The Midsumma program has been released which means it’s time for my apparently annual round up of GLAMorous, mostly introvert friendly events… It was also an opportunity for me to use my first 2020 related vision pun… I’m sure there will be more!
Amazine adventures in remaking history
Prahran Mechanic’s Institute Library and ALGA
You can probably tell who helped come up with this idea, particularly the title! I had just returned from Berlin when a request for someone from ALGA to give a talk on queer history in Victoria arrived and was feeling a little experimental so thought I would propose some more participatory alternatives and the result is zine making!
When: Thu 30 Jan 7pm
Where: Prahran Mechanics’ Institute Victorian History Library
39 St Edmonds Rd, Prahran
Find out more: https://www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/events/ama-zine-adventures-in-remaking-history/
Can’t make it or feeling super keen and want more queer zines? there’s another queer zine event on the other side pf the river organised by my friend Ed at my favourite queer bookstore, Hares and Hyenas.
Creating Community in Melbourne’s West
Exhibition presented by Hobsons Bay Libraries and ALGA
Having grown up with queer communities in Melbourne’s west since my dad came out and spent hours in Williamstown library growing up too, this exhibition is pretty close to my heart.
If you would like to contribute stories and/or other material, get in touch!
When: 8 Jan-24 Feb | Sun 2-5pm | Mon-Thu 9:30am-8pm | Fri 9:30am-6pm | Sat 10am-1pm
Where: Williamstown Library
104 Ferguson St, Williamstown
Find out more: https://www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/events/creating-community-in-melbourne-s-west/
Living out loud: A personal account of LGBTIQA+ history
Presented by Hobsons Bay Libraries
Come along and hear some stories from ALGA’s Graham Willett!
When: Wed 5 Feb 6:30pm
Where: Williamstown Library
104 Ferguson St, Williamstown
Find out more: https://www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/events/living-out-loud/
STATEMENT and (an) archive of yearning
Melbourne’s Living Museum of the West
Speaking of Melbourne’s west, I remember enjoying exploring this museum as a kid, and am very keen to check out this exhibition especially as it features work from Susan Long, librarian/archivist by day and visual artist by night who wrote this piece on Speculating upon the archive: woman+pants=key search for a previous Midsumma event at the State Library of Victoria.
When: 8-9 Feb | Sat, Sun 12-5pm
Where:
Melbourne’s Living Museum of the West
Visitor Centre, Pipemakers Park, Van Ness Avenue, Maribyrnong
Find out more: https://www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/events/statement-and-an-archive-of-yearning/
What remains by Laura Rouhan
Sunshine Art Spaces Gallery
Another cool and nerdy event in Melbourne’s west! This one is connected to exploring spaces which is something I’ve been thinking about a lot.
When: 19 Jan-9 Feb | Mon-Sun 9am-5pm
Where: Sunshine Art Spaces Gallery
2 City Pl, Sunshine
Find out more: https://www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/events/what-remains/
Culture x Gender
I’ve been to a few events hosted by Teddy Darling this year and they’ve been great, and I’m sure this conversation with Margot Fink, Kira Djnalie, Dr Muhammed Taha, Raina Peterson, and Milo Milton-Moon will be too.
When: Tue 4 Feb 6:30pm
Where: Bargoonga Nganjin, North Fitzroy Library
182/186 St George’s Rd, North Fitzroy
Find out more: https://www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/events/culture-x-gender
Trans and gender diverse: Questions and Answers
Presented by Library at the Dock
A discussion in a library with some of my favourite trans writers Nevo Zisin and Oliver Reeson as well as Michelle McNamara and Karyn Walker!
When: Thu 23 Jan 6pm
Where: Library at The Dock
107 Victoria Harbour Promenade, Docklands
Find out more: https://www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/events/trans-and-gender-diverse-questions-and-answers/
Dark Sepia by Tama Sharman
Incinerator Gallery
My local Rainbow Valley Incinerator Gallery has been pretty great at supporting Midsumma and LGBTIQ+ artists (and pretty much leading the way at council) over the last few years, so I’ll definitely be checking out this exhibition of drawing, recycling and printmaking (a few of my favourite things).
When: 21 Jan – 22 Mar | closed 26 Jan | Tue-Sun 11am-4pm
Where: Incinerator Gallery
180 Holmes Rd, Aberfeldie
Find out more: https://www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/events/dark-sepia/
Let’s Eat Cake by Maylei Hunt
Presented by Melton City Library
When: 14 Dec-21 Feb, 23 Feb | Sat 10am-4pm | Sun 1-4pm | Mon-Thu 8:30am-8pm | Fri 8:30am-4:30pm
Melton Library and Learning Hub
31 McKenzie St, Melton
Find out more: https://www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/events/let-s-eat-cake/
Out is Out: Elders, olders and young queer mob in dialogue about freedom, self and expression
Wyndham Art Gallery
Inter-generational LGBTIQ First Nations knowledge sharing and art and history making!
