Out in Toronto: Feb 9–15, 2017

Choice events in the city this week


Thursday, Feb 9

Shame and Prejudice: A Story of Resilience

To mark Canada’s 150th anniversary, Cree visual artist Kent Monkman tells the story of Canada while in the guise of his drag alter-ego Miss Chief Eagle Testickle. Monkman’s first major solo exhibition at this location includes paintings, drawings, sculptural works and historical artifacts. The story goes back well before confederation and includes a humorous and searing critique of Canada’s colonial past and present.

Runs until Saturday, March 4. Art Museum at the University of Toronto, 15 King’s College Cir. artmuseum.utoronto.ca

“Seeing Red” is one of Kent Monkman’s works at his new exhibition, Shame and Prejudice: A Story of Resilience, which runs until March 4, 2017 at the Art Museum at the University of Toronto. Credit: Kent Monkman

Friday, Feb 10

Toby’s Place Comedy Fundraiser

Have a few laughs and raise money for a good cause. According to billing, Toby’s Place will be a sanctuary for LGBT youth in the south Scarborough area. The shows includes sketch comedy, improv and standup from such luminaries as Kathryn Greenwood, Teresa Pavlinek, Robin Duke, Jayne Eastwood and Katie Ford. The (arguably) immortal Maggie Cassella hosts. Direct your questions to revcsmaller@gmail.com.

8–10pm. The 519, 519 Church St. For more info, visit Facebook.

Rangeela Presents: Chandni

It’s long. It’s arduous. It involves planes and trains. Possibly boats, though we don’t really live in an age anymore when people travel by boat that much. But anyway, the point is people can get really intense about coming back to Toronto every few months to attend this massive queer South Asian dance party. Features DJ Deep spinning the hottest Bollywood beats. Everyone welcome.

10pm–3am. Club 120, 120 Church St. For more info, visit Facebook.

Saturday, Feb 11

Beef Curtains: Afterbirth

Drag performer Dottie Dangerfield is back with another of her vividly vagina-themed and inspired drag/burlesque shows. From the billing: “Beef Curtains is inspired by Dottie’s own vagina and her lovely walls of meat that protect her most precious possessions and her gaping opening.” Features performances by Scarlett Bobo, Fiona Flauntit, Aura Nova, Helena Poison, Sassy Ray, Jacklynne Hyde and more.

 

10pm–2am. The Steady, 1051 Bloor St W. For more info, visit Facebook.

Dottie Dangerfield hosts her show, Beef Curtains: Afterbirth, on Feb 11, 2017, at The Steady. Credit: Courtesy Dottie Dangerfield

Erotic Arts and Crafts Fair

You can forego the drugstore greeting card rack boringness this year with a gift purchased at this sexy fair. Knitters, zinesters, card makers, artists and craft-makers of all types display their one-of-a-kind works for this, as billing puts it, celebration of “DIY sex and romantic culture.” The organizer is the sex shop Come As You Are (which still exists — just online).

10am–4pm. The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St W. gladstonehotel.com

Wednesday, Feb 15

The 38th Rhubarb Festival

The local queer theatre’s annual festival of new works returns once again for a week or so of creativity, poignancy and nonsense. Billing calls Rhubarb “the place to see the most adventurous ideas in performance to catch your favourite artists venturing into uncharted territory.” Funded in part by the Government of Canada, this event includes a youth night, movie night and the Rhubarb Haunted House.

Runs until Sunday, Feb 26, various showtimes. Buddies in Bad Times, 12 Alexander St. buddiesinbadtimes.com

The Rhubarb Festival hosts a hotbed of talent, put on by Buddies and includes works by Anna Mayberry (left), Scotty Dont (centre), and Gitanjali Lena (right). Credit: Courtesy Tanja-Tiziana

For more event listings, visit dailyxtra.com/lgbt-events.

Jeremy Willard is a Toronto-based freelance writer and editor. He's written for Fab Magazine, Daily Xtra and the Torontoist. He generally writes about the arts, local news and queer history (in History Boys, the Daily Xtra column that he shares with Michael Lyons).

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Culture, Event listings, Arts, Toronto

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