Scott Covert reads from the works of Cookie Mueller, actor, writer and key contemporary of the artist, who features in his current exhibition, C’est la vie.

Throughout the evening, the short film Scott Covert: Up Until Now, by Lex Niarchos and edited by Jin Lee, featuring footage of Covert’s working process, will be screened in the Events Studio

Mueller (1949–1989) was an American writer, actor and ‘Dreamlander’ who starred in many of filmmaker John Waters’ early works, including Multiple Maniacs (1970) and Female Trouble (1974). Mueller wrote the health column Ask Dr. Mueller for the East Village Eye and was the art critic for Details magazine. Her Walking Through Clear Water in a Pool Painted Black (1990) was the first book published by Chris Kraus edited Native Agents imprint for Semiotext(e). Mueller died on 10 November 1989.

In 2017, Studio Voltaire staged Cookie Mueller & Vittorio Scarpati, Putti’s Pudding. ‘Putti’s Pudding’ is a book and ‘final project’ by Mueller, and her husband, Italian artist Vittorio Scarpati. Published in 1989, the same year both died from complications related to AIDS, it pairs drawings by Scarpati with writing by Mueller. Reimagined as an exhibition at Studio Voltaire, Putti’s Pudding featured forty–five original felt–tip pen on notepad drawings made by Scarpati when he lost the ability to speak, accompanying texts by Mueller, and a public programme of talks, readings, screenings and performance.

Juliets Café and Bar will be serving up speciality cocktails alongside minimal intervention wines, beers and ciders.

This free event forms part of our Friday Late series, a monthly programme of late-evening exhibition viewings, talks, events, screenings and special guests.