Videofag
Videofag was a storefront arts space that operated in Toronto, Ontario's Kensington Market from 2012 - 2016. Founded and run by couple William Ellis and Jordan Tannahill, who converted it from an old barbershop, the space became an influential hub for queer counterculture in the city.[1] A flexible multimedia space, Videofag was designed to serve as a cinema, art gallery, nightclub or theatre space depending on the needs of any individual event.[2] It also doubled as Ellis and Tannahill's home.[1][3] Videofag often acted as a laboratory, in which artists were gifted residencies to explore new ideas. The space helped develop and premiere several shows that went on to high-profile presentations at major theatres and festivals internationally.[4]
Videofag's inaugural exhibition, in 2012, was a retrospective of local queer music collective
Performances presented in 2013 included
2014 saw Videofag presenting work by performance artist Narcissister, choreographer Andrew Tay, performance artist
Among Videofag's 2015 highlights were premieres of Karen Hines's play Crawlspace, and Greg MacArthur's play A Man Vanishes, a noir-thriller set at Videofag, and starring Tannahill and Ellis as themselves. The space also played host to exhibitions, performances, and residencies by dancer-choreographer Amanda Acorn, performance artist Alvis Choi, the post-punk band New Fries, director Alistair Newton, writer-artist Masha Tupitsyn, curator Xenia Benivolski, playwright Johnnie Walker, writer Michael V. Smith, artist Rajni Perera, drag queen Nancy Babcock, performance-maker Chad Dembski, and dancer-choreographer Dana Michel, among others.[18]
In 2016, Videofag presented work by musician Lido Pimienta, playwright-performer Haley McGee, poet Aisha Sasha John, theatre makers ted witzel and Susanna Fournier, artist Walter Scott, and premiered playwright Salvatore Antonio's play Sheets.
Videofag presented a number of political cabarets on subjects including Canadian Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
Videofag was listed as one of Toronto's Best New Art Galleries of 2012[22] and nominated as a Toronto Hero as part of the Torontoist's 2013 Heroes and Villains poll.[23] Its closure in June 2016 spawned an outpouring of tributes in national media, and an honorary award from The Toronto Critic's Awards for its contribution to the community.[24]
In November 2017,
References
- ^ a b c "Videofags: A new queer art space in Kensington - ready to blow your mind". fab, October 17, 2012.
- ^ Torontoist, May 9, 2013.
- Xtra!, November 14, 2013.
- ^ "Revenge of the Impossible Play". The New York Times, February 4, 2015.
- ^ "Truth/Dare takes on the Material Girl". NOW, June 20, 2013.
- Torontoist, July 4, 2013.
- Torontoist, June 21, 2013.
- Torontoist, June 14, 2013.
- ^ "How Sheila Heti’s long-abandoned play went from her bottom drawer to a Toronto stage". The Globe and Mail, October 23, 2013.
- Xtra!, October 16, 2012.
- ^ "How a fake Walmart stoked dissent in Toronto’s Kensington Market". Toronto Star, August 9, 2013.
- ^ Davies, Jon (Spring 2014). "Sissy Boys on YouTube: Notes Towards a Cultural History of Online Queer Childhood by Jon Davies". C Magazine (121).
- Xtra!, March 26, 2014.
- ^ "Just Me and Allah Photography Series Documents Queer Muslims". BuzzFeed, May 23, 2014.
- ^ "Queer Toronto Muslims Are in the Spotlight with the 'Just Me and Allah' Photo Series". Vice (magazine), June 25, 2014.
- ^ "Pay homage-er, Homerage- to a cartoon classic at a Simpsons-themed art show". Toronto Life, September 3, 2014.
- ^ "New Simpsons-themed art exhibit is one you doh not want to miss". Torontoist, September 3, 2014.
- Daily Xtra, August 25, 2015.
- ^ "Videofag's website". Videofag, accessed January 16, 2013.
- ^ "The Spoke - True Life Spun". outsidethemarch.ca. Archived from the original on 2014-05-01.
- ^ "Bright lights, big city" Archived 2013-07-02 at the Wayback Machine. The Grid, February 20, 2013.
- BlogTO, January 8, 2013.
- Torontoist, December 30, 2013.
- Torontoist, May 27, 2016.