In the Soil Vendor Bender

FOUR DAYS!

*four lonnnng days until dg takes over the Vendor Bender!

we're pretty excited for our first art fair of 2012!

if you're in St. Kitts on the 28th any time between 11am-5pm, come say hi!!

we'll be at the corner of James Street and St. Paul Street the whole day selling issues :)

dg at In the Soil!

just confirmed!

dg has been accepted to run a table at the In the Soil Vendor Bender! yayyy!

(or, as I'm calling it-- the In the Soil Gender Bender, hahahaha.)

come on by the corner of James Street and St. Paul Street in St. Catharines on Saturday, April 28th any time between 11am and 5pm to pick up dg, or just hangout and chat :)

PLEASE COME CHAT. I WILL BE THERE THE WHOLE TIME!

(if you're SUPER nice, you'll bring me vegan donuts from Rise Above!)

:)

x see you in a couple weeks! x

drum roll, please!

so, we've been keeping the musical guest for the third issue launch a big surprise, but we just can't wait anymore!

the issue three launch will have art, lit, treats, friends, and tunes by a Niagara favourite:

JULIANNA RIOLINO

we're kinda freaking out excited!

check out Julianna's facebook page, and bandcamp!

and, here's an awesome music vid for her song 'So I can See':

JULIANNA RIOLINO - So I Can See from Mitch Fillion (southernsouls.ca) on Vimeo.

we CAN'T WAIT :)

see you all at the launch party on Saturday, April 7th @7pm at the Niagara Artists' Centre (354 St. Paul St., St. Kitts)!

v dg v

21 jump street: the issue three line-up

TWENTY-ONE artists // FIVE countries // ONE magazine

AUSTRALIA, ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, NEW YORK CITY, VANCOUVER, TORONTO, HAMILTON and NIAGARA are just a few of the amazing places that the artists of issue three call home :)

check out the amazing issue three line-up:

Sandra ALLAND

Gary BARWIN

Eleanor BENNETT

Eugenia CATROPPA

Jeremy COLANGELO

Matthew DAVIES

Dillon DOUGLAS

Jennifer EMILY

Julie GEMUEND

Dan MANCHEGO-BADIOLA

D. Cole OSSANDON

Dorota PANKOWSKA

Jamison SARTESCHI

Richard TRUHLAR

Jacqueline VALENCIA

Tracy VAN OOSTEN & Victoria JASKI

Bec WONDERS

Liz WORTH

Lisa YOUNG

Katie ZACK

 thanks so much again to everyone who shared their work with us this round!

you were all so lovely :)

more details about our contributors will be posted in the next couple weeks!

this issue should be printed and available by the beginning of April--
but, until then, you can PRE-ORDER your copy of issue three here!

we're offering a limited time %20 discount on all pre-orders that are made in the next few weeks!

or, you can even subscribe to the next TWO issues here!

we print a very limited run of the mag, so pre-ordering ensures your copy of dg :)

thank you so much again!

*SAVE THE DATE! April 7th @ 7pm dg celebrates the launch of issue three at the Niagara Artists' Centre (354 St. Paul St., St. Catharines, Ont.)!*

Brock U's first annual spoken word competition

dg could not be more excited about the Brock Student Justice Centre and Turn Around Projects for the Arts' (TAP) collaboration in presenting the first Spoken Word Poetry Competition at Brock ever!

this event goes down on Tuesday, March 20^th at Isaac’s Bar and Grill on the Brock U campus (500 Glenridge Ave., St. Catharines, Ont.) from 6pm until 9pm.

the competition is open for all Brock students to take part in, but—of course—everyone is invited to come watch and enjoy the night!

tickets are only $2 in advance (through tabling in Mackenzie Chown, or by emailing sjc@busu.net), or $4 at the door! there will be snacks, treats, and refreshments available, as well!

if you’re a Brock student and would like to take part in the competition, you’re encouraged to submit your entries to sjc@busu.net as soon as possible! (the deadline for submissions is March 16^th, 2012.)

one of the many thrilling things about this event is that the competition will be guest judged by acclaimed dub-poet Michael St. George!

all proceeds from the evening will be going to Turn Around Projects for the Arts! ("a not-for-profit organization with the mission to create and maintain integrated arts projects, which promote reciprocal exchange in order to impact and strengthen communities.")

dg cannot wait for this event, and we’ll hopefully have full coverage of it for all those who may not be able to attend! i hope this will eventually be a region wide event, but focus on students is awesome, too :)

make sure you RSVP ON FB :)

v SEE YOU THERE v

Rae Spoon invades St. Catharines - by Amanda Roth

 Rae Spoon performs at dg/QAN's night of music and poetry on Thurs., January 26th, 2012.

