Darkness on the Edge of Town

"Sad, lonely, desperate." Those are the notes I made after I saw Nan Goldin's early '70s photographs of drag queens at Matthew Marks gallery. Goldin's work has never been considered a picker-upper; still, these 40 black and white images left me feeling drained and empty. People form these subcultures to connect and find joy, but they still can't escape who they are. It's hopeless. All the makeup, all the disguises, all the playacting to un-become yourself, tain't gonna happen. This show is an interesting little time capsule of another time and place, but it certainly won't put a spring in your step. (Images via Matthew Marks gallery)