Latex Ball, Manhattan, NY, 2011: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A color photographic print depicting a round table covered with ephemera at the 2011 Latex Ball in Manhattan. At center of the table is an open bamboo frame blue parasol with a floral design painted on the canopy. A red floral centerpiecesits underneath the open parasol. The rest of the table is covered with scattered pieces of ephemera including posters for Beyoncé's album "4, pamphlets for the ball titled, “Night at the Latex Museum”, fliers for upcoming balls and events including performances by DJ Vjuan Allure, and postcards of various performers, such as Tigger and Tomas. The table also has three GMHC (Gay Men’s Health Crisis) logoed aluminum water bottles. Sunglasses, condoms, a gold and black diamond encrusted iphone, and a small black purse with a chain strap also lay on the table. There are no inscriptions, front or back.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 2011
• Photograph by: Gerard H. Gaskin, Trinidadian American, born 1965
• Subject of: GMHC, American, founded 1981
• Subject of: Vjuan Allure, American
• Printed by: Light Work, American, founded 1973
• Type: inkjet prints
• Medium: ink on Canson Baryta photographique paper
• Dimensions: H x W (Sheet) : 16 × 20 in. (40.6 × 50.8 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (Image) : 12 5/8 × 19 in. (32.1 × 48.3 cm)
• Place captured: Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Communities
• Topic: Dance
• Topic: Fashion
• Topic: Gender
• Topic: Health
• Topic: Identity
• Topic: LGBTQ
• Object number: 2019.71.31
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: © Gerard Gaskin Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.