August 14^th, 2019 Red Deer, AB

Sex, Sin & 69 – Documentary and Photo Exhibit Touring Across Canada makes a stop in Red Deer

The pop-up exhibition Sex, Sin & 69 will be on display at the Red Deer Museum + Art Gallery (MAG) September 4^th to September 15^th, 2019. Making its way across Canada on a national tour, Sex, Sin & 69 is a ground-breaking feature length documentary and complementary photo exhibits. Together these pieces explore diverse voices from across Canada’s contemporary queer community and shaping LGBTQI2S movements into the future. The documentary will screen at the MAG on September 11^th at 7pm.

On June 27 in 1969, Canada enacted landmark legislation to “decriminalize” homosexuality nationwide. 50 years later, there is a need to explore how this history continues to impact our community. Currently on a national tour, Sex, Sin & 69 is a ground-breaking 80-minute documentary and complementary photo exhibit by Egale Canada and SandBay Entertainment with support from Canadian Heritage. Together the documentary and exhibit explore diverse voices from across Canada’s contemporary queer community as they relate to Bill C-150 and shaping LGBTQI2S movements into the future. Sex, Sin & 69 has been making its way across Canada with stops in Toronto, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Red Deer and Victoria.

“This summer we are, and should be, acknowledging the 50th anniversary of decriminalization – it marks the first step taken by the Canadian government to support LGBTQI2S people and it has allowed us break down many subsequent barriers,” said Helen Kennedy, Executive Director at Egale Canada. “It is also a difficult time because we are all too aware of the work that is ahead of us before we will see a Canada that is equitable for LGBTQI2S people.”

The history is far too intricate and ongoing to be captured in an 80-minute documentary. However, Sex, Sin & 69 starts by examining the 1969 ‘partial’ decriminalization of homosexuality — what led up to the passing of this legislation, how it impacted LGBTQI2S communities and movements, and how the LGBTQI2S community in Canada has navigated this as we move forward in the continued fight for equality.

“It was important to us that Sex, Sin & 69 feature diverse voices from Canada’s contemporary queer community,” said Sarah Fodey, Partner and Filmmaker at SandBay. “Throughout the film and exhibit, folks from across Canada’s LGBTQI2S community reflect on the contested history of Bill C-150 in a way that is relatable to our movements today.”

The Sex, Sin & 69 documentary (rated PG) was created to resonate with a modern audience – largely removed from ‘decrim’ and LGBTQI2S Canadian history. A historical and retrospective film, Sex, Sin & 69 is narrated by Fazia Mirza and is told through a wide range of contemporary voices from across Canada’s queer community including academics, activists, historians, artists, and community builders. This distance from the factual record of queer Canada provides a critical story driver in Sex, Sin & 69: calling into question dominant discourses about the significance of the decriminalization of homosexuality.

The Sex, Sin & 69 exhibit builds on the documentary by highlighting themes of Social Justice Through Action, Building Queer Community, Identity & Politics, and Sex & Gender Freedom. These themes are brought to life through the collection of assets from activists, artists, community members and folks who have or are currently working on the frontlines of LGBTQI2S rights in Canada.

First Fridays Red Deer –Opening Reception: Join the MAG from 5-8pm on Friday, September 6^th for the opening reception of Sex, Sin & 69.

“Sex, Sin & 69” Film Screening – September 11^th, 2019 at 7pm at the Red Deer Museum + Art Gallery. Free to attend. Rated PG.

For more details regarding the exhibition Sex, Sin & 69 contact Lorna Johnson, Executive Director lorna.johnson@reddeer.ca, 403-309-8439.

From Red Deer Arts Council

Red Deer Arts Council and Red Deer Public Library are pleased to present, Alberta Bound: Works by Lynn LeCorre which runs from August 19 to October 14, 2019 in the Kiwanis Gallery.

En Plein Aire artist Lynn LeCorre explores Alberta in her exhibit at the Kiwanis Gallery.

Travelling the highways and byways around Alberta inspired Lynn to not only discover what Alberta’s landscapes have to offer, but to get out of her car and paint the landscape right on the spot!  Dust, wind, rain, – it didn’t matter as long as she could capture the image of her beloved province.

Although sometimes she had to use a photograph when stepping out didn’t work, such as capturing the winter landscape or to get the aerial views from an airplane or the perfect view from the middle of the road.

Born in Regina, but raised in St. Albert, Lynn has lived in Northern Alberta (Grand Prairie and High Level) for 21 years and Jasper for a few years.   She has been an Alberta girl her whole life.  The landscapes around the various places she lived inspired this exhibit after a move to Red Deer in 2016 to become the Education Coordinator at the Red Deer Museum + Art Gallery.  She balances that job with teaching youth painting classes for Culture Services with the City of Red Deer.  She is once again excited to explore the southern province with fresh eyes for new compositions and landscape challenges.  That was the impetus for this show – to see how diverse the landscape is all across Alberta from her road trips and painting excursions.

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From her artist statement:

Why ‘Alberta Bound?” I love a road trip! The diverse Alberta landscape inspires me. Having lived in Alberta all my life (from Edmonton, Jasper, High Level, Grande Prairie and now Red Deer) and with all my travels across the province, I am continually in awe of this land. When I drive, I am inspired to just pull over and paint what I see. So that is what I do. I pull off onto secondary highways, road allowances or any safe space that gives me the view I wish to paint. Armed with an easel, folding chair and paints, I start sketching a composition. Then I paint quickly before the fleeting light and sky change. This is my challenge. I have been painting the Alberta landscape ‘en plein aire’ for over 15 years and continue to search for new compositions and new challenges.

Red Deer Arts Council and Red Deer Public Library are pleased to present, Alberta Bound:  Works by Lynn LeCorre which runs from August 19 to October 14, 2019 in the Kiwanis Gallery.