MARCH 12 TO JUNE 28, 2014

GENER- ATIONS Robert Flack GENERATIONSOF QUEEREllsha Lim ROBERT FLACK | JOHN GREYSONJohn | ELISHA Greyson LIM | KILEY MAY OF QUEERKiley May

Curated By: MARCH 12 to Lisa Deanne JUNE 28, 2014 SmithCURATED BY: LISA DEANNE SMITH 2 ONSITE [at] OCAD U John Greyson, Perils of Pedagogy (video still), 1984 “My father years old 3, 2012. September and a gay He was 74 died on man.” 3 Generations of 4 ONSITE [at] OCAD U Elisha Lim, The Bee , 2013 sexual offender for admitting to having consensual homosexual sex with before thelaw changedas“incurably homosexual” andadangerous although George Klippertwas arrested intheNorthwest Territories just legal to participate inconsensual homosexual actsinCanadasince 1969, gay manoragay father butitwas possible —barely. Ithadonlybeen since my father cameoutinthe1970s. Backthen,itwasn’t easy to bea and capIthoughtaboutthequeercommunity andhow ithaschanged my dad’s belongings.Aswe decidedwhat to dowithhisleather pants man. The following June, my sister andIspentaweekend goingthrough My father diedonSeptember 3,2012. Hewas 74 years oldandagay gay bashedwhilewalking the pathway between thehigh-risebuildings up my beliefs.Itisn’talways easy. accepting to allpeople, even thosewith differing morals withoutgiving us andqueerculture. Heledby example, teaching meto bekindand a gay parent anditempowered meto have aplace to openlycelebrate of frond waving slaves. Iwas soproud ofhim.Ididn’tknow anyone with crew didafloat for theparade. My father was Cleopatra withaharem village. We adored thebeergardens, prancing upastorm. Oneyear his returned to andtheVillage Green high-risesin theheartof Canadians livingwithHIV. were negative. Many weren’t sofortunate: in1994there were 32,995 called meoutoftheblueto share histest results. Hegotlucky andthey when antiretroviral treatments becameavailable inCanada.Oneday he and socialize. Heremained steadfast inhisdecisionuntil the late 90s hated illness ofany kindand spent hoursat thegymto stay inshape and theairwas fulloffear andlies.My father refused to gettested. He to diefrom AIDS related illnesses. Itwas scaryand heartwrenching dad withmy eyes andasmile. most ofthem.Ilost myself onthedance floor, once inawhilefinding my men (andafew women) dancingto louddisco andmy father knew Gastown. The clubwas packed to therafters withsweaty, musclebound got themoney, honey!” We bothchuckledandleftfor JohnBarley’s in old man?” Myfather replied slowly withhiswarm smile, “BecauseI’ve hit onme. Heturnedto my father andasked, “Why isshewithyou up withafew drinks.Onenightayoung mantried,unsuccessfully, to A-Fair onSeymour Street. Idanced to punkmusicwhilemy dadwarmed early 80s,we madeagreat team! We would start anight outat theLuv- liked to party andaswe discovered whenhelived inVancouver inthe explore asthemainstream didn’tseemto fiteitherofus well. We both father was to publiclybewhohewas. June 1971. Iwas sixyears oldat thetimeandhadnoideahow brave my four separate adultmen. One night,returning from adinnerparty, my father was brutally Pride Toronto became afamily event for my dadandmeafter he The late 80swere avery intense timeasmany ofhisfriendsbegan Through my father Ilearnedthere were alternative lifestyles to 1 Hewas notreleased from Canadianjailuntil 2 5 Generations of Queer 6 ONSITE [at] OCAD U This imagereproduced courtesy Robert FlackEstate andPaul Petro Contemporary Art, Toronto Robert Flack, still thestruggle. Younger generations have benefited from theoldand