The 200 most iconic queers in cultural history.
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Hi, Art!

Sunday, February 27, 2022

Hi, Art!

Sunday, February 27, 2022

Hi, art lovers!

 

I hope you like lists because this is definitely the biggest one we’ve ever published. In a marathon of blurbs that began this past Thursday, CBC Arts producer Peter Knegt is ranking the 200 most iconic queers in cultural history, and he’s taking the next few weeks to complete the task. What’s it all about, and what in the name of Gritty is CBC Arts doing devoting an entire month to a multi-volume listicle? Well, last week was the 200th edition of Peter’s weekly column, Queeries, and this is how he’s marking the occasion. I’ll let him explain. 

Begin transmission:

What began as a love letter to Tegan and Sara in October 2017 has now resulted in roughly 250,000 occasionally thoughtful words to offer you, the reader, week after week. I'm fairly certain the most overused word among these (and certainly in queer culture as a whole) has been "iconic." And I promise to retire it forever if you allow it one final most grandiose use: to count down the 200 most iconic queers in the history of culture.

Yes, the entire history of culture. And I don't just mean queer people either. Literary characters, animals, professional sports mascots, robots: they are all fair game.

The list will be many things: subjective, excessive and absolutely an homage to how two iconic queers much more talented than myself celebrated their own 200th edition. It is not intended to be taken particularly seriously, though I do stand by its ranking. And I hope those of you with the endurance to consume it have as much fun doing so as I did putting it together. — Peter Knegt, CBC Arts producer

 

And because we promised you eye candy ...

 
Photo of New York's Times Square at night. The digital billboards display a gradient of blue and yellow, artwork by Krista Kim

@krista.kim/Instagram

With Ukraine under attack, it’s been a disturbing news week. Here, a “message of peace” from Krista Kim. (Continuum, a work by the Canadian artist, will be appearing in New York’s Times Square to Monday.)

 
Photo of desert landscape filled with lavender smoke.

© Judy Chicago/Artist Rights Society, NY (courtesy Through the Flower Archives, the artist; Salon 94, NY; and Jessica Silverman Gallery, San Francisco)

The Toronto Biennial of Art opens March 26, and its schedule of free public programs was just announced. Earlier this year, organizers revealed that Judy Chicago will be among this year’s notable participants. She’ll be creating a new work on the banks of Lake Ontario in June — an extension of her long-running photo series, Atmospheres. 
 
Black and white image. The picture is in the shape of a human head. Its features are represented by a forest lake landscape, with small islands and a jagged shoreline representing eyes, nose and mouth.

Wanda Koop

Zachari Logan (seen here) is the curator of an exhibition devoted to contemporary Canadian drawing that’s now on in London. Participating artists include Nathan Eugene Carson, Mia Sandhu and (pictured) Wanda Koop.
 
Colourful hyperrealistic drawing off a fantasy island with puffy green vegetation and pointy lilac peaks rises from a hole in a yellow sea, raised on a platform resembling a Bond villain's lair. Three peaks emit pink smoke like cotton candy volcanos. A single peak is amber in colour and appears to be a translucent crystal.

@tristramlansdowne/Instagram

Tristram Lansdowne is another Canadian artist appearing in that London gallery show I just mentioned, but this particular drawing (!!!) is up at the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery right now. At the far edge of worlds is on to May 29. 
 
Photo of outdoor vegetation at night. The leaves are illuminated by multicoloured lights, suggesting the lants grow in neon hues of pink, coral, yellow, purple and green.

@jocelynarr/Instagram

Who knew the Bloor Viaduct was enchanted? That’s where Toronto’s Jocelyn Reynolds took this photo, believe it or not. The title is Portal 2.
 
 

You've got to see this

 
 
 
Photo of hockey mascot Gritty, an anthropomorphized pile off orange fur, marches in a Pride parade carrying a rainbow flag and flashing a peace sign.
@GrittyNHL/Twitter

It begins

 
Drum roll please. The most iconic queers in cultural history are …
 
Manif d'art
House of Anansi

Explore highlights from Quebec City’s biennial of art

 
After a pandemic-related pause, Manif d’art is back with a program inspired by the post-truth era. 
 
Three Black men in suits smile and laugh in what appears to be a train yard.

CBC

 

Who’s going to be catching up on The Porter this weekend?

 
Now streaming on CBC Gem, The Porter is a period drama about Black Canadian ambition. According to Amanda Parris, that’s just one reason the show’s a revelation. 
 

Follow this artist

 
 
 
Instagram

Maskull Lasserre

@maskulllasserre
Photo of a massive log installed in an empty room. From the window view, we can see that the building is high in the sky. The tops of skyscrapers can be seen through the window, but mostly a wide open blue sky with clouds.

@maskulllasserre/Instagram

Previously seen on CBC Arts (here and here and here), some of Maskull’s work is appearing in Quebec City right now as part of Manif d’art. But this photo was taken in Toronto, and if you want a closer look at what’s going on with this piece (Eternal Return), then definitely head to his Instagram for pics that’ll let you zoom in on some of the details. Or better yet, book a time to view it in person at the BMO Project Room. It’ll be there through November.
 

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I’m Leah Collins, senior writer at CBC Arts. Until next time!

 
XOXO CBC Arts
XOXO CBC Arts
 
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