Wednesday, March 31, 10AM – 7PM

Davis Auditorium, Schapiro Hall
538 West 120th Street
New York, New York 10027

10:00 AM – 5:00 PM, with a reception to follow

Superstar! is a one-day conference celebrating and discussing the career of one of New York’s most gifted performers.

Born in Puerto Rico in 1935, Montez moved to New York while still a child. He first appeared on screen in Jack Smith’s queer classic Flaming Creatures (1962–63). Later he became Andy Warhol’s first drag superstar, starring in more than ten of his films. Montez was also a favorite of underground theater, appearing regularly in Theatre of the Ridiculous productions by Charles Ludlam, Ronald Tavel and John Vaccaro.

For the first time in 30 years, Mr. Montez will return to New York to talk about his work and life. Joining him will be Callie Angell, Douglas Crimp, Arnaldo Cruz-Malavé, Ronald Gregg, Maja Horn, Branden Joseph, Agosto Machado, Ricardo Montez, Frances Negrón-Muntaner, Marc Siegel, and Carmelita Tropicana.

PROGRAM

10:00-10:15 AM
Screening: Mario Banana I
(Andy Warhol, 1964)
Welcome and Opening Remarks: Frances Negrón-Muntaner (Columbia)
10:30 AM-11:45 AM
Multiple Exposures: Mario Montez in Context
Callie Angell (Whitney Museum): “A Belated Appreciation of M.M.”
Arnaldo Cruz-Malavé (Fordham): “Between Irony and Adoration: The Hyperbolic Performances of Mario Montez”
Ricardo Montez (Princeton): “Siren at the Chelsea: A Disruptive Tenant in the Legacy of Queer New York”
moderator: Branden W. Joseph (Columbia)
12:00-1:00 PM
Lunch / Break
1:00-2:15 PM
Close Ups: Mario Montez in Film and Theater
Douglas Crimp (Rochester): “Mother Camp”
Ronald Gregg (Yale): “Mario’s Television, Thrift Stores, and the Space of Pleasure”
Carmelita Tropicana (performance artist, New York): “Pingalito Intervention”
moderator: Maja Horn (Barnard)
2:30-3:30 PM
Screenings: Mario Banana II
(Andy Warhol, 1964)
Life, Death and Assumption of Lupe Vélez
(José Rodríguez Soltero, 1966)
3:30-5:00 PM
Conversations with Mario
Mario Montez, Agosto Machado, and Marc Siegel (Freie Universität, Berlin)
5:00-7:00 PM
Reception