When: 6 Feb-8 Mar | Mon-Fri 9am-5pm | Sat, Sun 11am-4pm
Where: Wyndham Art Gallery
177 Watton St, Werribee
Find out more: https://www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/events/out-is-out/
The Campaign and The Campaign in Progress
Presented by Gavin Roach at Gasworks Arts Park
I absolutely love the idea of a play about queer law reform history and an visual exhibition to complement this display! Hope to see more of this kind of thing and help facilitate it. Something tells me Mama Alto and Sue Mckemmish would approve too.
The Campaign (play) https://www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/events/the-campaign/
The Campaign in Progress exhibition: https://www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/events/the-campaign-in-process/
Boys Night Out: Work in Progress Showing
Abbotsford Convent
Exploring class, gender, sexuality , race and different narrative styles in Australian history at Abbotsford Convent- a site of complex social history! This looks great.
When: 30 Jan-1 Feb | Thu-Sat 8pm
Where:
Abbotsford Convent – Dorm One
1 St Heliers St, Abbotsford
Find out more: https://www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/events/boys-night-out-work-in-progress-showing/
Nevo Zisin: Desert Island Reads
Presented by Whitehorse Manningham Libraries
I love Nevo Zisin’s work and love that they have made quite a few appearances at libraries around Victoria and beyond in recent times. I’m sure this will be a great session, particularly if it’s anything like the reading list at the end of their memoir. I’m sad it clashes with the PMI Library event.
When: Thu 30 Jan 7pm
Doncaster Library
687 Doncaster Rd, Doncaster
Find out more: https://www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/events/nevo-zisin-desert-island-reads/
Documentary screening: Becoming Colleen
Presented by Darebin Libraries
When: Thu 23 Jan 7pm
Where: Preston Library
266 Gower St, Preston
Find out more: https://www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/events/documentary-screening-becoming-colleen/
Pacific Essence: Tales of a Migrant Plantation
with Samoan fa’afafine/trans advocate Amao Leota Lu and friends.
The Immigration Museum have been doing some great work in recent years and I’ve seen and heard Amao Leota Lu quite a bit, so am looking forward to this event.
When: Thu 23 Jan 6-8:30pm
Where:
Immigration Museum
400 Flinders St, Melbourne CBD
Find out more: https://www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/events/pacific-essence-tales-of-a-migrant-plantation/
Rainbow Effect with Rainbow Chan
Presented by Midsumma Festival and Immigration Museum
A queer museum event after dark? I’m keen!
When:
Fri 31 Jan 6 – 10pm
Find out more: https://www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/events/rainbow-effect/
Nocturnal x Midsumma: Lunar New Year Disco
Presented by Midsumma and Melbourne Museum
Another queer museum event after dark with costumes? I’m in!
When: Fri 7 Feb 7-11pm
Where:
Melbourne Museum
11 Nicholson St, Carlton
Find out more: https://www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/events/nocturnal-x-midsumma-lunar-new-year-disco/
Kira Puru at Heidi
Heidi Museum of Modern Art
I’m so glad Heidi have started hosting Midsumma events. There’s lots of (admittedly messy) queer history potential there – featuring apparently controversial and enigmatic bisexual librarian, Barrett Reid! 2019’s event was pretty quiet and wholesome and I will be curious to see if this one is a bit more daring, but also kind of love a good wholesome queer party, so won’t be devastated if it isn’t daring…
When: Sun 9 Feb 6pm
Where: Heide Museum of Modern Art
7 Templestowe Rd, Bulleen
Find out more:
Fabulous Fitzroy on foot
ALGA’s queer history walk is going to Fitzroy this year! Come and join us.
When: Sat 25 Jan 11am
Where: Starting at the Royal Exhibition Building Kangaroo Statue, 58 Nicholson St, Fitzroy
Find out more: https://www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/events/fabulous-fitzroy-on-foot/
Feral Queer Camp
This appears to be very GLAM adjacent and very much aligned to my interests in facilitating access to queer knowledge, theories and research to the masses in creative ways and emerging interests in supporting (and eventually doing) practice-led research and in archiving creative works and creative processes. You can register your interest here https://www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/events/feral-queer-camp/
Future histories at Hatch Contemporary Arts Space looks similarly excellent and GLAM adjacent too.
There is some good intersectional LGBTIQ+ representation so this may count as my contribution to GLAM blog club this month.
