Technically, “Thedra Cullar-Ledford: Drawing the Eye to Nothingness” is an art exhibit. Actually, it’s more of a visual intervention-slash-street brawl-slash-party. With a mammogram truck and nipple cupcakes thrown in for good measure. In just 12 short months, Cullar-Ledford (the street brawler) found out she had breast cancer and had her breasts removed. (Actually, breasts remind Cullar-Ledford of chickens, so she uses the term boobs.) She started and then stopped reconstruction surgery, and became an outspoken advocate for Flat and Fabulous, a group supporting reconstruction alternatives. All the while she produced an enormous amount of artwork focusing on boobs (nipples, in particular).
An alternative to the ladylike pink ribbons often associated with breast cancer, Cullar-Ledford’s work features pink paint splashed and splattered across oversize abstract works on canvas. “I found myself seeing nipples everywhere and started drawing nipples, all kinds of nipples.” Cullar-Ledford drew boobs on all sorts of material, the usual canvas and paper, the not-so-usual paper plates, mirrors and junk-store finds. The exhibit features art works, medical photos, installation and performance art.
The opening-night reception (that would be the party) doesn’t have an exactly art-gallery vibe to to it. There’ll be plenty of art, and the artist will be on hand. There’ll also be nipple-shaped cupcakes from What’s Up Cupcake, a mobile mammogram truck conducting mammograms on the spot and a pink-haired artist explaining, “I don’t have tits, and I don’t have cancer either.”
The opening-night reception is 7 to 10 p.m. on April 4. Regular viewing hours are noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Through April 28. G gallery, 301 East 11th Street. For information, call 713‑869-4770 or visit ggalleryhouston.com. Free.
Sat., April 4, 7-10 p.m.; Wednesdays-Saturdays, 12-5 p.m. Starts: April 4. Continues through April 28, 2015
This article appears in Apr 23-29, 2015.