Brooklyn Museum's Target First Saturday to Feature Avan Lava and The Shondes and More, 6/7

On June 7, Target First Saturday kicks off Brooklyn Pride week with an evening of exciting programming. Highlights include live music by Avan Lava and The Shondes, a drag showcase hosted by Miss New York Continental Elite Tyler Alyxander, a performance and workshop by Benny Ninja Training Academy, a ballet performance by Katy Pyle and Ballez, and much more.

The Brooklyn Museum's Target First Saturday events attract thousands of visitors to free art and entertainment programs each month. Some Target First Saturday programs have limited space and are ticketed on a first-come, first-served basis. *Denotes a ticketed event.

Highlights include:

5 p.m. Music: Brooklyn-based rock band The Shondes blend feminist punk, rock, pop, and Jewish influences with progressive political activism.

6 p.m. Performance: Miss New York Continental Elite Tyler Alyxander hosts a drag showcase.

*6 p.m. Artist Talk: Artist and activist Alexander Kargaltsev speaks about his experiences as a gay Russian artist and how he uses his work as a form of protest.

*6:30-8:30 p.m. Hands-On Art: Sketch from a model to learn how artists develop the ability to render people.

6:30-8:30 p.m. Pop-Up Gallery Talks: Look for Museum Guides wearing an orange "Pop-Up Gallery Talks" button.

*7 p.m. Talk: Members of the Audre Lorde Project speak about their efforts to encourage community wellness and advance progressive social and economic justice.

7 p.m. Performance:Rivers of Honey, a performance group focusing on art by women of color in New York City and Philadelphia, pays homage to the deity Oshun by presenting a variety show with music, comedy, and dance.

*7:30 p.m. Performance: Katy Pyle and Ballez perform a selection from The Firebird, A Ballez, a reimagining of the classic ballet by Stravinsky that questions gender binaries and celebrates queer communities.

8 p.m. Movement: Benny Ninja Training Academy honors the legacy of Willi Ninja, the legendary godfather of voguing, with a performance and voguing workshop.

8:30 pm Discussion: The Lesbian Herstory Archives celebrates the organization's fortieth anniversary by sharing selections from the archives and hosting a community conversation about the history of, and contemporary issues that impact, lesbian identity in Brooklyn.

9 p.m. Music: Pop group Avan Lava presents energetic, choreographed sequences and dance music.

Museum admission is free from 5 to 11 p.m. and includes entrance to galleries and events. Ai Weiwei: According to What? is a ticketed exhibition; tickets are available at a special discounted rate of $10 (regularly $15). Programs are subject to change without notice. For more information, visit www.brooklynmuseum.org. Museum galleries are open until 11 p.m. Parking is a flat rate of $5 from 5 to 11 p.m. The Brooklyn Museum is located at 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11238-6052. Call (718) 638-5000 for more information.

Pictured: The Shondes (c) Emily Millay Hadda