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Collage of five diverse artworks from the Hammer Museum Collections side by side. From left to right: 1) Contemporary painting of two embracing figures with surreal elements. 2) Post-impressionist style painting of trees with vibrant blues and greens. 3) Black and white illustration of a face with intricate patterns. 4) Japanese woodblock print style image of a figure in a checkered robe. 5) Photograph of a couple dancing, the woman in a black dress and the man in white

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Cheryl Dunye
Screenings
Part of the series Bureau of Feminism

The Watermelon Woman

  • This is a past program

A foundational film of contemporary queer cinema, The Watermelon Woman—about a young black lesbian trying to make a film about an obscure 1930s black actress—remains astonishingly cutting- edge 20 years after its release. The film’s director, Cheryl Dunye, joins curator Erin Christovale after the screening to examine the boundaries, limitations, and possibilities of black aesthetics through film. (1996, dir. Cheryl Dunye, 90min.) 


The 20th Anniversary Restoration and Digital Re-Mastering of The Watermelon Woman was made possible by support and funding from 13th Gen, Outfest Legacy Project, UCLA Film and Television Archive, Toronto International Film Festival and First Run Features.

This program is part of the Hammer's Bureau of Feminism initiative.

All Hammer public programs are free and made possible by a major gift from an anonymous donor.

Generous support is also provided by Susan Bay Nimoy and Leonard Nimoy, Good Works Foundation and Laura Donnelley, an anonymous donor, The Samuel Goldwyn Foundation, and all Hammer members.

The Hammer’s digital presentation of its public programs is made possible by the Billy and Audrey L. Wilder Foundation.

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