Danielle Brazell is taking over as artistic director from Tim Miller at Highways Performance Space in Los Angeles. Miller, a veteran solo artist whose works explore gay identity, was one of the so-called NEA Four -- a group of controversial performance artists who in 1990 had their National Endowment for the Arts grants revoked. The artists subsequently sued the U.S. government, but in 1998 the Supreme Court ruled against them, holding that the government may not restrict what artists say or do, but that Congress can limit the distribution of public funds.Miller co-founded Highways in 1989. "I need to focus my energy on my creative work and activism around gay and lesbian immigration issues," he said in a statement. Miller, who is also co-founder of New York's P.S. 122, another key performance venue, will remain involved with Highways in an honorary capacity. Brazell has been sharing Highways' leadership duties with Miller for the past year.

Highways is located at 1651 18th St. in Santa Monica. For tickets and information call (310) 453-1755.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent