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Alter Arts Society

  • Cozy Queer Affair
  • Community Art Hub
  • Art Hub Events
  • Arts Spaces Project
  • About Alter Arts 
    • About Us
    • Accessibility at the Art Hub
    • Volunteering
  • …  
    • Cozy Queer Affair
    • Community Art Hub
    • Art Hub Events
    • Arts Spaces Project
    • About Alter Arts 
      • About Us
      • Accessibility at the Art Hub
      • Volunteering
Donate

Alter Arts Society

  • Cozy Queer Affair
  • Community Art Hub
  • Art Hub Events
  • Arts Spaces Project
  • About Alter Arts 
    • About Us
    • Accessibility at the Art Hub
    • Volunteering
  • …  
    • Cozy Queer Affair
    • Community Art Hub
    • Art Hub Events
    • Arts Spaces Project
    • About Alter Arts 
      • About Us
      • Accessibility at the Art Hub
      • Volunteering
Donate
  • FAQs

    Answers to your top questions. Select the question to view the answer.

    What is it?

    Do I have to pay?

    Is this a family friendly event?

    Who is organizing this event?

    Accessibility

    Transportation and Parking

    How do I get there?

  • Schedule of Events

    Join us for A Cozy Queer Affair, a special edition of the Out There Art Festival, an interactive and community art festival hosted by Alter Arts Society since 2020!

    As the days grow cooler, gather with us on Saturday, November 15 and Sunday, November 16 at The Other Guise Theatre Company, for an all-ages, accessible festival featuring acoustic music, storytelling, art workshops, and a cozy tea lounge.

  • Alter Arts Society & The Out There Art Festival present:

    “Crisp Air, Warm Hearts, Proud Souls”

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  • Acoustic Performances

    We are pleased to present a fantastic line up of queer identifying folks for Cozy Queer Affair 2025. We will be playing an assortment of acoustic performances in the day time on both Saturday November 14th and Sunday November 16th.

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    Noelle

    Soulful versions of your classic pop favs, accompanied by Miles on guitar.

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    Opal Dar

    A descendant of Icelandic folk musicians and clowns, Opal Dar (they/them) was born and raised in East Vancouver, BC and now resides on the Unceded Territory of the T'Souke nation as a queer, disabled artist.


    Opal’s music is an explosive, innovative expression of their indelible spirit. Their dynamic voice coaxes its own kind of intimacy from the sincere internal place from which they perform to their lyrical intensity drummed from a life of torture and unfettered kindness.


    Their singing begs the grit of Fiona Apple, the breadth of tessitura of Kate Bush, and the theatrical liberties of Joanna Newsom. Opal fearlessly helms a dynamic prowess in range, tone, and intention that oscillates between a gentle lullaby and a harsh scolding, all while drawing the listener closer with every phrase.


    Whimsical, jarring, and powerful even at a whisper, Opal Dar’s music grips listeners to reckon constructively with their perceptions of consent, sovereignty, queer perspectives, trauma, missing and murdered Indigenous women, love, accountability, vicious cats and hope.

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    Dana Sipos

    Victoria, BC based songwriter Dana Sipos' cosmic folk songs are constellations. A consummate performer, Sipos' tenderly skewed songwriting, spiralling vocals, and textured instrumentation sets the stage for a deeply moving performance. A new collection of songs will be released in early 2026.

    DanaSipos.com
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    Grey Orton

    Grey has been performing and producing music for nearly twenty years, across various genres and styles. Following a recent album release, Grey has been focusing on intimate solo performances that showcase their dynamic performance style and lyrics. Grey also performs burlesque under the stage name Mx. Anomalie

    GreyOrton.com
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    Becky Prokova

    From the west coast of Canada, Becky Prokova writes songs that feel like late-night confessions…. unfiltered, vulnerable, and quietly defiant. Her music moves through grief, love, and rebirth with the kind of honesty that makes you stop and really listen.

    Connect on Facebook
    Listen On Spotify
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    Ghostly Hounds

    Ghostly Hounds is the folk project of Francesca Mirai, a singer-songwriter and banjo player based out of the Lekwungen territories colonially known as Victoria BC. Francesca combines their striking, powerful vocals with traditional and modern banjo instrumentals, all tied together with a driving stomp to create a haunting and captivating performance. Ghostly Hounds has toured their dark, soulful folk and old-time music extensively throughout Canada for the past ten years, recently expanding to overseas for a successful 3 week tour of England, Scotland and Ireland. Ghostly Hounds has released two full-length studio albums and one single.

    Ghostly Hounds EPK
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    Shorefox

    Shorefox plays post punk folk rock, mixing humour and heartbreak into ballads and fast rolling lyrics heavy tunes.
    Shorefox has sung in barbershop and southern gospel quartets, was a member of folk punk band Ferocious Timbre Mouse, and now performs around 30 shows annually. Their demo album is available on all streaming platforms, supported by handmade merch and an ongoing collaborative zine series.

    Connect on Facebook
    Connect on Instagram
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    EmYliA and Julian Seagull

    EmYliA and Julian Seagull are a local duo, creating and playing music on the unceded lands of the Lekwungen, Songhees and WSÁNEĆ people. They bring a sweet, whimsical and witty approach to performance and song writing with a focus on surreal story telling.

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    Marina Avros

    There is a person who has lived with the trees.

    A Smoke Catcher for fourteen summers, they climbed a tower above the boreal forest. To pass the time they listened. To the wind, to the wild ones, to the slow breath of the earth. In that great hush, they wrote songs. The land was speaking, and the songs were the shape of its reply.

    Marina Avros sings with the piercing clarity of glacial air.

    Melodies that move like a river, slow, quick, turning, falling. Some songs are as dark as where the roots roam, others as playful as a sky full of cumulus clouds. In every performance, there is a tenderness, a truth-telling. A reminder of something we once knew but forgot.

    Marina Avros is not trying to be discovered. She is simply being. But those who come to her shows, whether at a house concert, under a festival tent, or on a forest trail, often leave feeling they’ve found something.

    And perhaps they have.

    Connect on Linktree!
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    Finley Rose Duo

    Finley Rose is a musician and performing artist from Vancouver Island, BC. They grew up among the arbutus trees, echoing their song. Finley’s music draws on the darkness and light of human experience. An intimate fingerpicked song on banjo, a soaring vocal line over a resonant violin phrase. Their songwriting is born from the depths of the forest. Dark and forgotten memories gain a new voice through being sung, emerging in a glistening cocoon, a spinning cacophony. Finn is often joined by sibling Dane on acoustic guitar. A long awaited sibling collaboration, their musical chemistry feels organic. Finley studied violin, folk fiddle and classical voice for 14 years, and they are a proficient musician, but what shines about their performance is that their technical abilities are a vessel for grit and passion. Finn incorporates fiddle tunes from many folk traditions into their performance, including Quebecois, Irish, English, Swedish and Appalachian melodies.

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    Gabs and Wes

    Gabs and Wes are a dynamic musical duo who share a passion for sweet harmonies, jazzy rhythms, and delicious duets. Their style feels like a laid back Sunday or a warm bath, and their melodic chemistry is undeniable. Gabs brings an effervescence to the stage; her Colombian roots can be felt in her rhythmic finesse. Wes brings an imaginative musical fluency which he honed while completing a Masters in Jazz Performance at the University of Toronto in 2021. Their stories overlapped through years of band leading and performing in the Victoria music scene. With sultry vocals and tasty guitar licks, they are sure to wow any crowd and warm the hearts of their audiences.

