Deep Dish issue #461 - Pt 2

Powerhaus Sept 23

It’s been a long time coming but Glad Day Books is on its way to redefining its image, and maybe even making some pink dolla-dolla bills. What was once a daring venture decades ago had become a dusty little hole in the wall selling just books, or as Ab Fab’s Edina calls them, “little coffins filled with dead ideas.” Since the new owners took over the ailing bookstore this year the 3^rd floor has been cleared out and a fantastic event space has been created. Today it acts as a gallery for an independent exhibit called Powerhaus. Curator Fariz Kovalchuk, assembles the group of 12 queer artists giving them Ursula K Le Guin’s famous quote, “Creative adult is he child who survived”, as guide. Ricky Kruger’s amazing super hero illustration (referencing his childhood and ongoing fascination with superheroes and comic books) is the only piece sold. At $100 it’s such a steal I almost begin crying wishing I arrived earlier to be the lucky new owner. But there are some other great works still available like Max & GNA’s photo collages, Damian Mellin’s beautiful acrylic on wood dismemberment paintings and Gary Allen’s Africa tribal-art inspired portraits. I interrupt Allen who is busy chatting with fellow artists including singer Ryan G Hinds, to get some mental perspective on his visual works. “My one piece called Rebirth is the idea of rebirthing biology with technology,” he says. “Which is happening right now.” How would they work together in the future has me thinking of the whole ethical and moral debates around “the gay gene” and the fact that in the near future people will be able to customize what child they want A child with blue hair or blonde eyes for instance. And an embryo that is thought to be gay might be at risk and could be terminated. Technology could trump biology, which could paint a rather ugly picture of the future. “I think that by that time that whether your child is gay or not won’t really matter,” Allen surmises. “The understanding of nature and that there is queerness in it will change the way people view sexuality.” Until that time, lets just look at some pretty pictures.

Scotiabank AIDS Walk Sept 15

Thankfully the rains held off for this years annual AIDS Walk in which hundreds participated.  Many of those walking and pledging surprisingly, to me at least, are high school students who give the event a positive boisterous, rally like feel as they cheer and shout encouragement. Some are also involved in Positive Youth Outreach (PYO). A story posted on their website about Joel who at 22 years old has been HIV positive for seven years shook me to my core. It’s really time for people to realize that HIV and AID is till here. It may be a bit more manageable but it has not been cured. After the walk we stop by the AIDS Memorial in Cawthra Park to pay our respects before waking down Church Street, which is shut down from Carleton to Alexander. Vendors and the like have set up booths. And there are lots of deals and some free goodies to be had, like glass beadwork necklaces, African like bangles and the very welcome free Starbucks Coffee. In the parking lot across from Loblaw’s a free concert takes place hosted by Proud Fm’s Mike Chalut who looks relaxed and sporty in a fleece two-piece jogging suit. Zelda Angelfire is here, as is Shaun Proulx and singer Devine Brown (somewhere), enjoying the sun and sounds of The Doubts and DJ Aural. “It’s a gorgeous day. And the band is gorgeous. Everything is gorgeous,” Chalut says before jogging off in his running pants. Gorgeous!
 
 *for more Deep Dish events, be sure to pick up the latest issue of Fab on stands now!