Art and Labor Rights
I approached Boris during his open office hours with an idea: a series of workshops where erotic dancers could discuss working conditions and other relevant topics, then create artwork to share this autoethnographic research with a wider audience.
Boris became an early proponent of what evolved into The Feminist Strip Club. He trusted my vision for a participant-led structure and helped forge connections with potential University partners. Crucially, he helped secure seed funding from the Stardust Fund - no small feat for a project with provocative subject matter and an undefined outcome.
The museum’s platform not only increased our work’s visibility, but also lent authority to strip club dancers to shape their own narratives. This foundation ultimately led to A Blade of Grass Fellowship for Socially Engaged Art and the development of The GRIND magazine (PDF copies available on the project page), written and edited by the dancers themselves.
Boris recognizes that collaborative processes, especially those involving artists, need space to develop organically in their own time and manner. Only then can the work unfold with authenticity and respect for all participants - be they academics, artists, museum staff or community members.