By Gen Handley
During the early 1900s, John Cage was a pioneer in not only unorthodox, experimental music, but also in his courage as an artist who was openly gay when it was not acceptable to do so.
This years theme for the 5th annual Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Queer Arts Festival is Random Acts of Queerness, to recognize Cages 100th birthday (he was born on September 5, 1912).
That phrase came about to commemorate John Cage, says Flora Ware, communications director for the Queers Arts Festival. He worked with the element of randomness. He was really out there and was openly queer during a time when it was potentially harmful to do so he was a very influential guy.
Hosted at the Roundhouse Community Centre (with the exception of the Law of Proximity dance performance which takes place at the Scotiabank Dance Centre) the three-week, multidisciplinary festival is holding 14 exhibits and performances from artists in the visual, literary and dramatic arts.
The goal is to provide a place for artists, who identify themselves as queer, to showcase their art, Ware says. Its pretty simple.
This years festival will be the first event that artists from the Queer Arts Festival team will be taking part in the production of a number of the shows, including Turkey in the Woods and When the Sun Comes Out.
(The festival) has grown up a bit, Ware says. The Queer Arts Festival team has learned how to produce the art theyve learned how to present.
It is also the first time that the festival is holding a series of shows like Law of Proximity and Turkey in the Woods, which run over several evenings.
The 5th Annual Queer Arts Film Festival bridges Pride Week and the Queer Film Festival, taking place from July 31 to Aug. 18 at the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre and the Scotiabank Dance Centre. For tickets and more information, visit QueerArtsFestival.com.