One by one, guests filtered into the venue, removing hats, hoods and jackets, wiping damp strands of hair from their faces and buzzing in excitement for a night full of poetry, music and a long-anticipated performance by Rae Spoon. 

On January 26th, presenters dead gender magazine and Queer Action Niagara did not disappoint as they welcomed four incredibly talented artists to perform an all-ages show at Rise Above Restaurant & Bakery in downtown St. Catharines.

To kick the night off, poet and playwright Shannon Maguire performed a number of her works. Maguire, co-cultivator of AvantGarden, an experimental text and sound based performance series in Toronto, ON, was shortlisted for the 2011 Robert Kroetsch Award for Innovative Poetry for her piece “Fur(l) Parachute”. Her work has appeared in CV2, Gulch: An Assemblage of Poetry and Prose and Nightwood Theatre’s 4x4 Off Road Festival, among other places.

Maguire roused and captivated audience members especially with her performance of the highly satirical poem, “The Fruit Machine”.

After a brief break, local experimental hip-hop artist Le Stack took to the stage with an energetic performance, spitting out lyrics with extreme passion and political prowess. Le Stack’s highly charged lyrics and contagious beats roused guests in preparation for the night of dancing ahead of them.

“Let’s get homophobia and sexism the fuck out of hip hop,” Le Stack exclaimed during one memorable song, rousing a greatly enthusiastic reaction from the audience.

Next to perform was Matt Ossias, a local electronic musician and member of the band Jouissance. Matt provided the audience with an entrancing selection of electronic creations, often leaving his computer to join those dancing in the audience.

Lastly, with people packed into the small, homey venue, and some even lined up outside, the much-anticipated Rae Spoon took the stage for the final performance of the night.

Rae is a transgendered indie/electronic musician from Calgary, AB who has released five full-length solo albums, one of which (superioryouareinferior) was long listed for the Polaris Prize in 2008. They were also nominated for two CBC Radio Bucky Awards in 2010. Currently living in Montreal, Rae has just released their sixth album, I Can’t Keep All Of Our Secrets (2012).

Over the past ten years, Rae has gathered quite an extensive grassroots following, touring throughout Canada as well as internationally. Outside of their work as a performing/recording artist, Rae has also done work on multi-media projects and the composition of instrumental music for films such as the NFB documentary Dead Man directed by Chelsea McMullan (Toronto International Film Festival, 2009).

Rae Spoon has been an increasingly influential figure in the trans community and has brought to light the debate over the use of gendered pronouns and the right for a person to choose their own pronoun. In the spirit of this cause, Rae teamed up with fellow musician and performer Elisha Lim for the duet “Stand By Your Trans”, a love song to the trans community.

For their performance, Rae played songs from a variety of their albums, from their most recent to loveisahunter (2010); songs like “Come On Forest Fire Burn The Disco Down” and “You Can Dance” had the crowd singing along to every word.

Bringing audience members to their feet with their catchy lyrics and enthralling rhythms, Rae brought an infectious energy to the room that soon drew in all audience members. Once finished their performance, Rae was quickly called back to the microphone for an encore.

dead (g)end(er) is now accepting submissions for their third issue, Spring 2012, due February 29, 2012. Queer Action Niagara is hosting a screening of “Genderf*kation: A Gender Emancipation” at 7pm on January 30, 2012 at Brock University, Plaza 308.

it is with great thanks to Amanda Roth that dg is able to present photos from/coverage of last week's Rae Spoon night of music and poetry! please check out Amanda's contact info here if you'd like coverage of your next event! she did an amazing job :)

upcoming events!

TOMORROW, Wednesday, January 18th at 8pm, The Hearts Oak Collective presents some cool activist tunes by musicians Mike XVX, Tyler Shipley, and Eric Smith at Rise Above (120 St. Paul Street, St. Catharines, Ont.). this event is pay-what-you-can with a suggested donation of $10! 

ALL AGES.

this Saturday, January 21st, Fur Free Niagara holds their second protest at Plusche Furs (6380 Fallsview Boulevard, Niagara Falls, Ont.) from 12pm to 4pm.

