The Johnsonian

Issue date: 2/13/08 Section: Arts

Patricia Lust is one of two performers who will entertain at "Performing Gender" in Winthrop University Galleries

Prior to any performance, Patricia Lust puts on her make-up, bra and panty-hose and if she feels like it, maybe a corset. Before putting on her dress and wig, however, she must first make sure she's all tucked in down "there."

Lust, who's real name is Patrick Lutz, considers herself an unidentified transgender. This term is usually applied to individuals who differ from the conventional gender role assigned to them from birth. Often this group is generally referred to as the "third sex."

Karen Stock, assistant professor in art history, has spent the last ten years researching the roles of gender in society and third sex members such as Lust, and is currently holding an exhibit entitled "Performing Gender" in Winthrop University Galleries.

"The exhibit is about gender, the difference between biology and the sex that you're born with, and how gender is chosen to a large degree," Stock said.

Stock believes, that although biologically a person's sex has changed little over time, the labels of femininity and masculinity have changed considerably in society.

"We're all doing it in subtle ways," Stock said.

Two hundred years ago women would not have been able to wear pants because it was not a characteristic that depicted them.

"But of course today, women wear pants all the time," Stock said. Stock also wants to break down the taboo of the male nude in here exhibition. "You have lots of female nudes in the history of art but you have few male nudes," Stock said. "If women are going to have all their stuff shown, why not men?"

Karen Dersken, assistant director of fine arts, believes that the exhibition addresses the role of gender and how they can be transitional.

"You've got these traditional roles of male and female and sort of what that means, but then how those things can change depending on the person or how they shift," Dersken said.

In the exhibit Stock has picked out different artwork from a variety of artists that portrays the roles of gender in society. These works will be located in the Rutledge Gallery and the Elizabeth Dunlap Patrick Gallery, and spectators should are warned about the graphic images that will be on display.

Continued...

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