Ravot Gallery Presents Smoke + Mirrors: Exploring Modern Drag Exhibit

SMOKE + MIRRORS:: Exploring Modern Drag is a widow into the vibrant nightlife of San Francisco's diverse drag community as seen thru the lens of ubiquitous night life photographer Gooch. Gooch captures a spectrum of performance identity from drag queens, drag kings, faux queens, and club kids of diverse genders. All photographs were taken either in performance or on the sidelines of performances rather than in studio.

Born in the UK, Gooch attended the prestigious Newport College of Art and Design where he studied under British photographer David Hurn, of the Magnum Photos collaborative. He worked in London for two decades first apprenticing with important photography studios and later having his own firm.

The focus of his work in the last few years has been on documenting the disenfranchised sub-cultures of our time: the dynamism of street art and the artists who create it; the recent LGBT political struggle with marriage equality; and as in this exhibition, the LGBT performing arts community. By doing this, he memorializes these fragments of society in what can be a very transitory culture.

Readers of the Bay Area Reporter voted Gooch Best Nightlife Photographer 2017. His work can regularly be seen in that publication. His photos are also featured in LEFT magazine, an independent LGBT publication. His monthly column in LEFT, "Out and About with Gooch", is a selection of images of the latest happenings in nightlife in San Francisco. He is resident photographer at many weekly and monthly club nights including: Big Top Sundays at Beaux - featuring stars of RuPaul's Drag Race; Vivvy's Grand Opening at the Stud; Go Bang! at the Stud; The Monster Show at the Edge; and Glamcocks. He is also the official photographer of the SF Gay Men's Chorus.

This is a FREE exhibition at The Ravot Gallery - 115 Clement St. (btwn. 2nd & 3rd Ave.) in SF 94118.

Web Site: http://www.garethgoochphotography.com/Smoke-Mirrors/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/169031713737808/