Older generations fought to exist, andinmany places worldwide thisis different histories of struggle, kindness, compassion and celebration. societal normsandinstitutions. Itisextremely diverse withmany here isto openthedoorto your stories. the YMCAwas still onlyabike rideaway! an active queercommunity in whichthey could retire gracefully —and Crystal Beach,Ontariowithtwo ofhisoldest friends.Asmalltown with sense ofsafety. Soonafter hisphysical recovery, heboughtahousein reoccurring dreams ofrevenge onthethree young menwhostole his was hospitalized andshaken to hiscore, often waking suddenlyfrom on MaitlandandAlexander (thearea isnow fenced inandlocked). He The queercommunity was borninresistance to repressive laws, As muchasIlove telling thesetalesaboutmy dad,my real purpose Love Mind (lotus-spiral), 1992 than sheorhe. Exploring thegrey areas between genderopposites using thepronouns they, themandtheir to definethemselves rather significant both to thequeerandactivist communities. of thetimeandthoseare what he tackles—makinghiswork historically important to note that he isalways aware ofthe relevant politicalissues style. Following theevolution ofGreyson’s concerns over theyears it is in theircomplexity andmadealluringthrough alayered, often playful, do thetelling. The issues are urgent to their time. They are fleshedout stories neededto betold andoften thosemost affected were unable to discrimination to Israeli apartheidandmore. Greyson knew that these covering a wide range ofconcerns from youthful exploration to AIDS Motet for Zackie Moffie CalledSimon of Queerare Perils of Pedagogy cern andcare for theworld isclear. The works includedin 33 years. From shortvideosto feature lengthfilms,his passion, con through thesephotographs —hope, power, beauty. a photograph. Inever metRobert FlackbutIcertainly feel hisenergy it. Hethenre-photographed andpaintingto create thefinalimageas the printandpainted spirals, swords, ringsoffire andother symbols on of light.Onsome, after thisimagewas printed, helaidclearacetate over graphed abackground image, often abodypartoranabstract pattern charged withenergy today. Flack’s process was pre-digital. Hephoto you. too poorto have onlineaccess ortoo stressed to domore thantell itto wide. and post Gather allthestories you canfrom thosetoo oldto type, ferences —there willbemany. Encourage allby sharingtheblogfar and experience andletotherstell theirs!Inthisframework, accept thedif http://blog.ocad.ca/wordpress/thepridechronicles/. I hopethat alsomeansyours inThe QueerPrideChronicles blogat diversified the conversation. Queerliberation needs to include all voices. His in 1988before antiretroviral treatment was readily available inCanada. physical energy andotherstates ofbeing.Hewas diagnosedwithHIV beauty inhisjourney to move beyond thebodyto concentrate onnon to change, iscriticalto livingfully. know, therightto have apublicvoice, exactly asyou are, whileflexible tell. Inherent inallisthetelling. Itmay soundsimplebutastheseartists current context andhealth,eachoftheseartists hasdifferent stories to John Greyson, ElishaLimandKiley May. Influenced by age, background, vital narratives through theworks ofToronto-based artists Robert Flack, Love MindSeries Elisha Limand Kiley May situate themselves between genders, both John Greyson hasproduced approximately 50works over thepast In thegalleryat Onsite [at] OCADU Tell your story ofwhat queerpridemeansto you. Focus onyour Robert Flack’s surreal photographs capture