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    Matt Stern & Christina Kent

    MATT STERN is known for his uplifting spirit, soothing voice, and for promoting diversity and community connection. A multilingual & multidisciplinary artist, he has been a featured performer at POP Montreal, the 1st World Outgames, Canadian Music Week, Campbell Bay Music Festival, Coup de cœur francophone, Enoshima Music Festival in Japan and M Comme Musique in France. His new French album has garnered him nominations at the
    Canadian Folk Music Awards, the Western Canadian Music Awards & the Trille Or Awards. After being selected to represent BC at the Chant'Ouest tour of Western Canada, he won the RADARTS showcase award. He is currently at work on his next album with producer Brian West (Nelly Furtado, Maroon 5, K’Naan, Bono, Sia).

    Christina loves singing for its power in expressing our humanity, our stories, and connecting us with one another. She is also a passionate singing teacher and the founder of Mindful Sound Studio, a voice studio centred on holistic, embodied singing instruction. She finds deep joy in supporting other singers in finding their own meaningful connection to their voices.

  • The Storytelling Stage!

    Over the past couple of weeks we have pulled in a variety of poets and story tellers to share the gift of the spoken word with us at A Cozy Queer Affair presented by Alter Arts Society

    Check out our lineup of orators young and old, those that are new to performing and those that are seasoned vets to the stage. Cozy up on the couch with a hot cup of tea with us while we enjoy a story or two.

    * This is a working schedule and it may change, we will have a whiteboard with the schedule available on site and we will update the event page accordingly with schedule changes.

    Thank you so much to Raven for organizing our story and poetry stage. We appreciate all the time and energy you have put into curating such a fantastic lineup of artists.

    Saturday November 15th

    12:20-12:50 Whirly Bird

    12:55-1:30 Nikky E

    1:25-2:05 Sneha

    2:10-2:55 Jeremiah

    3:00-3:45 Rama

    3:50-4:05 Igo

    16:05-16:20 Emma

    16:25-17:00 Tommy Paul

    Sunday November 16th

    12:00-12:15 Serralys
    12:20-12:30 Raven

    12:35-1:05 Olivia

    1:10-1:55 Embjor

    2:00-2:15 Kath Healing

    2:20-2:55 Zuber

    3:00-3:30 John Rockford

    3:35-3:50 Igo

    3:55-4:10 Ronin

    4:15-5:00 Jeremiah

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    Rama Maria de le Rosa

    I swam around Saltspring in 2017 and 2018 raising a combined $40,000 in legal funds to protect the Salish Sea orcas and… Orcas came and swam with me!!! It was wild! And I would love to share the story with my queer community.

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    Sneha Wadhwami

    Sneha Wadhwani is a queer South Asian poet, activist, and yoga teacher. Her work centres on decolonization and navigating her lived experiences at the intersection of these identities. She has performed in stages across Canada and was a member of the winning team at the Voices of Today festival in 2019. Sneha is also a lover of cats, food, and hiking.

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    Thistle Dunsmuir

    Thistle Dunsmuir is a queer, non-binary poet residing on the traditional, unceded territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən speaking people. Their poetry focuses on themes of identity, mental health and healing, and their work has appeared in Vagabond City Press, the Q&A Queerzine and Queer Toronto Literary Magazine. They were a feature poet at Tongues of Fire in 2025 and performed at Pride in the Word in 2024 and 2025.

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    Kath Healing

    I identify as a queer, trans, disabled, low-income and neurodivergent artist. Access and inclusion are central to my practice.

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    Jeremiah

    Jeremiah is a multidisciplinary visual and performance artist. Jeremiah is mixed race of celtic and afro-caribbean descent, trans-masculine, neurodivergent, and disabled. They use their art and poetry to build worlds in which they, and their peers, have the space to explore the depths and nuances of the intersections of personal identity. Jeremiah believes art is an alchemical process which allows one to transmute their deepest anguishes and turmoils into fertile ground into which the seeds of our most expansive desires can be planted.

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    Igo


    Poetry Bio:
    Absurdist queer metaphor ladened with surreal imagery. Equal measure nonsense noise making and poignant internal dialogue; I am what lives under your floor boards, pieces of lint and remnants of a stifled giggle!
    Igo (any/all) crazy queer, black Jamaican with well seasoned (white people spicy) neurology. Willing into existence an articulated liminal space elucidating and exorcising the deleterious and elevating the delectable for this year's parting of the veil. Sweaters and soup be up on you!

