Leap Day featured performances by stevie may, Madame Brassiere, Noelle Choy with the assistance of Liu Light, and Jenno; and installations by Moody Marinaro and Maggie Buford, Zoë Tirado, Nicie Mok, and Rachel Fox. Hosted by lovers, Thing and Demon.

Performing Artists

JENNO

Jenno Snyder: guitar, vocals; Justin Marino: drums; Matt Gaffney: bass; Paul Barbato: guitar; Rachel Fox: keyboard.

Jenno (she/her, they/them) is a Staten Island-based queer experimental composer, multi-instrumentalist, and intermedia artist. Her newest album, Cherry Gross, will be released in 2020. Her last album, Too North, was released by Worry Records (2018). Formerly under the name God II, she released three EPs: Crazz (2017), Infinite Feedback Lute (Lost Notes Media, 2017), and Death After Life (Captain Crook Records, 2016). Current projects include noise duo Sludgemisers with drummer Nick Guttilla. Previously, she was known for her work with dream punk band Yeti, as composer and bassist. She is founder and editor of the arts and literary press, NYSAI, and a co-producer of Queer Van Kult. She holds a BA in Physics and Philosophy from New York University.

www.jennosnyder.com

NOELLE CHOY WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF LIU LIGHT

Limited Edition, Set of Two (2019) by Noelle Choy with the assistance of Liu Light playswith the idea of the racialized object and how, historically, systems have both intentionallyand carelessly sieved Asiatic femininity through lifeless forms. This violence, seenparticularly in dishware, often presents us with beautiful objects urging to be consumed.

What if the figure, who must be a woman, is alive within the object instead of just implied? The functionality is coupled with aesthetic pleasure in the marketplace, but here, the objects are independent. They are already performing a task as they are alive and indicate that they don’t need to be consumed in order to function, regardless if the said function is useful or needed.

Working in sculpture, installation, and video, Noelle Choy (she/her) is just trying to tell jokes about her experience as a slug.

www.noellechoy.com

New York-based Liu Light (they/them) is a multimedia illustrator, musician, and animator making experimental comics, songs, videos, and quantum narratives of love and loss.

www.liulight.com

MADAME BRASSIERE

Known as the “Over-the-Shoulder Boulder Holder of Burlesque,” Madame Brassiere is aNew York City-based fat queer burlesque performer. She was awarded “Most Comedic”at the Oklahoma City Burlesque Festival, won First Runner up at the Montreal Burlesque Festival, and was most recently seen at the New York Burlesque Festival where she was nominated for “Hottest Freshman.” She just finished a run of Romeo & Juliet at House of Yes in Brooklyn. She believes in fat liberation and glamour for bodies of all sizes and abilities.

Here’s the MB Guarantee: Curves and Curls to Rock Your World.

STEVIE MAY

stevie may (she/her) is an artist working with movement, sound, video, text, and textiles. She has performed at Danspace Project, Performance Space New York, Movement ResearchRoulette Intermedium, the Center for Performance Research, Vital Joint, and in houseshows. Collaboratively, stevie is working on a film with Liz Charky, sound and movement practices with Lucie Vítková and the OPERA Ensemble, and has worked extensively with the Bureau for the Future of Choreography. She has performed in the work of Kim Brandt, Ishmael Houston-Jones, Jennifer Monson, Tess Dworman, Kyli Kleven, Caitlin Marz, Liz Charky, and devynn emory. Her new band, Baywatch, is looking to play their first show this spring. stevie is re-starting her personal training practice, and looking to take on music students as well—let her know if you’re interested!

Hosted by THING and DEMON

Creator Nicie Mok (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist and NYC ’s officiallost-soul-in-residence. Although often absurd in application, her work largely deals with issues of conformity and the commonplace narratives we tend to subconsciously employ. Her last two zines, Increase Your Male Power! and This is a Sign! were published by NYSAI Press. She has a Financial Economics degree from Columbia University. Nicie is a co-producer of Queer Van Kult.

