Featuring:

Cameron Ah Loo-Matamua, Léuli Eshraghi, Kiran Foster, Tanu Gago, Cecilia Kavara Verran, Moe Laga, Emilie Rākete, Molly Rangiwai McHale, David Roil, Sangeeta Singh, Tuafale Tanoa’i (a.k.a. Linda T.), Ron Te Kawa, Luisa Tora, Pati Solomona Tyrell, Anna Vo

// Opening Thursday 12 February, 6pm

// Exhibition runs until Saturday 28 February 2014
3 Samoa House Lane*
Newton, Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand

* Off Beresford Square

QUEER RESISTANCE explores the multiplicities of our identities encircled in deeply interconnected social and political struggles through honouring our revolutionary roots of LGBTQI liberation movements in Aotearoa and around the world.

The queer liberation movement was born out of resistance against police brutality, harassment, discriminatory laws, and a myriad of other forms of targeted injustices faced predominantly by working class people of colour sexuality and gender minorities.

In celebrating the collective struggle for queer and trans* liberation, QUEER RESISTANCE seeks to intentionally re-energise dialogues in our communities to encompass all representations of genders and sexualities in decolonial, anti-capitalist, intersectional and intergenerational frameworks.

Events

12/2, 6pm – OPENING: Spoken word and sounds from Whaitiri Mikaere, Linda T. and Jahra Rager

—

14/2, 4pm – Decolonise the Rainbow

Mainstream, depoliticised queerness and the dominance of gay white cis men’s issues overshadow the broader needs of the “LGBTQI”/ ”rainbow” community. Those of us who sit outside of the mainstream LGBTQI spaces are doing a panel discussion that critically interrogates dynamics of white supremacy, settler colonialism, capitalism, pinkwashing and patriarchy which are reproduced in ‘queer’ spaces.

These speakers will address an aspect of this topic:

Emilie Rākete, Tulia Thompson, Kiran Foster, Nadia, Philip Wills, Joni Gordon (more TBC)

—

16/2, 6pm – Art Gallery Guides: Linda T. and Layne Waerea

—

20/2, 6pm – Petty and Vindictive, Queer(y)ing Theory 

—

25/2, 6pm – Taking the T to the next level – Workshop with Torranice Campel

TAKING THE ‘T’ TO THE NEXT LEVEL is a workshop designed to create a safe space which enables participants to freely share stories, reflect personal experiences and learnings with one another about their transition journey. Through collaboration and conversation, participants gain an awareness that they are not alone, identify support mechanisms and solutions to any presenting issues.

Together we can one ones’ wellbeing and move towards independence in our communities.

// Deadlines for Submission (extended): 27 February 2015

TVE is making an open call in search of recent artist’s film and video to be included in an exchange between Fresh Milk (Barbados), RM, (Auckland) and VAN, Lagos (Nigeria).

Fresh Milk, RM and VAN Lagos, are pleased to welcome submissions of recent film and video works – screenings, installations and expanded cinema – by contemporary artists, to be included in programmes for exchange between Barbados, Auckland and Lagos. Submitted works must have been completed in the last five years and must be made by artists practicing in the Caribbean, Africa or Polynesia.

The foundation of this transoceanic visual exchange (TVE) will be a collection of recent artist’s film and video from each region. However, the final shape and content of the programme will be informed by an open workshop process, which aims to involve and promote discussion within the wider arts communities of each arts initiative.

Working between the Caribbean, Africa and Polynesia, TVE aims to negotiate the in-between space of our cultural communities outside of traditional geo-political zones of encounter and trade. Fresh Milk, VAN Lagos and RM first met as participants of International Artists Initiated, a programme organised and facilitated by David Dale Gallery, Glasgow, in July 2014. TVE intends to build upon relations established during this initial encounter and open up greater pathways of visibility, discourse and knowledge production between the artist run initiatives and their communities.

SUBMISSIONS:  

• Must be work from artists practicing in the Caribbean, Africa or Polynesia.
• Must be work that has been completed/made in the last five years.
• Can be films of any length (shorts, experimental, features and video artworks)
• Multiple submissions are welcome
• Must be accompanied by a description of the work (500 words max), a bio (200 words max) and detail of any technical requirements i.e. audio, installation, equipment required, preferred setting etc.
• Works must be in the form of mp4 files no larger than 10MB, or private vimeo / youtube links
• Can be in any language (films originally produced in regional languages are welcome) with English subtitles.