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    John Rockford

    John is a wordsmith, a practitioner of ritual arts, and a passionate lover of language. In addition to writing for his own enjoyment and for the pleasure of his muse, John teaches workshops on poetry, tarot and esoteric spirituality, and runs Leveret Press, a boutique publishing imprint and occult bookshop. His first book, The Medicine Woman and the Bard, a psychedelic fable, was published in 2023.

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    Serralys

    Serralys and her magickal wish dragon Opal are here with a dash of faerie magick and whimsy. Do you have a wish that's dear to your heart? Come play and see what a sprinkle of magick can do!

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    Sinakamina Ska Win

    Olivia Thomas, Šinákamina Ská Wiŋ (White Shawl Shell Woman) is a member of the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation and is passionate about Indigenous rights and self-determination. She is a life giver, a care taker, a wife, sister, and daughter. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous/Xwulmuxw Studies and is pursuing a Master of Arts in Indigenous Governance. Olivia’s writing journey extends from her education in creative writing, to her career as a Senior Gladue Report Writer for the BC First Nations Justice Council, and freelance journalist for the Ha-shilth-sa Newspaper on Vancouver Island. In her free time, Olivia can be found with her family enjoying the Coast Salish world she is lucky enough to call home.

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    Whirly Bird

    Métis Two-Spirit dervisibailties Independent Hip Hop Artist farmer business owner.
    Based on Turtle Island, Whirly Bird is community made and a visionary artist who believes that hard times call for furious dancing. As a producer, performer, and DJ with a genre-blending sound, they use their platform to advocate for social justice, environmental conservation, Whirly brings all the hype with their live DJ rap and hip hop music and Is greatful to be here!

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    Nikky E

    Nicole ‘Nikky E’ Ermineskin is a nêhiyaw Mother, hip hop teacher, Interdisciplinary digital media artist, mentor, youth worker, recording / performing Artist, stage manager and event organizer.
    Nicole has a diploma in audio engineering and production, and over the last 20 years she has explored and experimented many facets of the music industry including hosting radio, organizing events, videography, frontline Indigenous resistance media/ journalism and following her childhood dream of becoming a professional recording and performing artist.
    Displaced from her traditional homelands, Nicole grew up in East Van where she fought hard to walk this path despite systematic challenges and oppression placed upon her. Nicole hopes to inspire Indigenous youth to follow their dreams no matter their life circumstances and share their stories with the world, while staying grounded and connected to Indigenous culture, language and ceremony.

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    Raven

    Raven Natraoro, Gagasheen Ikwe/Raven Woman: Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw, Mapuche, Snuneymuxw nation, Irish from county Cork, Appalachian Cherokee from west Virginia, Melungeon, Scottish, French, Lekwungen.

    Multi- media artist.. painter, sketcher, carver, actor, writer, lover of generative community care, and caring for our familys' ceremonial ways for the generations to come; those that are here, and those that were.


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    Tommy Paul

    Hello. My traditional name is Cestena. (Quest-n-a). I perform by Barndawg and come from a native hip hop group called "Paint The Town Red". We are coast salish and are deep into our culture. I have been. Into hiphop since 1992 and have had the privilege to perform with some of my idols. I love to heal others through my music, and humor.

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    Zuber

    Zuber loves coffee. He's a funny guy. He's a freelance soothsayer by day and in a band called HOT POT by night. Owing to a nomadic childhood through Asia and Turtle Island, he carries a mischievous Balinese moon spirit in his pocket. His songs have a lot of minor 7th chords and grooving, and they cover topics such as climate anxiety and pokemon. Sometimes he writes about himself in third person.

  • Saturday Night DJ's

    Downtempo DJs will be playing from 5pm to midnight on Saturday Night.

    Entry will be $5 at the door for Saturday evening entry.

