THE JEROME PROJECT -  preserving Jerome Caja's artistic legacy
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Jerome Caja & the Bubble Lounges Panel

8/13/2017

 
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Thank you all for coming out and participating in the vibrant panel discussion!

It was a full house with many familiar faces from the club scene and the art world. The panel used Jerome as a launching point for a public conversation about a misfit group of punks, activists, artists, dykes, trans, and queers who went to clubs like Screw, Chaos, and Uranus to celebrate life at a time when they did not know if they were going to make it out alive. Back then, the club scene, midnight cabarets and talk shows, and underground art galleries, like Rick Jacobsen’s Kiki Gallery, were integral parts of the activism and protests propelling the fight against AIDS in the late 80’s and early 90’s. ​

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Panelists & Participants:


​STEVEN WOLF started the evening off with thanks and appreciation for everyone’s participation. He set the stage for a lovely, heartfelt evening.  

GLEN HELFAND was the moderator for the panel. He guided a conversation that was more historical than just nostalgic, with a strong emphasis on the impact the clubs, Jerome, and other artists of the era had on San Francisco. 

ANTHONY CIANCIOLO presented vintage video clips from Club Uranus and the 1992 Miss Uranus pageant, which showcased the hair-raising siren sounds of Miss Rena McDonald (Adam Klein) and the nauseating splendor of Carnitas Jones (Cliff Hengst). Anthony also talked about the importance of Lewis Walden and Michael Blue in providing a forum where Jerome’s gender-fuck go-go performances and ugly pageants were as important as the audience’s cathartic participation.​

ALVIN ORLOFF of the Popstitutes talked about the importance of Tony Vaguely’s huge body of work, including the Sick & Twisted Players’ productions of Exorcist: A Dance Macabre, A Very Brady Friday the 13th, and Texas Chainsaw 90210. Alvin had a beautiful slideshow spotlighting the unforgettable presence and work of the fabulous Diet Popstitute. He also shared all kinds of handmade Popstitute ephemera like club flyers, DIY plastic flower miniskirts, and a ridiculous, towering synthetic-hair hat that he modeled for us.

TERENCE ALAN SMITH reminded us that the queer uprising was not unique to San Francisco; it flowered simultaneously in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and elsewhere. Terence screened a wonderful excerpt from his interview of Jerome on the Joan Jett Blakk Show at Josie’s Cabaret & Juice Joint. Jerome teeters out onto the stage in skimpy, tattered lingerie. Joan, in tasteful cashmere, interviews Jerome as if they were on the Oprah Winfrey show. Jerome talks about everything from his childhood to having his art stolen from a San Francisco leather bar.

STEVEN MILLER shared several hilarious stories about Jerome. One involved Jerome chasing him around the club and demanding "Come here, you little sex dwarf!" Steven also talked about go-go dancing with Jerome and how he met his current lover through Jerome.

STEVYN POLK’s club Haagen Dazs in the Castro (circa 1988) was a precursor to Screw, Chaos, and Uranus. Steven brought the house down with a very ice-creamy Club Haagen Dazs story about Jerome that is too risqué to mention here. You will have to ask him in person. 

LEWIS WALDEN, the man who made much of this possible, joined in the panel discussion. Lewis had no idea what was about to unfold that night.

It was wonderful to have a public forum to acknowledge Lewis and Michael Blue’s seminal contribution to the Art-AIDS-Activism era. Everybody cheered when someone suggested that Lewis start a new club. And most importantly, the ear-to-ear grin on Lewis’s face was priceless! 

JESSICA TANZER, a brilliant photographer and activist from San Francisco, said what was on everyone’s hearts and minds — “Thank you, Lewis!”

MICHAEL FLANAGAN eloquently captured the evening with this post on Facebook: “I was reminded of the importance of bearing witness last night at the Bubble Lounges event. A panel member asked how many people had been to the clubs in question (Club Uranus, Club Screw, etc.) and over half of the audience's hands went up. Aside from remembering the good times we are there to remember the impact of our friends, who cannot be there. Their contributions live on in us.”

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Anthony Cianciolo & Lewis Walden
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Terence Alan Smith & Glen Helfand


The Tiny Bubbles group art show at the SFAC Gallery has been extended for a week, through Saturday, August 26, 2017. The show includes 50 pieces of Jerome Caja’s work. On August 26th, the Arts Commission will hold a special closing-night celebration and procession that honors the original gallery space on Grove Street in the Civic Center. Jerome had a multi-faceted and rich relationship with the SFAC Gallery  in both of these spaces. We hope to see you there.
Lastly, thank you Maysoun Wazwaz and Meg Shiffler from the SFAC Gallery for hosting this event. We cannot wait to see the recorded video of the event when it goes live on YouTube.

by Anthony Cianciolo

Rocking Out With Jerome’s Mother Bernardine Caja!