Fur Free Niagara's first protest at Henry's Furs in St. Catharines was a huge success resulting in the store actually being closed down only days later!

please come on out and help FFN make this demonstration just as successful :)

find the event on facebook!

and next Tuesday, January 24th at 7pm, IndoorShoes Record Label introduces an awesome lineup - The Sadies featuring special guests Souls (ex. Sleep the Season and Sleeper Set Sail) at the Mansion House (5 William Street, St.Catharines)! the show is $12adv. at TicketScene or Rock Universe (237 St. Paul Street, St. Catharines)-- and $15 at the door!

hope to see you at one or all of these!! 

and, don't forget, Queer Action Niagara and dg's RAE SPOON DANCE PARTY is next Thursday, the 26th at Rise Above (8pm)! 

can't wait :)

the Virus Reading Series presents...

this Thursday, January 12th at 7:30pm, the Virus Reading Series is hosting an evening of some great lit at Sheehan’s Pub (101 St. Paul Street, St. Kitts)!

featured writers include: 

Jeremy Colangelo

Thomas Armstrong

and Brian Dedora

hope to see you out for a great night!!

don’t forget to RSVP and share the event on facebook :)

Rae Spoon DANCE PARTY, and poetry reading!

dead gender is teaming up with Queer Action Niagara to bring you--
a RAE SPOON DANCE PARTY! 

join us on Thursday, January 26th at 8pm at Rise Above (120 St. Paul Street, St. Catharines), and don't forget your dancing shoes :)

we're kicking off the night with some rad poetry by Shannon Maguire and Steve Greenwood, an opening musical performance by Le Stack, and then Rae Spoon will be playing some amazing tunes!

this event is pay what you can--

with a suggested donation of $10 :)

RSVP on facebook!

ahh, so excited :)

hopefully we'll see you all there! 

 

SPREAD THE WORD.

^ Rae Spoon's duet with Elisha Lim ^

'free the detainees' fundraiser!

the Niagara Migrant Hunger Strikers Support Fund is holding a night of music tonight at Rise Above Restaurant (120 St. Paul Street, St. Catharines) to help raise money for their future plans!
the event is pay what you can-- no one will be turned away for lack of funds-- and there's a suggested donation of $10!
the music artists will include Matt Sajn, Eric Smith, and Jaimie Godard!

come on out for good tunes, friends, and treats :)

 

here's the Niagara Migrant Hunger Strikers' story:

"Sergio Puerto, Sandro Philippe, Jesus Galban, Ibrahim Ali Farrah and Victor Moses refugee claimants from Latin America and the Caribbean and Southern Africa have been jailed at the Niagara Detention Centre for between 3 to 6 months. Other then 10 minutes a day in a concrete yard - they have been locked up without community support.

In mid-November, they began water-only hunger strike demanding that their release be expedited and that they be moved to Toronto where they hope their files will be processed quicker. On November 23, Jesus Galban, fell off his bed and was denied medical aid until they ended the hunger strike. Officers from Canada Border Services Agency promised immediate action on their file. Since then Victor Moses has been moved and they have not been informed of his whereabouts.

On December 11, 2011, Sergio Puerto, Sandro Philippe, Jesus Galban and Ibrahim Ali Farrah began a rolling hunger strike.

LIST OF DEMANDS:

- That the inmates be immediately transferred to Toronto where they believe their cases will be quickly expedited and where they all have family and community support.
- That Citizenship and Immigration stop delaying justice by keeping all immigration detainees an unreasonably long time in detention for no reason.
- Immediate medical assistance for: Jesus - had an accident on November 23rd. Fell off a six foot bunk that had no ladder. Back severely injured and no doctor has attended despite repeated requests. Only medication given so far to relieve pain is Tylenol. Sandro also having problems with his back- slipped and fell (water on floor) in mid November. Has still received no medical attention.

Canada Border Services Agency has given endless excuses for holding these men. They claim that they are flight risks, even before some of their refugee claims have been processed. Some are facing deportation because of criminal convictions in Canada and the United States even though they have already served their sentences - a clear example of unjust double punishment. Attempts by community members to act as bonds-people and even put up financial sureties have been rejected.

Faced with lack of information, and continued lies by Canada Border Services Agency, Sergio, Sandro, Jesus and Ibrahim have decided to initiate a hunger strike. It is critical that we support them. Please take a minute to write an email or call Richard Comerford, Regional Director General of CBSA and insist that their demands be met."

the Niagara Migrant Hunger Strikers Support Fund will be organizing actions in St. Catharines, Niagara and Toronto. you can toss them an email at: nmhssn2011@gmail.com 

the twelfth annual STRUTT: Wearable Art Show

THIS SATURDAY, November 19th, 2011 is the STRUTT: Wearable Art Show!

(so soon!)

 

the event is goin' down at the WS Tyler (225 Ontario Street, St. Catharines).

doors are at 8pm, and the show starts at 9pm :)

tickets are $20 for students/members of the Niagara Artists' Centre

 $30 General Admission

$50 VIP Seating

get your tickets now so you don't have to wait in line :)

you can get them at Brock U's Centre for the Arts Box Office! (905-688-5550 x 3257)

or you can order them online here!

v dg will see you there! v