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    Efrévescent

    The name bubbling to the tip of everybody’s lips - Efrévescent. Whether you’re looking for boots & cats in your garage, decadent downtempo or a global fusion of bass brilliance, this iconic & ethereal curator will weave, wiggle, and wrangle you into the dance of your dreams. Inspired by a wide array of musical influences from dancehall to disco, groove to global underground, and hip-hop to house, the Efrévescent experience aims to leave everyone feeling sourced & resourced. Expect intelligent lyrics, intentional rhythms, live saxophone, and a soul-clapping good time.

    Listen on Soundcloud
    Connect on Facebook
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    Ghobi

    Ghobi (for now) is a DJ local to Vancouver Island who has been steeped in musical expression since childhood. Growing up on a small gulf island surrounded by folk music, while also being a big nerd, he emerged from the woodwork as a DJ with a love for EDM infused with nostalgia and unexpected melodic elements. Downtempo and sunshine vibes are a common theme throughout his sets, but his music is less easily described by genre. He weaves a diverse palette of worldly, organic, and acoustic sounds through most of his mixes, and on occasion dips into indulgent referential samples and remixes.


    Top Pick: Snake Tamer Beats - Sunday @ Lampchanted Forest Stage, Otherworld 2022
    This set is a prime example of the organic world fusion edm that is Ghobi’s main sound. It sits around the ~120bpm range.

    Halftime/DnB: Trainspotting - Equinox Set @ Jordan River, 2024
    Something different, a fun and eclectic mix dipping into halftime and DnB to celebrate some favorite tracks that friends have shared with him over the years.

    See less

    Listen on MixCloud (Trainspotting - Equinox Set @ Jordan River, 2024)
    Listen on MixCloud (Snake Tamer Beats - Sunday @ Lampchanted Forest Stage, Otherworld 2022)
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    Khan

    Khan is a seasoned DJ with decades of experience behind the decks, known for his unique sonic identity that seamlessly blends Middle Eastern melodies with a diverse spectrum of House and Bass genres. From the pulsating depths of Deep Dubstep to the infectious grooves of Trance, Progressive, Funky, Deep, and Bass House, his sets are a testament to his wide-ranging musical expertise. What truly sets Khan apart is the intricate infusion of organic Middle Eastern elements, juxtaposed with the raw machine energy of electronic music. This energetic contrast spins a captivating sound narrative, moving from profound soulfulness to grooves that compel dancers to surrender entirely to the rhythm. Inspired by boundary-pushing artists like Sasha, John Digweed, and Widdler, Khan has graced prestigious events such as Shambhala, Electric Love, and Astral harvest. He's held residencies with collectives like Beheshto Productions and Area 709, showcasing his ability to ignite dance floors with diverse and captivating soundscapes.
    With a musical journey woven with cultural threads, Khan invites listeners to lose themselves in an immersive auditory experience where the organic and the electronic dance in harmony. His performances have earned him recognition and praise from fans and industry peers alike.

    Listen on SoundCloud
    Connect on Facebook
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    SLow

    DJ sLow, prounced s-Low. You can purchase his merchandise at any dollar store outlet. Endorsed by all playgrounds throughout!

    Either you know him or Facebook is probably suggesting to add him as a friend. Add at your own risk!
    There is not much to know other than he seems to be everywhere. And if you were to ask what type of music he plays? Well, DJs typically create sets... he sometimes will create a genre... The moral of the story is: there isn't any. If you want to hear something different, and possibly interesting you'll just have to be there!

    Listen On Soundcloud
  • Workshops

    All workshops will be drop in style, which means participants can drop by our workshop table at any point and starting working on our crafts. All supplies will be provided and our handy workshop instructors will be there to guide you along the creative process.

    Our fall workshops are low-pressure, beginner-friendly, and designed to spark creativity, connection, and warm autumn vibes. All materials are supplied — just bring yourself and your curiosity.

    SATURDAY NOVEMBER 15

    1:00 PM – Potions
    Mix, blend, infuse, and craft magical liquids inspired by fall herbs + cozy season enchantment.

