This month, I had the honour to be invited to connect with 2-qtpoc (Two spirited, queer, trans, people of colour) Montreal artists to talk about their work at the 2-qtpocmontreal art show at this year’s Pervers/cité.
It was also my pleasure to interview Textaqueen, an awesome artist who shared some of their passion for art as well as for working within their own communities of 2-spirited, queer/trans people of colour.
So what is Pervers/Cité? Their website states:
Pervers/Cité is a collaboratively organized summer festival that aims to make links across social justice groups, queer communities, and radical visions of pride. In a climate of corporatized gay agendas and whitewashed homogeneity amongst queers, Pervers/cité strives to provide a critical and accessible schedule of activities, designed to bring back the radical underpinnings to the pride movement. This year’s festival is taking place from August 9th to 19th, a few days after Divers/Cité and leading up to Célébrations de la fierté Montréal 2012 community day and pride parade.
One of the festivities to highlight and bring voice to 2-qtpoc is the 2-qtpocmontreal art show. Their press release has this to say about the show: “Montreal has a reputation for creative resistance. This year, 2-qtpocmontréal proposes to push this legacy further. Proudly dedicated to 2-spirited, queer and trans people of colour, 2-qtpocmontréal is an art show, a lecture series and a revelation, looking at the history of 2-qtpoc Montréal. 2-qtpocmontréal pays tribute to its predecessors like AGIR, African Rainbow, Ste Emilie Skillshare, and GLAM, and bring these different communities together into a powerful and inspiring racialized pride week. 2-qtpoc will be part of pervers/cité, a flamboyant annual festival of queer and trans politics in Montréal. “
Check out this video with Elisha Lim, curator of the show.
Check out next month’s blog with full interviews about the artwork, artist talks and Pervers/cité!
And check out the entire schedule for the 2-qtpocmontreal show below!
Fri, Aug 10
7pm articule
curator welcome to 2-QTPOC
Accessible, free & whisper translation.
Elisha Lim gives a tour of artwork by Ange Loft, Leroi Newbold, Adee Roberson, Kesso Saulnier, Walter K Scott, Textaqueen and Anonymous
10pm Il Motore
Disque Chromatique
One step, small toilets & $5.
A celebration of Black queers and their friends!!
Hosted by Benni E and feat. dj Tami, Takiaya (dirty south rap)
Sat, Aug 11
9pm La Centrale
self-lust: a 2-QTPOC performance and art show
One step, small toilets, free and whisper translation
Wed, Aug 15
6:30pm Cagibi
Queer Between the Covers presents a night of QTPOC readings
Thurs, Aug 16
7pm articule
2-QTPOC Vernissage, La Centre 2110 presents Kesso Saulnier, Arc-en-ciel d’Afrique & Massimadi
Accessible, free & whisper translations.
Kesso Saulnier is a francophone from Guinea and Quebec
Arc-en-ciel is an LGBT organization
Massimadi is an annual film festival
Fri, Aug 17
7pm articule
Leroi Newbold and Diane Labelle
Accessible, free & whisper translation
Leroi Newbold is an artist and community activist, and will describe the tale and purpose of co-founding Ste Emilie Skillshare
Diane Labelle is the co-author of “Namaji,” and will give a presentation about 2-Spirited community building and colonialism in Montreal
10pm Hotel des Gouverneurs
Arc-en-ciel d’afrique
presente la levée des fonds Soirée Black & White
Accessible, $30
Sat, Aug 18
11am-5pm Centre St Pierre
Queer Between the Covers zine and book fair
Accessible, free & 36% of materials in French
1pm-2:45pm
The Other Tongue a 2-qtpoc writing workshop
In English. Prathna Lor
3pm-4:45pm
Interracial Dating
In English. Takiaya & Rhin
7pm articule
Venus Envy presents Textaqueen followed by presentations by Agir and GLAM
Sun, Aug 19
17h Café L’Artère
Food Flows and Fades: 2-QTPOC BBQ & dance party, feat chef Berlin Reed (NYC)
Accessible, $5 & whisper translation.
All events are open and welcome to everybody! Except The Other Tongue workshop, which
is a caucus for racialized queers.
Sponsors: UG, Il Motore, 2110 Centre, Venus Envy, Qpirg Concordia, Midnight’s Kitchen,
ACCM/ARTSIDA, and online pledges from our beloved friends <3 <3!
