June 21 – September 9, 2012
Taylor De Cordoba is thrilled to announce that MCA Denver will present the first solo museum exhibition dedicated to the work of Frohawk Two Feathers, the pseudonym for L.A.-based artist Umar Rashid. The exhibition, entitled Frohawk Two Feathers: We Buy Gold, We Buy Everything, We Sell Souls, will be on view from June 21, 2012 through September 9, 2012, and feature more than 20 paintings, works on paper and sculpture. Over the course of his career, Frohawk Two Feathers has created works that provide a magnificent re-imagining of history, narrating the story of Frengland, his fictionalized empire of a combined France and England. His drawings are detailed accounts of the traditions and rituals associated with the Frenglish leaders and culture, confronting issues of racism, power, greed, and ideological opposition within an invented period during the eighteenth century. By re-imagining colonial history, his work shows the subjective nature of historical recollection.
Co-curated by Nora Burnett Abrams and Tricia Robson, the presentation at MCA Denver focuses on key characters and battles from the initial formation and early expansion of Frengland, as well as subsequent imperial conquests and campaigns against the crown. Rooted in this early history, the artist produced new works for this exhibition that further develop the complex narrative of the Frenglish empire, expanding the scope of his earlier work to North America and linking the narrative of Frengland to Colorado.
The exhibition’s opening celebration kicks off Thursday, June 21, 2012, at 6PM for members and 8PM for non-members. The museum’s hours will be extended until midnight (12AM, Friday, June 22), with special events surrounding the summer solstice, including a rap performance with Superdeluxe featuring Umar Rashid and Micah James.
The exhibition is sponsored in part by Tina Walls, MCA Denver’s Director’s Vision Society members, and the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. We would also like to further thank the citizens of the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District.
