Heartfelt Art in The Big Apple

Launching my book Assume Nothing in New York was so heart warming and an experience I'll never forget. There were new connections made and old connections reinvigorated. I basked in a climate of love, generosity, wisdom, creativity and a sense of united purpose. There was a very strong presence of all the people in Assume Nothing being alongside me in image, voice and spirit. It was wonderful to have Jack Byrne and MilDred Gerestant literally alongside me. They both did brilliant spoken word performances at the launch at The Tank Theater, just off Times Square. Jack opened the show with a mihi, and we screened four of Kirsty MacDonald's short films from Assume Nothing featuring Shigeyuki Kihara, Mani Bruce Mitchell, Ema Lyon and MilDred Gerestant.

As with the Assume Nothing exhibition we created a cocoon around the event, visually, aurally and energically. We had music from Aotearoa with Claire Cowan and James Webster's original music in the Assume Nothing film, Moana Maniapoto's songs from her album Wha and Kirsty MacDonald's beautiful rendition of Hunters and Collectors Throw your arms around me which was playing as I did the book signing.

Our panel discussion at Bluestockings bookstore with myself, Jack Byrne, Ignacio Rivera and Justus Eisfeld, was on the theme of "Art, Activism and Gender Identity". Interestingly it organically morphed into art, activism and healing- exploring how techniques that are healing through art could be applied to keep activism healthy and sustainable.

By chance there was a great panel discussion, the night before, by three intersex activists for intersex awareness day. One of the panelists, I'd met 10 years ago, through Mani Bruce Mitchell who is in Assume Nothing and it was interesting to hear about her recent involvement in talks with the International Olympics Committee around their intersex policy following Caster Semenya's case.

Back in Aotearoa, I'm working on SWEAT, my solo exhibition on during the OUTGAMES in Wellington, at Mark Hutchins Gallery opening 9th March 2011. We are having a "Kissing booth" event on March 16th where I'll photograph couples on the night and screen the images in the gallery.

UPCOMING FILM SCREENINGS
DELHI INDIA
NIGAH QUEERFEST 2010
Assume Nothing film screening Dec 5th 1.15pm
http://www.thequeerfest.com/films/assume-nothing/

BELGRADE SERBIA
MERLINKA - INTERNATIONAL QUEER FILM FESTIVAL
DocuMerlinka
Assume Nothing film screening 29th-30th January 2011

HASTINGS ENGLAND
Assume Nothing screening Feb 2011
Electric Palace

KINGSTON CANADA
REELOUT FILM AND VIDEO FESTIVAL
Saturday February 5 2011

NAVARRA SPAIN
PUNTO DE VISTA INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL OF NAVARRA
Screening of BLACK AND WHITE 22-27 February 2011

NEW WORK, NEW YORK & AWARD FROM AUSTIN TEXAS

NEW WORK
This week I did my final shoot for SWEAT, my exhibition at Mark Hutchins Gallery opening March 2011. There are over 90 new images creating a delicious diverse montage of LGBT moments of intimacy as part of the Out Games Art Festival. We will have a kissing booth event on 16th March where I'll be photographing couples kissing in a private booth in the gallery and add the images to the exhibition on the night.

NEW YORK
It's 2 weeks until I fly to NYC for my Assume Nothing book launch.
Friday October 29th 7.30- 9pm
The Tank www.thetanknyc.org
354 W. 45th Street between 8th and 9th.
$10 tickets (available at the door 30 minutes prior to the show, cash only)
or www.brownpapertickets.com/producerevent/132312?prod_id=9726

Assume Nothing- panel discussion- Thursday October 28th 7pm
Blue Stockings Bookstore www.bluestockings.com
172 Allen Street FREE
Art, Activism and Gender Identity- exploring the interplay between human rights activism and art.

FILM AWARD AND UPCOMING SCREENINGS
AUSTIN TEXAS
Assume Nothing, Kirsty MacDonald's film, won the Documentary Feature Jury Award at Austin Texas Film Festival AGLIFF.

BRIGHTON- QUEER BRIGHTON/ PHOTO BIENNIAL
Assume Nothing screening Thursday 14th October 7pm
Lighthouse, Brighton, England

GLASGOW- GLASGAY FILM FESTIVAL
Assume Nothing screens Tuesday 19th October at 7.30pm
The Center for contemporary art

ALBUQUEQUE NEW MEXICO
8th Annual Southwest Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
Oct 8-14 (screening details tbc)

HAMBURG GERMANY
Radar Hamburg International Independent Film Festival 2010
1st to 6th Nov (screening details tbc)

New York book launch details and new film screenings

NEW YORK

Last week we got the New York launch details confirmed- just 8 weeks to go.

October 29th 7.30-9pm
The Tank www.thetanknyc.org
354 W. 45th Street between 8th and 9th.

$10 tickets (available at the door 30 minutes prior to the show, cash only)

This one night event will be sure to open your heart and mind, make you laugh and cry, and leave you with an expanded sense of what's possible. It will be an intoxicating cocktail of stunning performances, teasers from Assume Nothing the film and I'll talk about my passion for this 15 year labour of love.

We'll be featuring some of the amazing people who have been involved in Assume Nothing.
Jack Byrne - performer, trans activist and my partner.
Shigeyuki Kihara- a celebrated multi media artist who is Samoan, Japanese and fa'afafine.
Ema Lyon- a Maori weaver who describes herself as ia ( which in Te Reo Maori means both he and she).
Mani Bruce Mitchell- an intersex activist who shares the power of photographs in the reclaiming of her identity.

The night before we are having a panel discussion at Bluestockings.