    3:00 PM – String Art: Friendship Bracelets
    Learn simple, meaningful string art techniques to make friendship bracelets to wear or gift.

    SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16

    1:00 PM – Face Painting
    All ages welcome — all supplies provided.

    Come make something with your hands, and leave a little more cozy than when you arrived.

  • Art Installations

    We are pleased to offer a wide range of art installations this year! Thanks to the brilliant work of a diverse range of artists, we are able to offer a variety of art we can touch and play with, and several visual art pieces to awe and inspire us. We are honoured to showcase the art of LGBTQI+, persons of colour, immigrant, and youth artists. Check out more information about the works and the biographies of our contributing artists below.

    In addition to two days of live performances taking place at A Cozy Queer Affair presented by Alter Arts Society, we are honored to host a variety of art installations for your viewing pleasure!

    • Composite by Melanie Golder
    • Video Quilt by Lesley
    • Slipping off silver, as I look into her eyes by Juliana Sech
    • Queer Hands/Bathroom Tapestry/ Where's the Body/Torn Apart by Sar Nordstrom
    • Get your head out of the clouds by Pacal Hof
    • Terracotta by Sabrina Guzman Skotnitsky
    • The Burgess Shale by Nadia Myroon
    • Cozy Lamps by Iesha Adams
    • Lamps by the Lamplit Society
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    Composite by Melanie Golder

    Melanie Golder is a Victoria-based visual artist whose practice spans fibre, glass, metal, concrete, wood, and light-based media. Centered in sculpture, her work explores transformation, connection, and our relationship with the natural world. Playful and immersive, her pieces invite moments of enchantment and collective experience.

    "Composite" asks you to imagine a being under development that is simultaneously of the body and of the forest - a hybrid plant / animal embryo. It asks how do we as humans connect and align with plants? We both have cellular structures and circulatory systems but how do we understand our environments? How do humans experience roots? Plants sight or touch? What will this being look like upon maturity?

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    Video Quilt by Lesley Marshall

    Lesley Marshall is an award-winning filmmaker, intermedia artist, and is a MFA candidate / sessional teacher at the University of Victoria. Projection art, films and music by Lesley have toured and screened nationally and internationally appearing in over 120 festivals. They are the 2023 CMPA Diversity Mentorship Recipient for the CBC/PBS feature Animal Pride and a commissioned animator for CBC’s The Nature of Things. With work engaging with queer politics and crip theory, Lesley investigates experiential design through a responsive practice using performance art, projection and sound. 2021-2024, with collaborator Ashley Bowa, Lesley presented the award-winning Green Gazing, a projection immersion installation of plants and experimental movement at Ada X, Montreal, Workman Arts, Toronto, Vancouver Mural Festival, and at DARC, Ottawa. Lesley works developing anti-oppression based filmmaking practice for others to train in and has presented on these practices at the Royal Anthropological Institute Film Festival and Conference London UK 2023, University of Ottawa, CineVic, Carleton University and Surveillance and Society Conference in the Netherlands.

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    Slipping off silver, as I look into her eyes by Juliana Sech

    Juliana Sech is a queer interdisciplinary artist based in Victoria, BC, where a works concept informs the medium chosen. Where photography is used to document life & humans as is, performance intersects with video, installation informs sculpture where objects relationally communicate with intention, cultural association, and, emotion.
    Juliana is a Ukrainian & Polish artist, first-generation born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta (Canada), which is the traditional territory belonging to Treaty 6 First Nations. She has graduated from the University of Victoria in 2023 with a BFA Honours in Visual Art and minor in Psychology. Since, Juliana has exhibited, published, screened, and curated works across Canada. Including in 2024 & 2025, exhibiting for Pique in Arts Court (Ottawa), and curation of two solo exhibitions "Anthesis" and "to those found, in mirrored hearts" in Victoria, BC.

