Artists Against Homophobia

Local News, By Christian Taylor, 13th November, 2008

International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) Sydney is calling for established and emerging artists to prepare artworks that explore issues surrounding homophobia to be part of an exhibition for International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) Sunday the 17th of May 2009.

The exhibition will be launched by Clover Moore MP, Lord Mayor of Sydney on Saturday the 16th of May 2009 at the Pine Street Gallery in Chippendale.

They are seeking expressions of interest from all members of the GLBTIQ community to participate in the exhibition by submitting an artwork in any medium.

The exhibition aims to initiate a discussion about the pervasive nature of homophobia and increase awareness that vilification/violence based on sexual orientation or perceived orientation is illegal and unacceptable.

Project Coordinator Nick Baldas wants to reach out to members of our community that might be living within a homophobic environment or may be dealing with negative responses to homophobia. IDAHO the Exhibition is an opportunity for anyone who has experienced homophobia to express themselves and an opportunity to feel safe and turn a negative experience into a positive reality.

IDAHO the Exhibition is a grassroots community initiative and any help or support you can provide is a step towards stopping homophobia.

For more information please head to their website by clicking here.

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Your Thoughts

Asherbella

said ages ago

Will the exhibition focus on education, prevention, awareness or the consequences of homophobic abuse? To what degree can the artists 'explore issues'? That is to say: Will the artwork entry criteria be limited in any way? Exhibiting a theme of violence to prevent violence: your target audience I assume would be to reach the homophobic bashers in trying to convince them to see the inhumanity of the acts they commit? An art exhibition exposing the ugliness of homophobia to just a homosexual audience would be redundant if this exhibition is aimed at preventing homophobic abuse. To what degree is this art exhibition going to be marketed towards the mainstream, heterosexual community?

DeepBlueDreamer

said ages ago

For further information... http://idahosydney.wordpress.com/

idahosydney

said ages ago

Dear Asherbella, at this stage the exhibition is reaching out to the GLBTIQ community. We are creating a safe place were issues of homophobia can be discussed and exposed. Its a very dark and ugly subject which needs to be taken out of the dark and looked at with out fear. IDAHO The Exhibition was never intended for a homophobic audiance. Its for people that are living in fear at this very moment, afraid to love themselves because someone is abusing them. I hope we can help. I also agree with you that we need to reach past the homosexual audiance. At the beginning of next year we will chase sponsorship so that we can advertise the exhibition in leading hetrosexual newspapers. I don't know if we will achieve this, we have no budjet for anyting but I have faith that the cosmos will provide. Together we can make a difference- Nick Baldas

Asherbella

said ages ago

Dear Asherbella, at this stage the exhibition is reaching out to the GLBTIQ community. We are creating a safe place were issues of homophobia can be discussed and exposed. Its a very dark and ugly subject which needs to be taken out of the dark and looked at with out fear. IDAHO The Exhibition was never intended for a homophobic audiance. Its for people that are living in fear at this very moment, afraid to love themselves because someone is abusing them. I hope we can help. I also agree with you that we need to reach past the homosexual audiance. At the beginning of next year we will chase sponsorship so that we can advertise the exhibition in leading hetrosexual newspapers. I don't know if we will achieve this, we have no budjet for anyting but I have faith that the cosmos will provide. Together we can make a difference- Nick Baldas So the exhibition will act as a therapeutic device for victims to work through their experience of being abused simply for being gay? Cool. I hope the Sydney Morning Herald takes note of IDAHO and its' art exhibition and decides to assist with publicity. you could try chasing NSW Deapartment of Health for sponsorship, perhaps ACON or maybe even Lady Fairfax or Governor Marie Bashir.

idahosydney

said ages ago

The exhibition and workshops will attempt to encapsulate all these. We are conducting this project to create awareness by firstly creating a dialogue about homophobia which in turn will create awareness and allow anyone who has experienced homophobia to articulate their responses in a physical, creative and positive way. We are allowing artists to explore their responses to homophobia in any way they see fit. There are no limitations - in that we are allowing people to explore their responses and enter them in the exhibition. If an artwork contains explicit and/or gratuitous violence we will deal with that when and if it is submitted. Part of our target audience does include the perpetrators of homophobic abuse but as this is not specifically a crime prevention strategy, we also have a primary focus on providing people who have experienced homophobia the opportunity to have a part of their story to be told in a safe and supportive environment. All mainstream media will be informed about the story - whether they decide to run it is another matter. Thanks for your queries, Luke

davewb

said ages ago

Together we can make a difference- Nick Baldas I like this phrase :-)

idahosydney

said ages ago

Yes we are ALL human.

idahosydney

said ages ago

Hey davewb, we would love to have your artwork in the exhibition, anything that opens peoples eyes and hearts- makes them question is welcome.- Nick

poolboy jackson

said ages ago

I missed the exhibition. Did you succeed in your aims. Did you get an appropriate response? Do you get or spend much money?

idahosydney

said ages ago

I missed the exhibition. Did you succeed in your aims. Did you get an appropriate response? Do you get or spend much money? Hi Poolboy, Yes, the exhibition was a great success and we ended up receiving about 12 entries from artists and got a great turn out at the launch. It was a great atmosphere and empowering for many involved. We documented the exhibition by creating an online gallery which can be viewed here We ended up getting some donations and a community grant from the SLGBA which was great and ended up creating the event on very little money at all, which was fantastic considering the overall outcome. We got some great coverage from same same and the gay press was very supportive of us although the mainstream press did not run anything which was bit of a shame. Next year we will be holding the event again, this time inviting all secondary school students to enter artworks that deal with homophobia and/or identity. Our blog is also at www.idahosydney.wordpress.com Cheers, Luke

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