New Orleans-based painter and gallerist and feminist icon Ashley Longshore joined us at the Trustees Theater on April 4, Monday at 6 pm, to discuss Being Authentically You in the Art World, as dubbed by the title of her unforgettable appearance.
Longshore looked as vivacious as she sounded, wearing a rainbow loofah-esque silhouette tufted in tulle of every color, continually supporting her preceding reputation of being one to keep an eye on. Garnering comments on how she could potentially be the next Warhol. Regarding that, I’m not so sure, as her discussion proved she is truly a unique character who deserves to be a name in her own right, as her flair and fantastic aura keep her from being comparable to most other people in the world as it is.
She was blunt, no pun intended, as she questioned the audience on the popularity of marijuana at SCAD, later telling a story about an odd job she once completed while trying to make it on her own as an artist that she promised us was not “for a drug dealer,” even though she admitted that it did sound like it.
Longshore also allowed us a stress-management tactic after this long day which she dubs “screaming therapy.” This entailed the whole theater screaming as loud as possible after some encouragement from the artist who told us, “don’t be shy, don’t be weird…I mean it… don’t you f****n’ let me down!” There she stood, in all her glory, loofahs in tow, in front of a work of hers displayed on the big screen depicting an astronaut wearing a gay pride helmet with the text, “Jeff Bezos was headed to space in a penis rocket. I was eating cookies in bed higher than a hippie on a hot air balloon,” screaming her lungs out.
And we absolutely did the same; a little shout was a small price to pay for the honesty and advice of someone we consider to have really “made it.” Jokes aside, Ashley gave an enlightening talk on the importance of authenticity within the art world, stressing that the real you was what garnered the fame, money and adoration that she has. As a self-made success, she empathized with the common feeling of wanting to give up, telling us to hold on as “the worst day of your life is only 24 hours long.”
This message resonated with her and the audience. Longshore gave us an evening to remember at Trustees, undeniably sparking excitement and fervor in the name of authenticity. Her unfiltered attitude and complete honesty about her career made her a well-enjoyed experience at SCAD Style this year, and her relatable yet inspiring message was sure to brighten your day.
Words by Maandy Olivieri.
Graphics by Fai McCurdy.