The Lexington Club is a self-described "friendly neighborhood dyke bar" in San Francisco's Mission District. Although there are lots of places that women-lovin'-women hang out around the city, the Lex is probably the best-known almost 100% lesbian space. There's no policy to keep guys or heteros out, but you don't usually find too many of these types here. This bar is complete with a jukebox, pinball machine, pool table, and lots of ladies. What's great about the Lexington is how it fosters "lesbian culture" by hosting dj nights, wacky theme parties, and art exhibitions. So, when I was invited to be one of the hoards of Shotgun Reviewers, I decided to drag my girlfriend over to the Lex for a ginger ale on the rocks and a good look at the current art exhibition. This show is by Elisa Shea and features a series of large color photographs that the artist describes as snap shots of "female-centric queer culture." In these photos you see cool hair-do's, piercings, tatoos, thrift store style and even a bit of street (as in asphalt, under a skater tennis shoe and a dead pigeon). Each photo is made up of strips of photo paper held to the wall by blue tape and staples. Because each image is comprised of different length strips of print paper, it gives the photographs a raggedy edge that suggests a kind of careless punk attitude. Yet, in looking at the pictures I was amazed at how neatly the strips were assembled so that the images appear seemless. I have to say, Elisa is a good photographer. The images are technically well done and the compositions are beautiful, but the longer I stared at them, the more I got stuck on surface. The work is about fashion—style as a marker for sub-culture. I was a little disappointed. I wanted more—wanted something beyond a fashion statement to be the marker for dyke culture.

http://www.lexingtonclub.com/