Thursday October 28th, 7pm FREE

Blue stockings bookstore and activist centre 172 Allen St (between Stanton and Rivington)

Panel discussion "Art, Activism and Gender Identity" exploring the interplay between human rights activism and art followed by book signing.

Panel includes, myself, author and photographer of Assume Nothing

Jack Byrne, performer, trans activist, and my partner.

Justus Eisfield, co director and co- founder of GATE- Global Action for Trans* Equality

ASSUME NOTHING FILM SCREENINGS

LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA

Downtown Film Festival Los Angeles

Sunday September 12th 4.30pm

Civic Centre Theater (Corner 1st and Main)

AUSTIN TEXAS

AGLIFF23
Sunday September 12th 12.30pm
The Alamo Draft House, South Lamar

PORTLAND OREGON

Portland Lesbian & Gay Film Festival

October 1st-9th

(Screening details tbc)

www.plgff.org/index.htm

ELLENSBURG WASHINGTON

Ellensburg Film Festival

October 1-3 (Screening details tbc)

www.ellensburgfilmfestival..com

ALBERQUEQUE NEW MEXICO

8th Annual Southwest Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.

October 8th - 14th

(Screening details tbc)

www.closetcinema.org

BRIGHTON ENGLAND

QUEER BRIGHTON/ PHOTO BIENNIAL

Thursday 14th October 7pm

Lighthouse, Brighton

GLASGOW SCOTLAND

GLASGAY FILM FESTIVAL

Tuesday 19th October at 7.30pm

The Center for contemporary art

Assume Nothing book launch in New York

BOOK

I am beside myself with excitement- my book, 'Assume Nothing' is going to be launched in New York, in late October. Soft Skull, the very cool indie press, is releasing the American edition and working away on the launch details. I'll post info as it comes to hand.

I'm flying over for the launch and media engagements. New York is one of my favourite cities, I'll be working hard on imbibing as much art per minute as is humanly possible, I wonder if there is a record for that.

Soft Skull asked three of my favourite gender activist/ writers/ artists- Jamison Green, Del LaGrace Volcano and Loren Rex Cameron- if they would write a blurb for the back cover. They all very generously agreed and said really touching things. Here's a sneak preview of Del's....“Not only does Rebecca Swan provide us with a timely and evocative motto for the 21st century, she does it with style and panache. Assume Nothing shows us what it looks like when theory is put into practice with love and considerable skill.”

FILM

Kirsty MacDonald's film 'Assume Nothing' is screening in Dublin at The GAZE festival, Saturday 31st July, 6.30pm, at the Light House Cinema. Kirsty has launched recently launched her website http://www.girl-on-a-bike-films.com and uploaded some of her short films that were part of the 'Assume Nothing' exhibition. Here is a beautiful one of Ema who is on the cover http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lsAFzOLslo

MEDIA

In the latest Art New Zealand, Rebecca Rice reviews 'Capturing The Gaze' my group exhibition at Mark Hutchins Gallery. In the Weekend herald, TJ McNamara reviews 'Dying to know' my solo show at Whitespace. Diva Magazine (UK) has a great article by Rebecca Hopkinson called 'We are all divine mosaics'. It looks at photographers whose work blurs gender boundaries, profiling me, Lola Flash and Christa Holka. Express magazine (NZ) profiles my work in it's latest photography issue.

This week- Pecha kucha and artist talk

It's been a big week in Auckland and there's more to come...

Pecha kucha- Wednesday 16th June 7.30pm Galatos, Galatos St

Artist talk- Saturday 19th june 2pm Whitespace, 12 Crummer Rd, Ponsonby

I had my 'Dying to know' exhibition opening at Whitespace last Tuesday. It was fabulous, packed with friends, family and art celebs, I got to meet Billy Apple who described my work as 'elegant'. Tv1 was there and did an interview which screened on their late news and breakfast. I haven't seen it yet as my old tele doesn't get tv1, but Mum, my faithful fan, has recorded it for me (plus she and Dad were looking great in the background.)

I took these installation shots before the crowds came in...

I was on such a roll creating the work that I squeezed one more print in on Saturday, so there are 12 up now. All can be seen on http://www.rebeccaswan.com/dyingtoknow.htm

PECHA KUCHA IN COLLABORATION WITH PHOTO FORUM

This Wednesday 16th June 7.30pm, Galatos on Galatos street door sales $9 (cash only).

I'm one of 14 artists talking at Pecha Kucha. There's a very interesting line up, and I'm looking forward to Roberta Thornley's talk, she is exhibiting in the photography festival and her work is sublime, she's only 24.

ARTIST TALK

This Saturday 19th June 2pm, Whitespace, 12 Crummer Road, Ponsonby

I'll be talking about the creative process behind 'Dying to know'. I'm in love with this new work and would like to share the love around. So if you haven't seen the exhibition this Saturday 2pm would be a perfect time to come along. http://www.whitespace.co.nz/

I do have news of a launch in New York and exhibitions in Spain but I'll save that for another blog, this one is keeping it local!

Exhibition, film screenings, talks and Pecha Kucha!

Here's your invitation if you are in Auckland in June...

AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND

Auckland- June is an exciting month with the festival of

photography. I’m involved in 3 ‘Out of this world’ art events,

(see invite above). My new work 'Dying to Know' is on show

from June 8 -27 at Whitespace. I’ve loved making this work,

it’s been very organic and I can’t wait to see the large prints

in the gallery.

AMERICA

Minneapolis-Assume Nothing film screening 1st June 7pm

opening night film, Twin Cities Film Festival Heights Theater

Minneapolis- Saint Paul.

IRELAND

Dublin- Assume Nothing film screening July 29th to August

2nd at GAZE Film Festival at The Lighthouse Cinema,

Smithfield. Date to be confirmed.