Queer Art Activism with Lauren Hortie

MAWA celebrates Gay Pride Month! “My First Lesbian Colouring Book”: the importance of pop culture for a queer experience with Lauren Hortie Presented in partnership with aceartinc. Pop culture is something that surrounds us all, sometimes as invisible as wallpaper, and yet the images that we absorb “without thinking” can tell us much about our individual and collective fears, desires, motivations and concerns. Lauren will explore the power of role models found in popular culture and their possible “readings”. She will also talk about queer visual culture, the power of visibility and the importance of creating imagery that represents the queer experience. Lauren Hortie is an artist and educator based in Toronto. Her bodies of work include Sheroes, Gay & Night and the Lesbian Colouring Book 'zine series. Lauren takes inspiration for her work from queer culture and especially its nightlife. She moonlights as a DJ and organizer of popular Toronto parties, Steers & Queers and Trash.