QVK mascot John W. Snyder (he/him) is a Pushcart nominated poet from Staten Island. He has helped facilitate workshops for youth as a volunteer at the Staten Island LGBTQ Center. He was a 2018 member of the SI Advanced Slam Team that competed in the National Poetry Slam, and he is the author of of the chapbook Where the Knife Landed published by NYSAI Press.

The lovers would like to thank Rachel Decesario and Irina Kats for their participation.

Installations

FARM PEOPLE / HUNGRY GARDENING

A collaborative installation by Moody Marinaro and Maggie Buford

“It’s always just been us out on the farm. Until one day...I forgot to pluck the vegetables. I woke to find a little boy out in the flower patches. He looked just like me! I tried to bring him home to join us for dinner...but Grandpee didn’t like that so much.”

Farm People is by Moody Marinaro

My name is Moody Marinaro, and this is what I make art about.

(1) The drive to recover. (2) No landlords. No despots. No cops. (3) The people we love. For knitting together our lives into some kind of cohesive thought. All of my apologies, explanations, and memories are here. I hope you like them. Thanks for listening.

www.moodymarinaro.com

Hungry Gardening (punch needle, acrylic, and wool pile, 4’x6’) is by Maggie Buford.

Maggie (she/her) is a poet and artist living on Staten Island. After a five year hiatus from painting, Maggie began to write poetry and learn more about the fiber arts her grandmothers left behind. She is currently immersed in rug making, writing poetry you can walk on. Maggie reads at local open mics, staples zines, and has published her first chapbook Twenty-five with NYSAI Press. She is the organizer of the SIZL Zine Fest and Education Director at MakerSpace NYC.

Instagram: @maggssbee

Sun Lust Beach and Tiki Bar by Zoë Tirado

Beach Bums: Zoë Tirado and Zachariah Tirado

Beach Babes: Samson Lundquist and Arianna Torres

Beach Brews: Flagship Brewery—Thanks, Cris ;)

Projections: Rachel Fox

If you’re after picturesque white sands, trendy local vibes, or secluded private-island hideouts, Sun Lust Beach and Tiki Bar is definitely not that. Planning a bucket list trip before the end of the year? This isn’t it. Only have a few PTO days to burn this quarter? Seriously go elsewhere. You scoured the globe to the best beach resorts, from hot newcomers to classic retreats and thoughtfully renovated properties and you ended up here? God help you. Enjoy a beer from Flagship before time runs out. Sun Lust Beach and Tiki Bar is the premier vacation spot amidst this apocalyptic world.

Don’t forget your sunblock.

Zoë Tirado (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist living in Staten Island. She receivedher BFA in Fine Arts from The School of Visual Arts in 2014. Often referencing her ownsearch to define womanhood and femininity, Zoë’s work explores the female body, theabject and identity. Recently, Zoë has had her first solo exhibition, Buff Chixxx (2019,NYC), was featured in the group exhibition Damaged Art (2019, NYC) curated byCheryl Georgette, and released the zine Dynasty Forever with NYSAI Press. Zoë is aco-producer of Queer Van Kult and the mother of Honey-Yucky.

www.zoetirado.com

Rachel Fox (she/her) is a video artist and graphic designer from Staten Island. Her audiovisual compositions draw work from internet archives, collaging vintage Americana found footage with her music or foley experiments. Currently, she designs and markets for both the Brooklyn-based experimental arts space, Roulette Intermedium, and the Staten Island-based art and literary press, NYSAI. Rachel is a co-producer of Queer Van Kult.

www.rachellyngholm.com

Other reappearing installations created for August 2019’s Queer Van Kult x Kala Lolo were made by Zoë Tirado, Dot Dulgarian, and Peggy (Exquisite Corpse, fabric) and Jenno Snyder (Organ Grindr, toy piano, dildos, electronics).

Queer Van Kult: Leap Day was made possible, in part, by a DCA Premier Grant from Staten Island Arts, with public funding from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.