This is part two of my previous post reviewing the Bite Me! Toronto International Film and Arts Festival.

A Question of Beauty is a Canadian documentary directed and narrated by Moncton-based Colleen Furlotte that seeks to answer the question: what is beauty? The film features approximately 20 women of varying ages, and uses art and other creative pursuits in an effort to broaden the audience’s definition of beauty. The film is a feel-good celebration of beauty that asks the women involved to speak against the beauty ideal and celebrate their own beauty through art, dance, and discussion.

As a critical look at conventional definitions of beauty, however, this film falls extremely short. While watching it, I wondered: while it does contain a few positive elements, can anything be gained from such a problematic film?

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This past weekend, I had the privilege of attending the Bite Me! Toronto International Body Image Film and Arts Festival, at which I saw six of the nine films being shown.
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QSAzine Issue #3, My Islam, is launching tomorrow at the Art Gallery of Ontario (317 Dundas St. W., Toronto), from 6-8 p.m.

The free event will showcase videos, visual art, dance and readings by young Muslim and trans people, including: Azza Abbaro, Golie Moulaie, Samira Mohyeddin, Nooreen Rahemtullah, Wilo Mohammed, Farrah Khan, and Areen Khaled. Secret Trial Five will perform, and the event will be hosted by Idil Hyder and May El-Abdallah.

From the press release: “AQSAZINE is a grassroots zine for 16-35 year old women and trans people who identify as Muslim. It is a creative avenue to express ourselves, share our experiences, and connect with others.” The My Islam After Party (with yummy food and music!) is happening at Beaver Hall Artists’ Co-operative, 29 McCaul St., from 8 p.m.

Shameless is profiling AQSAzine in our new fall issue, which should be out in August.

As I started to see the links pop up on the internet about Wonder Woman’s new “makeover,” I began to repeat in my head, “Please let it be good! Please let it be good!”

I am not a comic aficionado and bow to those with greater super-hero knowledge than I, but I’ve loved Wonder Woman ever since my much-adored older sister would slip into her Wonder Woman bathing suit and fight poolside crime.

On Twitter, OutTV described the costume change as “less…impractically attired.”

To be honest, my first reaction was, “WTF?!!” (you can check out a pic of the full “makeover” below as well as some pics of the former Wonder Woman).
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‘A’ is for Orange - a reading series featuring queer Caribbean writers hosts

Replenish! A Pride Celebration
Friday, June 18, 2010
Palmerston Library Theatre
8 PM

How do we re-energize when we get depleted?
What gives us nourishment?
Where do we go for restoration?

Emerging and established queer Caribbean writers explore these questions through storytelling, dub, poetry, prose and spoken word.

Co-hosted by Michele Chai and Kyisha Williams, the evening will feature fresh faces and familiar favourites including trey anthony, D-lishus, Dianah Smith, Kim Quashie, Zakiya, Kyisha Williams, Kadeem Brown, tonya parriag and others.

You will leave feeling renewed, reinvigorated and replenished!

Readings will be followed by an audience Talk Back. Lite refreshments will be served.

Palmerston Public Library Theatre is located at 560 Palmerston Avenue
(between Bathurst and Christie just north of Bloor)

Tickets are $8-10 sliding scale (No one turned away for lack of funds)
Doors open at 7:30 pm, performances begin at 8:00 pm.

For more information please contact Dianah Smith (Curator)

Email: d@aisfororange.org
Website: www.aisfororange.org

A collaborative explosion of creativity between Toronto and its artists.

June 18th, 19th and 20th.
ALL EVENTS FREE!

Over a hundred of Toronto’s established, emerging and youth artists come together under one roof for a multidisciplinary explosion of original works and creative happenings. Artistic disciplines, cultures, and generations blur as Toronto audiences and artists share their creative spark.

Ranging from choreographed pieces inspired by simple, everyday tasks, to vocalists disguised as architectural wonders, to bedtime stories and site-specific theatre, New Waves offers something for all ages and interests, free of charge.
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I’m always intrigued and excited to find out about a band that’s exploring new territory when it comes to what music can do. That’s why it was so great to find out about The Billie Hollies.

The joined talents of Coralie Martens (piano, vocals, French horn), Julia Hambleton (clarinet, bass clarinet, vocals), Janet Morassutti (guitar, vocals), and Donna Linklater (lead vocals, autoharp), make up one super-cool band.

Why?
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In celebration of the launch of their 10th awesome issue, WORN (a fashion journal actually worth reading) is presenting: Pin up, Party down: an exhibition of wearables presented on wearables.

And they want you to be involved…(more inside…)

Busting Out is a professional theatre program for GIRLS aged 12 to 16. Its goal is to provide a forum for young women, through a series of theatre-based workshops, discussion and collective creation. The participants of the program will have the opportunity to work with professional playwrights, actors and directors on their own Writing Project, as well as a public presentation of their own creation. Professional artists will lead the girls in classes, which include playwriting, acting, improvisation and spoken word. Out is an exciting and unique program opportunity for teenage girls. CREATIVE, THOUGHT-PROVOKING AND FUN!
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