Celebrating downtown nightlife legend Brian Butterick, aka Hattie Hathaway

Howl! Arts/Howl! Archive is celebrating the life of downtown nightlife legend Brian Butterick, aka Hattie Hathaway, in a new exhibit that opens tomorrow. 

Here's more via the EVG inbox: 

Howl! Arts/Howl! Archive is is pleased to present "Brian Butterick {Hattie Hathaway} and all they loved" — the first exhibition celebrating the life of Brian Butterick, also popularly known as Hattie Hathaway, his performance drag persona. 

Drawn from Butterick's personal archives in Howl's collection, on view will be documents, images, and writings by Brian as well as artists and performers in his orbit, including many never seen before objects. 

A publication with additional content will be published later in the year alongside a Brian Butterick/Hattie Hathaway portal on www.howlarts.org. 

The opening reception is tomorrow (Thursday) evening from 6-9 at Howl! Arts/Howl! Archive, 250 Bowery between Houston and Stanton. 

"Brian Butterick {Hattie Hathaway} and all they loved" will be on display through July 30. Hours: Wednesday-Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Butterick died in January 2019 from lung cancer at age 62. 

Image via Howl! Arts/Howl! Archive 

A spirited sendoff for Hattie Hathaway

On Monday night, friends of Hattie Hathaway, aka Brian Butterick, gathered in Tompkins Square Park for a festive sendoff for the gay cultural icon who died on Jan. 30 from lung cancer at age 62.

From the Park, the group — stretching nearly a block long — marched through the East Village to La MaMa’s Ellen Stewart Theater on Fourth Street for a "night of memories, performance, dancing and celebration."

Organizer Chi Chi Valenti, who worked in collaboration with Howl! Happening, Jackie Factory and DJ Johnny Dynell, explained how the evening came together:

"When [Howl! Director] Jane Friedman approached us about helping to stage a big public funeral for this figurative and literal giant, we knew in Hattie's spirit it had to include the East Village community. We organizers were inspired by the Drag March every year from Tompkins Square during Pride weekend, and decided to add such a procession. We did part of the planning from our second home in New Orleans, so naturally the Second Line tradition was also an inspiration as were the LUNGS community garden parades in the East Village that Hattie so loved."

EVG contributor Stacie Joy tagged along with the group, and shared these photos starting in Tompkins Square Park...









Accompanied by a brass band, the group headed out of the Park and onto Avenue A...





The group stopped outside the Pyramid Club on Avenue A, where Hathaway served as creative director...









... and then to LaMama on Fourth Street between Second Avenue and the Bowery...









At LaMama, the full house enjoyed a three-part program with a variety of poems, tributes as well as spoken word and musical performances.



As one participant said, "It was a sendoff fit for a queen."

Celebrating Hattie

[Image via Howl! Happening]

Friends of Hattie Hathaway, aka Brian Butterick, are gathering in Tompkins Square Park tomorrow evening for the start of "a giant sendoff." The downtown nightlife legend died on Jan. 30 from lung cancer at age 62.

Here are more details via the Howl! Happening website:

This public memorial of the beloved gay cultural icon will begin with a parade and continue to La MaMa’s Ellen Stewart Theater, 66 E. Fourth St., 2nd floor. Free and Open to All.

Drag March: Those wishing to join the parade and processional please dress for a “Second Line, or Drag March.” To find us gather in the middle of Tompkins Square Park ... Parade leaves at 6:30 p.m. Bring small walking instruments, i.e. wild womyn drums, tambourines; or pictures of Hattie.

Memorial: La MaMa.

Howl! Happening and Jackie Factory welcome everyone to this night of memories, performance, dancing, and celebration. Johnny Dynell will spin the Hattie-centric soundtrack along with remembrances, video, performances and other tributes. Video curator is Aldo Hernández.