    Description of "slipping off silver, as I look into her eyes", 2025:
    Celebrating queer intimacy, depicting the experience and result, of its title. 𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘹, 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘫𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘺, 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘯, 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴
    .

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    Queer Hands/ Bathroom Tapestry / Where's the Body / Torn Apart by Sar Nordstrom

    Sar Nordstrom is an interdisciplinary artist working with textile and paint to highlight the interconnection between people, plants, community and ecosystem through a queer and trans- lens. "Queer Hands" is an ongoing interactive quilt created out of recycled textiles. It is aimed to bring community together through tactile forms of care: embroidery, quilting, patching, drawing, painting, comfort and social space. Nordstrom invites visitors to add on to the first of the quilt's squares with provided supplies at "A Cozy Queer Affair," a space of ultimate queer comfort and celebration.

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    Get your head out of the clouds by Pascal Hof

    Pascal is a 15-year old trans man who makes multimedia sculptural pieces. He enjoys varied textures and following his whims. Get your head out of the clouds is a hat—perfect for thinking whimsical thoughts.

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    Terracotta by Sabrina Guzman Skotnitsky

    Sabrina Guzman Skotnitsky is a queer climate justice advocate, artist, researcher and facilitator residing on the unceded territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. She is a self-taught artist, primarily in abstract painting and mixed media, the majority of which explores environmental and mental health themes. Creating Climate Resilience is a community initiative developed by Sabrina through her Master’s research at the University of Victoria, aimed at increasing people's emotional resilience to climate change through knowledge mobilization, community-building and arts-based climate emotions workshops. The pieces included in Cozy Queer Affair explore what is means to be 'of the Earth' and to embrace deep connections with the more than human world. Her paintings invite you to consider what does it look like/feel like to be mycorrhizal, embedded, permeable? What might this tell us about our responsibilities to be in reciprocal relationships with other species and the land itself?

    Sabrinas Art
    Sabrinas Socials
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    The Burgess Shale by Nadia Myroon

    Nadia Myroon uses oil pastels to depict all things wriggly, slimy, or weird. An avid worm collector, Nadia takes inspiration from the creatures, alive and extinct, that people may find too strange to entirely appreciate. This summer, Nadia bicycled across the province just to visit their odd Cambrian friends at the Burgess Shale. When they're not riding their bicycle, you can find them playing in the theatre world as technician, playwright, designer, or even performer, if they're feeling brave.

    The four creatures pictured in this show are Opabinia, Hallucigenia, Anomalocaris, and Nectocaris. They are known from the Burgess Shale deposits near Field, BC, and lived over 500 million years ago. For hundreds of millions of years they have been trapped in colourless rock, unable to move and swim as they once did. It is a bit of a miracle that we even know they existed it all, so it is the least I can do to try and bring them back to life even a little bit.

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    Cozy Lamps by Iesha Adams

    Iesha is a local island artist that works with multiple mediums including metal, glass and textiles. Fibre arts is one of her passions and for this event she is excited about the idea of creating hanging lamps to add to the ambiance of the event.

  • Images of "A Cozy Queer Affair" 2024

    by World Enlarged photography

    Thank you so much Bill Fosdick, for all your work in capturing these special moments.

  • A Cozy Queer Affair, the next iteration of the Out There Art Festival, is possible thanks to:

    Monkey C interactive
    Capital Regional District
    Out There Art Festival
    limbic media
    limbic media
  • How to find us on November 15 & 16th

    Come get cozy with us at the Other Guise Theatre Company located at 716 Johnson St, Victoria, BC

    (opens in Google Maps)

Alter Arts Society is a registered non-profit organization and community initiative by and for artists located on the traditional territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən people.

 

Those of us who are uninvited visitors to these territories, respectfully seek opportunities to unlearn oppressive, colonial practices that we have benefited from, and to follow the lead of the Indigenous stewards of these lands. We are committed to questioning existing power structures, supporting the decolonization of our society and institutions, and supporting Indigenous self-determination.

 

Brought to you by Alter Arts Society.

Contact our Board of Directors

© 2024

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