Queer artist Qing Liu wonders, "What is gay now?" That's certainly the question on a slew of artists featured in powerHouse's Nicholas Weist curated show, "The Male Gaze".

As we mentioned last week, Weist and his crew of queer artists recently gathered to discuss the past, present and future of gay-flavored art. The New York Times spilled a few words over the weekend to explore the ever-changing creative zeitgeist. And, yes, former Queerty feature subject Weist had a few things to say: "The art we’re showing argues for a new kind of alternativism that reacts against the mainstream of the culture." As Guy Trebay points out, many of the artists featured in "The Male Gaze" were born in a post-AIDS world, thus freeing their work from the nasty politics seen in an older generation of gay art.

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It's a gay art supernova down at powerHouse tonight. Artist A.A. Bronson, Fischerspooner's Casey Spooner, fan favorite Bruce Benderson and gallerist Daniel Reich join powerHouse managing editor, Nicholas Weist for the BUTT-sponsored panel, "Them Boys".

The stellar panel revolves around the history and potential future of gay art. And at the center of this brilliant cosmos lies Peter Berlin - the artist whose iconic bulge burned up the art scene in the 1970s.

German born Berlin's performative self-portraiture worked people - including himself - into a lather. Berlin brought costumed cruising into the limelight, shining a celebratory light on gay sexuality. Berlin's fetishized identity comes into sharpest focus in his 1974 movie, That Boy. A prime example of Berlin's alluring approach, the flick highlights his manipulative compression of voyeuristic fascination and exhibitionistic narcissism.

In addition to the discussion, "Them Boys" will also be screening That Boy - the first public showing in twenty years. How's that for galactic?

Get the dazzling details after the jump. And don't forget our interviews with Bronson (parts one and two) , Benderson and, yes, Mr. Weist.)

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We know, we know, you kids have been eagerly awaiting part two of our The Youth Issue interview with Canadian artist/legend, AA Bronson (pictured by Chris Clary). Well, the moment's finally here.

When we left Bronson with that scoundrel Andrew Belonsky, Bronson had just said he's constantly sabotaging himself - an irksome habit perhaps born from guilt over the deaths of his General Idea partners, Jorge Zontal and Felix Partz. The conversation picks up where it left off - charting into Bronson's childhood in the wilds of Canada, his father's death and the idea of leaving a legacy. Oh, and there's even some mention of another The Youth Issue subject, Terence Koh.

If you've been lagging, read part one here. Then come back to have your socks knocked off, kiddo.

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By his own admission, Canadian-born, New York-based artist AA Bronson's lived a pretty spectacular life. After studying architecture in Manitoba and founding a commune, a newspaper and a free store (among other things), Bronson moved to Toronto and joined forces with Felix Partz and Jorge Zontal to form viral art collective, General Idea. From 1969 until Partz and Zontal's AIDS-related deaths in 1994, General Idea's work reappropriated and reconstructed cultural symbols and cliches to take on popular and mainstream society. As gay men, they were particularly concerned with the rise of the AIDS crisis and from 1987 through 1994, their work addressed the world's silence on AIDS - perhaps most famously through their reimagining of Robert Indiana's '60s "LOVE" square in which they replaced it with AIDS.

With Partz and Zontal's deaths, Bronson found himself in a whole new world of isolation, trauma and what he describes as "extraordinary depression". Despite those years, Bronson found a new life through healing workshops. Armed with the power of curative creation, Bronson's forged a new life by merging his artistic vision with his medicinal mission. In many way, Bronson's experiences led him to a second youth, making him a perfect addition to The Youth Issue.

Thus, editor Andrew Belonsky had a little sit down with Bronson to talk about General Idea, Bronson's rebirth, loss of virginity, childhood and so much other shit we had to split it into two interviews. Experience part one, after the jump and head on back Monday for the rousing conclusion.

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