Better Futures
Leslie Foster (he/him) wears many hats in the world of Level Ground. His film series Ritual Cycle screened at our 2016 Level Ground Festival, and in 2017, Leslie became our very first artist-in-residence, a yearlong program that culminated with 59—an anthology of 11 collaboratively made, experimental films, each of which lasted only 59 seconds. Since then, Leslie has taken on the role of Level Ground’s Director of Art Residency, growing the program each year and advising our residents as they develop their shows each year.
On top of all that, Leslie remains an accomplished filmmaker. Drawing inspiration from artists like Terence Nance, Jenn Nkiru, Adrian Piper, and Theaster Gates, among others, his dazzling films imagine worlds where Black and queer people find community, wholeness, and revolution. We’re excited to have him on this year’s SKEW curatorial team, so we asked him a bit more about his most recent films and the kind of future he dreams of for Black and queer people.
Interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
Plenty of Level Ground’s long-time audience members have seen your work at various events we’ve held over the past few years, like 59 or SELF-CENTER, our May 2019 group exhibition which you also curated. But if we were to ask you to describe your work—or your artistic practice more generally—in a sentence or two, what would you say?
If I was going to distill into a simply as I could, I’d say that I create experimental film installations that explore Black and queer futurity through a lens of dream logic.
Wow, that’s such a solid description. So what’s the goal then? What do you aspire to with your art?
I want my art to be a small piece of what inspires folks to dream of and then build better futures. I want my work to feel deeply uncomfortable and confrontational to those who wield oppressive power, especially those who are unaware that they do so. At the same time, I want my work to be a space of comfort and healing for the people who fight back against those systems.
You work primarily in film, but how long have you been making art, in general? And when did you decide to really focus in on filmmaking?
Honestly, I’ve been making art since I was a little kid, but I started focusing on what would become my particular practice in 2003. I always knew I was an artist, but I didn't really find my medium until I was three years into a pre-med biology degree. Thanks to a roommate, I had a lightbulb moment and realized that film was the medium I wanted to work in, so I transferred and enrolled in art school.
You’ve got such a mesmerizing portfolio of work. We would never ask you to choose a favorite out of your various films, but is there any project that you’re particularly proud of at this moment?
Thank you! Last year, I and an amazing group of collaborators (including my brilliant producer Jessi Knippel) wrapped up Heavenly Brown Body, a four-screen video installation, which showed at the Torrance Art Museum as a part of a group show called Adjacent, Adjacent. The piece uses Mark Aguhar's incredible poem "Litanies to my Heavenly Brown Body" as a queer liturgy that runs through the film. The film just wrapped up a run at Outfest (you can still catch it during this week’s encore screenings) where it won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary Film. I wouldn’t have considered it a documentary, but I sort of like that it’s hard to classify! The project was also a big part of me getting shortlisted for The Hopper Prize this summer as well. I’ve been amazed and grateful for everything that’s resulted from the creation of the project!
That’s so exciting. So what’s coming up for you, artistically speaking?
I'm currently pitching an epistolary, anthology manuscript and wrapping up the first draft of a graphic novel. I usually stick to weird little short stories so it's exciting to try my hand at some larger projects! I’m also starting to chew on the projects I want to tackled when I start grad school at UCLA this fall.
You’ve been such an integral part of Level Ground for so many years now. As a member of SKEW’s 2020 curatorial team, you’re continuing to push this organization in new and exciting directions. What excites you most about your role with SKEW this year?
I am excited about getting a chance to shape the direction SKEW takes, to give amazing artists a platform, and to be challenged myself as we collaborate and experiment.
To see more of Leslie’s work, find him on Instagram at @leslie_muse or support him on Patreon.