// Deadlines for Submission: 27th February 2015

// The exchange will occur in June 2015

Please send submissions and enquiries to the region in which you are practicing:

Caribbean: freshmilkbarbados@gmail.com

Polynesia: taarati@rm103.org

Africa:  info@vanlagos.org / vanlagos.org@gmail.com

About the other Spaces

The Fresh Milk Art Platform Inc. is a Caribbean non-profit, artist-led, inter-disciplinary organization that supports creatives and promotes wise social, economic, and environmental stewardship through creative engagement with society and by cultivating excellence in the arts. Fresh Milk bridges the divides between creative disciplines, generations of creatives, and all linguistic territories in the region. It functions as a cultural lab, fostering critical, creative practices through local, regional and international programming. The platform transforms into a gathering space for contemporary creatives who are thirsty to debate ideas and share works through residencies, lectures, screenings, workshops, exhibitions, projects etc.

The Video Art Network, Lagos (VAN, Lagos) is a Lagos based New Media art organization, established by the collaborative efforts of artists Emeka Ogboh, Jude Anogwih and cultural producer Oyindamola Fakeye. The organizations objectives are to develop educational and public programmes that promote and create new media art awareness in Nigeria. This is realized through curated screenings and exhibitions of both established and emerging New Media artists.

// Residency dates: Sun 4 January – Wed 4 February 2015
// Deadline for expressions of interest: Thurs 4 December 2014

At RM, first floor, 307 Karangahape Road,
Newton, Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand

RM is very excited to once again be hosting an international residency programme — providing five artists with some studio space, accommodation and a small stipend for four weeks of summer in Auckland. This is a residency that has been motivated by the informal frameworks and conversations that surround art practices. It is a time for finding ways to open up your research and thinking to others; creating a space where we might think and talk and eat together.

We are currently seeking expression of interest from artists, designers, writers and curators to take part in this residency. Three of the places will be taken by New Zealand practitioners, with the other two places reserved for those based overseas.

A BRIEF OVERVIEW:

As with the previous four years, the gallery space will be converted into a shared studio (to be shared between the five residents).  In addition to providing a space for self-initiated projects, the residency will also include a programme of activities that look to encourage shared experiences and conversations between the studio artist, RM and the wider community in Auckland. We are anticipating that three or four field trips will take place, as well as regular shared meals and a weekly presentation/activity at RM.

There will not be an exhibition occurring as part of the residency — our focus is on providing a space for research and process that is not pressured by outcomes.

The residency program will commence on Sunday 4 January and run through until Wednesday 4 February. Participants will be expected to be present for the majority of this time.

For the New Zealand-based artists, priority will be given to those outside of Auckland (domestic flights will be provided).

MAKING AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST:

If you are interested in this opportunity please send an expression of interest to info@rm103.org on or before Thursday 4 December (NZ time, and overseas artists, please note that we live in the future)

The expression of interest will need to tells us:
_ how you would like to use this time
_ whether there is any significance to being in Auckland,
_ and will include images / examples of your recent work.

PDFS are our preferred format for receiving submissions. Please contact us if you have audio or video files that you’d like us to view.

—-

An open-ended studio?

As with previous years, our intention is to divide the gallery space between the five participants. There has tended to be enough room for a desk and a good amount of wall and floor space.

For the residency we’d like to keep the office table and archive room available as a shared area, and have the five participants working within the remainder of the space. You’ll note that there are no dividing walls or partitions between the working areas: this may not suit all types of practitioner, but it is very much how we’d like to keep things. This is partly due to simplicity, but also because of our interest in the open-ended conversation that comes through working alongside one another.

Other facilities provided within the space:

_ WIFI

_ Basic office equipment and tools

_ Data projector and screens

_ A basic kitchenette with tea and coffee-making facilities.

_ Bathroom and washing tub

Access to the space is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Contact info@rm103.org if you have any questions or would like any further information.