thehope, spiritand (2003), (1986), , created in1992 theyear before hedied,remains Covered Letter to Ray Navarro , (1984), (2009),and You Taste American Generations of Queer Robert Flack,Love Mind (lotus-spiral), 1992 Green Laser (1992), Nunca Generations (2012), (1986), presents (2001), - A - - - 7 Generations of Queer 8 ONSITE [at] OCAD U at Ryerson University. For an artist that hasjust begun theirpractice I man. Inthespring of2013 they graduated from theSchoolofJournalism graphic novels asacollective voice isimportantto them. curating exhibitions aswell asproducing drawings, video, comics and ered ‘good’, ‘strong’, and‘masculine’…” girlie, gay. Itisoften putontheopposite spectrumofwhat isconsid adulthood, encompassing words suchaspansy, faggot, flamboyant, “Sissy meanseverything you grow upfearing to be, from childhoodinto one ofLim’s drawings ofSze-Yang isaccompanied by thesubject’s text, artwork. From their Being butch orsissy ortrans orqueerisexplored inLim’s sexy, complex to highlightgenderneutral, transgender, non-white andactivist voices. video artist Richard Fung.They consistently broaden theconversation and writer Barbara May Cameron; singer-songwriter RaeSpoon;and of theirrole modelsincluding,amongothers:Native Americanactivist they created public sphere in2008withtheircomic series sitive, perceptive portraits. Their writinganddrawings cameinto the which peoplethat inspire themare given voice intext alongsidesen Canadian gay mediato adoptthegender-neutral pronoun they. mold orclassification that doesn’t work. Limsuccessfully advocated for to whothey are rather thantryingto changethemselves to fit into a much widerrange ofoptions for allofus.These brave artists stay true opens upexciting possibilities asto whowe canbe, allowing for a Kiley May, Kiley May isayoung Mohawk storyteller, artist, creator andsha Lim isanartist andstoryteller. They often create projects through Homo Noeticus The Comfort of QueerFamily Wisdom (videostill), 2012 Sissies andtheFemmes that Inspire Them 3 Limoften works collaboratively 100 Butches , acalendardiary . In2013 series - - - 1. continues. have alotto bethankfulfor. Thank you. Iamgrateful theconversation the city. Looking backthrough generations ofqueeractivism,allus now we alltake thesefor granted, enjoying easiermovement through do now. Disabilityactivists lobbiedfor slopingcurbs,orcurbcuts,and had curbsanddidnotslopedown onto theroads at crossings asthey outside ofthequeercommunity. Years ago allthesidewalks inToronto understand andcelebrate how they affect ourlives ofbothwithinand artists in even thebody.” between categories. “We are somuchmore than sexuality, genderor up aspace beyond binaryopposition—thegender various existing be?” Have you ever wanted to besomethingmore thanyou were allowed to “the moral war onsexuality” they never performed theirassigned genderappropriately challenging concerns. In shift inperspective to lookanew at gender, feminism aswell asother dislodge my senseofselfinitscomfortable female role andtake ona am moved by thedepthoftheirexploration andhow inspired Ifeel to 5. 3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Klippert / http://elishalim.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/sissy-sze-yang.jpeg / Kiley May inHomo Noeticus/ 5 Lisa DeanneSmith,curator, Storytelling becomes apoliticalactioninthework ofallthe Acting curator, ONSITE[at] OCADU Inthisvideotheirnarrative, bodylanguage, ritualandvisualsopen Generations of Queer Homo Noeticus 6