8/7/2017

 
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A big thank you to everyone who helped with the  celebration & film shoot! 

​Monday night’s gathering at the SFAC Gallery was really something special. It was a magical night filled with many familiar faces from Jerome’s old SF stomping grounds (Club Uranus, Chaos & Screw).

The Jerome Project could not have pulled off this lovely party and film shoot without the help of our dedicated friends, supporters, and volunteers. We want to give a big, heartfelt thanks to the following people who were key in welcoming Bernie back to SF and supporting her participation in the documentary film about her beloved son Jerome!

Most importantly, I want to give a very special thank you to Bernie Caja. Thank you you for coming to San Francisco and participating in the documentary film.

Early on I made a promise to Jerome’s family to include them in on ALL things Jerome. Recently, when I was back in Ohio and having a meal with Jerome’s mother, I asked her to come on out and see her son’s work in the Tiny Bubbles exhibition that is on display until August 26th at the SFAC Gallery.

I said — “Bernie, there are 50 pieces of your son’s art on display in San Francisco right now,” — and with a devilish glint in my eye I also said — “Now… there are 5 or 6 pieces that I know are not your cup of tea, BUT there are 45 other pieces you would absolutely love to see! If you want, buy a ticket to come out. I will take care of the rest and get you back to the airport safe and sound.”

I thought this 83-year-old Catholic grandmother from Cleveland would probably not take me up on my offer. She responded, “That is very kind of you, thank you,” and the conversation moved on. Well boy-oh-boy was I wrong about that! Five days later I received an email from Bernie saying she would love to come to San Francisco. I was thrilled that she took me up on my offer and completely terrified of filming her.

Her willingness to come out started an avalanche that moved everything forward. I quickly assembled my crew, I called in all the favors I possibly could, and I started planning the shoot. This was the moment when I knew I was in full swing of production. Everything prior to this point felt like development.

And on top of Bernie's visit, Anna van der Meulen, the executor of Jerome’s estate and dear friend from Cleveland, also said she was coming out for the celebration. This onslaught of Cleveland love and support was completely intoxicating and humbling — thank you Anna!

Last Monday we interviewed Bernie & Anna in conversation about Jerome, his work, and his upbringing. In addition we captured the full day’s events, including Bernie & Anna en route to the gallery, their initial reaction upon seeing the show, and finally the two of them at the party meeting Jerome’s friends and loved ones.

The filming and the event went far beyond my expectations. More than 100 people attended, many of whom also brought artwork from their private collections to share with the public and with Bernie & Anna. The documentary footage we got is absolutely golden — THANK YOU!

We will now be crafting a film excerpt with this new material, and I cannot wait to update you on all of that in the near future.

OX Anthony

​Thank you ALL for your love, support & help:

​Speakers & Presenters: 
Anna van der Meulen
Bernardine Caja
Carl Paganelli
Meg Shiffler
Paul Karlstrom

Film Crew:
Allison Abbate
Bill Weber
Dan Damman
Jesse Dana
Joseph Applebaum
Matthew Riutta
Stu Maddux

Helping Hands:
Anna Paganelli
Barry Lawlor
Derek Boyle
Elena Greenlee
Jason Jakaitis
Laura Wagner
Maysoun Wazwaz
Shawn Case
Texas Star

Champagne & Brownies:
Mission Beach Cafe
Bill Clarke

Loaning Art for the Exhibit:
Bob Smith
David Faulk
Jeff Parker
Jeff Schug
Michael Johnstone
Scott England​
Institutional Backing:
Anglim Gilbert Gallery
BAVC
CORE7
SFAC Gallery
SFFILM​
Our Tireless Jerome Supporters:
Alvin Orloff
Ashley Pellouchoud
Caroline von Kühn

Curtis Lavery
Dana Jamison
Don Baird

Ed Gilbert
Haluk Kecelioglu
Jacques Savage

Jessica Tanzer
Jim James
Johnny Ray Huston
Kathy O'regan
Lewis Walden
Marc Geller

Matt Flynn
Michael Flanagan
Rick Gerharter
Shannon Trimble
Steven Wolf
Stevyn Polk
Travis Somerville
William Farley
Yvette Kamperin


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​by Anthony Cianciolo
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Thank you to our Supporters!

  • The Estate of Jerome Caja
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