Raffi and Al’s presents... Basket Bar August 28 - September 19, 2026
"You've always been crazy, this is just the first chance you've had to express yourself." — Louise
Canadian All Star and Night Gallery CEO Davida Nemeroff asked Alberto Cuadros and I if we would like to put together a new version of our collaborative artist bar project, Raffi and Al’s, as part of the Sexy Beast benefit for Planned Parenthood LA. Davida told us she would love to have some male energy involved in the cause. Alberto and I quickly began brainstorming. “What if we put a basketball hoop inside the gallery?” I suggested. “We could call it ‘Basket Bar’” Alberto replied. And just like that, male energy was born.
The plan was to turn Night Gallery’s east gallery space into a bar/artist salon in the spirit of the Kronenhallebar in Zurich, Paris Bar Berlin, or the legendary Hop Louie in LA’s Chinatown. This particular iteration of Raffi and Al’s would be basketball-themed, however, the artworks in the show do not have to reference basketball, dive bars or anything like that (but if the artists felt inspired, then all the better!) We asked some of our favorite artists from different generations, artistic styles, and philosophies to contribute works, and we have been blown away by their generosity. The ethos of Raffi and Al’s has always been camaraderie.Let's bring all these creative weirdos together and have a drink! (Literally and/or figuratively). Throw in the fact that all of these shenanigans are aligned to support the unbelievably important work PlannedParenthood is doing, and the result is what hall of fame Laker broadcaster Chick Hearn would call a“SLAAAAAMMMM DUNK!!!”
I fell in love with basketball in the fourth grade in North Hollywood. I played on my Lutheran school’s team,and my teammates called me “monkey arms” because of my uncanny ability to block shots (and definitely not because I was an uncoordinated spaz!). I wasn’t very good but I wasn’t terrible either. I played organized basketball through high school, where the coach was a blonde, mulleted, beefcake of a man who would make a long, braying sound before he started screaming at you “Eeeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhh Gaddamit Rafffi!!! (He pronounced my name incorrectly, like “taffy” instead of the proper way, which sounds more like“coffee”. The mispronunciation only added to the humiliation). Once, during a particularly grueling practice, I caught a glance of my teammate pantomiming an obscene gesture behind our short-tempered, oddly-coiffed drill sergeant of a coach. I had to quickly avert my gaze and look directly at the ground, trying with all my might not to laugh, because if I laughed we were all fucked (“Eeeeeeehhhhh Gaaaaadamnit Raffi!What are you laughing at??? Everybody run suicides, NOW!!”). There was something beautiful about being part of a team, whipping the ball around the top of the key and finding a cutter for an easy lay-up. Playingenough as a group to figure out each other's tendencies, where to pass someone the ball, how to quickly get through a screen, when someone needed to be cheered up; these were all things that brought me unmistakable joy. Even when it sucked, at least we were together.
I don’t know if it's just me, but everything feels like it sucks now. It’s as though we are all collectively tryingto get through it. Organizing this show has cheered me though, reminding me of that beautiful feeling of being on a basketball team. From the generous spirit of all the amazing artists to Davida and her lovely team at Night Gallery, I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has made this such a delightful and exciting show. Even when everything sucks, at least we are together.
Thelma: OK, then, listen. Let's not get caught.
Louise: What are you talkin' about?
Thelma: Let's keep goin'!
Louise: What d'you mean?
(Thelma nods at the canyon ahead of them)
Thelma: Go.Louise: You sure?
Thelma: Yeah. Let's go.
(They smile, hold hands, and accelerate into the canyon.)