Artist as Changemaker: Louie Fermor
The artists participating in the Artist as Changemaker Residency and Fellowship Program have been diligently immersed in their projects, and we are thrilled to take a peek at their creative endeavours in anticipation of the upcoming final showcase scheduled for May 2024.
Louie Fermor - Artist as Changemaker Resident
Partner: Calgary Rainbow Elders
How Might We: How might we create visions of queer futures in a way that demonstrates intergenerational resilience through optimism?
Who’s involved - Calgary Rainbow Elders, Community Participants
Project Description: Louie uses two mediums, painting and community organizing, to create portraits of intergenerational queer connection. They were paired with Catherine Robertson from the Calgary Rainbow Elders. They met over coffee, rode motorcycles, and Louie painted her portrait. Louie is also working with Pansy Club, a grassroots queer event organizer, to create a portrait that everyone can participate in; a showcase after-party where people (queer, trans, and not) can finally get together and spend time celebrating. Through both of these modes, Louie explored how intergenerational connection can be a way to save lives and generate collective freedom.
Purpose: “Portraits of Connection” is both a personal and political endeavour: queer and trans connection saves lives. Many queer people do not have the benefit of genetic family bonds. Rather, our families are chosen. If we are alienated from each other, it puts us at risk. We are a small community, but we are loud and proud. Stretching across generations and the forces that try to alienate or ‘monstracize’ us, we connect with each other anyway. It's our greatest strength, and this project helps them celebrate it and do that.
How would you describe the impact of this work?
This project helped me understand intergenerational queer connection both as a political concept and as a lived experience. Both kinds of knowledge are invaluable.