Over the weekend, we checked out the Lost Lectures (with Hyperallergic), the latest from a series of innovative talks in secret locations. This time, it took place at the Knockdown Center in the Maspeth/Ridgewood industrial sector of Queens and featured appearances from Blood Orange, Amanda Lepore, Barbara Nitke and others.
Barbara Nitke, who spent twelve years shooting porn stills on movie sets in New York through the 1980s, was blunt and funny, insightful and sensitive all at the same time and had great stories. At one point, she showed a photograph of two performers sitting in theater seats, waiting for their scenes, watching another one being filmed and said that they both had the “1000 yard stare” that soldiers get.
Additionally, Amanda Lepore narrated her life’s story, again, and then sang, sort of. The Flex (Is Kings) dance crew were the highlight of the night, a crowd favorite, with the most dynamic presentation. Choire Sicha (former editor of Gawker, co-founder of The Awl) seemed to say some smart things about communication in the digital age, mostly about why we’re all getting so stupid. He ended his refreshingly combative Q&A with “Don’t ask me. I don’t know anything.”
See the photo gallery for more highlights. (Photos: Tod Seelie/ANIMALNewYork)
