We, The People Who Live For The Beautiful
Image: Pride March Victoria 1995 (Photo: Graham Willett; Source: Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives)
The Waverley Council will be hosting a month-long program called We, The People Who Live For The Beautiful to celebrate the power, beauty and diversity of the LGBTI community.
The event coincides with the 40th anniversary of the first Mardi Gras protest and is part of the Bondi Memorial Project, a public artwork being developed by ACON in conjunction with the Waverley Council.
Waverley Mayor John Wakefield said the Council was pleased to be supporting such an important program to the community.
“It is a fitting time to reflect on the achievements of 40 years of Mardi Gras while we remember the significant losses and discrimination experienced by the LGBTI community.”
The main attraction of the program will be an art exhibition featuring some of Australia’s leading LGBTI artists, such as Gerwyn Davies, Daniel Mudie Cunningham, Liam Benson, Deborah Kelly, Kim Leutwyler, Helen Grace, Justin Shoulder and Shahmen Suku (Rahda La Bia), who focus their works on themes of love, identity, belonging and pride.
On opening night, Shahmen Suku will perform a piece inspired by a traditional Indian wedding altar.
Additionally, the program will include historic walking tours with author Greg Callaghan, a showing of the documentary Deep Water followed by a discussion with the film’s creators, a screening of queer performance artist Leigh Bowery’s London Serpentine from 1989 accompanied by a panel of queer performance artists and theorists, and workshops in beading, collage and jewellery making.
Jun 20-Jul 15. Bondi Pavilion Gallery, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Bondi Beach. FREE. Info: www.waverley.nsw.gov.au
By Erika Echternach.