6. Kiley May inHomo Noeticus , Kiley May bravely tells thestory ofhow 4 and“theforced conforming ofour bodies… . Itisimportantto hearthesestories, 2. http://www.cdnaids.ca canadianaidssocietymilestones / Generations of Queer 4. Kiley May inHomo Noeticus/

9 Generations of Queer 10

ONSITE [at] OCAD U Wonder: MarianBantjes Dull Affairs: Karen Lofgren, Vanessa Maltese and JillianMcDonald; curatorial projects include Currently, sheisActing Curator at Onsite [at] OCADUniversity. Recent ally includingWhite Columns, The New MuseumandMercer Union. issues ofvoice, experience andpower. Shehasexhibited internation mediums —art,curating, writingandcommunity events —exploring Lisa DeanneSmith phy, writing,journalism,fashion, dance andperformance art. Their genderpronouns are they/their/them. They work infilm,photogra Kiley isalsoatwo-spirit, trans, queerandgenderqueer humanbeing. Kiley May launched at Onsite [at] OCADU. www.elishalim.com novel York Times 100 Butches comic strips els andasthedirector ofMontreal’s first Racialized Pride Week. Their has advocated against transphobia andracism onUnited Nations pan Elisha Lim 1980s aswell asworld politicswithastrong queervoice. work reflects many ofthelegalandpolitically struggles for queersinthe interviews, historical narratives, opera, found footage andcamp. His drugs inAfrica andtheworld. Heisrecognized for hisdocumentary tarism, thetarsands,Israeli apartheidandthefight for AIDS treatment anti-censorship battles, AIDS discrimination, samesex marriage, mili With shortvideosandfeature filmshe explores topics ranging from politically active intheToronto queercommunity for thepast 33years. John Greyson represents theEstate ofRobert Flack.www.paulpetro.com Museum ofContemporary Photography. Paul Petro Contemporary Art collections ofCanadaandtheCanadian includetheNational Gallery 1981 hiswork was shown nationally andtheninternationally. Public at ArtMetropole in1980andassisted onGeneral Ideaprojects. From Toronto to study at (BFA 1980).Hebeganemployment Robert Flack 100 Crushes isayoung Mohawk storyteller, artist, creator andshaman. exhibits illustrations andanimated shortsinternationally, and bestselling authorAlisonBechdel, andtheirdebutgraphic are acclaimed by Autostraddle, Favourite Dating Tales (1957-1993) was borninGuelph,ON,andmoved to isaToronto basedfilmandvideomaker who hasbeen willbepublishedinJune2014 by Koyama Press and isengagedinacultural practice that moves between . Biological Urbanism:Terreform ONE;No , Sissy , The Illustrated Gentleman Bitch Magazine and New and and - - - I - Opening, Onsite [at] OCADU, 230RichmondSt. West 8 p.m. to 10p.m. OCAD University Auditorium, 100McCaulSt. A Conversation withJohnGreyson, ElishaLimandKiley May 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 12 OPENING EVENTS by Fado Performance ArtCentre DUORAMA Wednesday, June25,8p.m. their punkphotographs Clocked Monday, June23,7p.m. Koyama Press Elisha Limlaunchestheirdebutgraphic novel, Sunday, June15,2p.m. to 5p.m. The QueerPrideChronicles Story Slam Wednesday, June11,7p.m. Insite ExhibitionTour withAndrea Fatona, Assistant Professor, OCADU Wednesday, May 28,6:30p.m. Insite ExhibitionTour withWendy Coburn, Associate Professor, OCADU Wednesday, May 14,6:30p.m. Insite ExhibitionTour withRichard Fung,Associate Professor, OCADU Wednesday, April30, 6:30p.m. Insite ExhibitionTour withPaul Petro, Paul Petro Contemporary Art Wednesday, April2,6:30p.m. build resiliencies who works withgender andsexuality minorityyouth to discover and Insite Exhibition Tour with Spencer Harrison, artist, activist, and educator Wednesday, March 26,6:30p.m. MORE EVENTS , andMartinSorrondeguy, DonPyle lookat queercontent in , aperformance by Paul Couillard + Ed Johnson co-presented

100 Crushes , publishedby

11 Generations of Queer Kiley May, Homo Noeticus (video still), 2012

Thanks to: the Onsite Advisory Board; Chrystal Dean, TK and Trevor Hampden at WorldPride; the Office of the Vice President Academic; Paul Petro and the Estate of Robert Flack; Shannon Cochrane at FADO; Vtape; Koyama Press; b.h. Yael; Lewis Nicholson; Gord Peteran; Ju-Hye Ahn; Rouzbeh Akhbari; Pallavi Thampi; Sabrina De Bellefeuille; Jeff Crews; and especially the artists Robert Flack, John Greyson, Elisha Lim and Kiley May.

LOCATION GALLERY HOURS

Onsite [at] OCAD University Tuesdays to Fridays 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. 230 Richmond Street West, Saturdays 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Toronto, ON 416-977-6000 Ext.2208 Free and open to the [email protected] general public www.ocadu.ca/onsite