Terry Konrath Photo Exhibit Takes Us Back to WeHo Halloween 1988

West Hollywood’s Arts Division presents a new art exhibit featuring photographs by Terry Konrath printed on vinyl banners installed along the Sunset Boulevard-facing fence line of William S. Hart Park, 8341 De Longpre Avenue. The banner exhibit measuring 6.5 ft. (H) x 180.5 ft. (W) will run from May 1, 2023 to December 1, 2023.

This body of work was created in 1988 during the second incarnation of the West Hollywood Halloween Street Celebration back when Santa Monica Boulevard acted as a grand catwalk for Drag Queens who strutted their stuff and broke out in spontaneous dance routines for people who lined the sides of the boulevard in what was then known as West Hollywood’s Boystown. West Hollywood Halloween in 1988 would later become the massive West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval.

Konrath was enthralled by their sparkles and glamour and took tips from the fabulous gals on how to shine. She was in total awe of their confidence and realized that she was witnessing pure female superpower—with no apologies. Konrath understood what Dolly Parton meant when she said that it was a good thing that she had been born a girl, because otherwise she would’ve become a Drag Queen.

Terry Konrath is a documentary photographer and former club kid who quietly photographed the city with her 35mm film camera during the late 1980s and early 1990s, while she was studying her craft with Joann Callis, Eileen Cowin, Peter Reiss, Mary Lloyd Estrin and Allen Sekula. She earned a BFA and an MFA in fine arts and photography from CalArts. Konrath considers her work Terry’s as part of the “slow” photography movement, which encourages thoughtfully building relationships with her subjects. Recently, she completed an artist in residency in Louisiana where she photographed farmers who are using sustainable methods in their practice. She continues to use her 35mm camera. Shortly before the residency she installed a mural for the arts council in Morganton, North Carolina.

The Art on The Outside program is the City’s temporary art program that installs rotating artworks on the City’s medians, in the parks, and on the digital billboards on Sunset Boulevard. The artworks can include sculpture, murals, digital art, and other outdoor works. Most exhibitions remain on display for between 6 months – 3 years. All projects are subject to the Art on the Outside Program Review and Approval Process.  The program is funded through the City’s Public Beautification & Art Fund.