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      PEMcast | June 13, 2023

      PEMcast 31: Queerness and Creativity

      Dinah Cardin

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      Dinah Cardin

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      In this episode of the PEMcast, we depart from our usual format and present a conversation with two artists who will be featured at our upcoming Midsummer Party celebrating Pride Month.


      Masters of the sexy dark arts, former Salem residents Bill Crisafi and Hogan McLaughlin discuss their shared studio life in Chicago, their collaborations and their love story. So, go on and listen in to our meandering conversation about frogs, fashion, drag and what celebrating Pride means to these two in our current climate.


      Bill Crisafi, The Sheep, 2023. Pen and ink on paper. Installation sketch for Midsummer. © Bill Crisafi

      On Friday, June 23, the night opens with fashion designer Hogan McLaughlin, artist Bill Crisafi and special guests in conversation. Stick around for the Fashion Presentation and After-Hours Party starting at 8 pm. Dance the night away with Ana Matronic, a DJ, musician, artist, author and broadcaster best known as the frontwoman of international glam-pop-dance group Scissor Sisters. Matronic has worked with artists including Mark Ronson, New Order, Duran Duran and Plastic Ono Band. A frequent host on radio and television, she has mentored contestants on The Voice UK, provided live commentary for the BBC's coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest and hosted her own show Dance Devotion (2017–2022) on Radio 2. Advanced tickets are recommended for this event. Limited same-day tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. See pem.org for details. The fashion installation can be viewed with museum admission June 24–26.

      Bill Crisafi, The Sheep, 2023. Pen and ink on paper. Installation sketch for Midsummer. © Bill Crisafi

      Join us for the folk horror film Midsommar (2019). From prolific studio A24 and the visionary mind of Ari Aster comes a cinematic fairytale where a world of darkness unfolds in broad daylight. Screenings at 2 pm on June 24, 25 and 26.

      Music for this episode by: Blue Dot Sessions, Lobo Loco, Alex-Productions, Podington Bear, Mr Smith, MichaelSchullerMusic, Correspondence, Triple5 Here, John Bartmann, Ergo Phizmiz, Crowander, REW, Kevin MacLeod, Kirk Osamayo, Kathrin Klimek, Lisa Hammer, Soularflair and TimTaj.

      Featured in this episode

      Hogan McLaughlin
      Hogan McLaughlin

      Hogan McLaughlin is an American fashion designer, artist and dancer. He began his professional career as a ballet dancer, performing with the internationally acclaimed Hubbard Street 2 and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. In 2011, he met and collaborated with artist Daphne Guinness on his first garments, which ended up on display in the windows of Barneys New York Madison Avenue and at the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Later that year, McLaughlin launched his first collection for New York Fashion Week under his name, and was subsequently profiled by the New York Times, WWD and Vogue.com, among other publications. McLaughlin had the opportunity to create custom looks for clients including Lady Gaga and Billy Porter. As an illustrator, he has had the pleasure of creating promotional images for HBO's Game of Thrones, Showtime's Penny Dreadful and History Channel's Vikings.

      Instagram: @hoganmclaughlin

      Bill Crisafi
      Bill Crisafi

      Bill Crisafi is an artist who lives and works in Chicago, IL. His body of work is heavily influenced by the occult, drag, fashion and the nostalgia he has for the dark history of his home state of Massachusetts. He communicates his ideas through illustration, sculpture and photography, which explore themes of magic and folklore merged together with a touch of camp and humor. His photographic work developed from his passion for costume construction, and allows him to bring to life the world he creates through illustration.

      Instagram: @billsafi

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