Sawtooth ARI is an Artist-Run Initiative, based in Launceston, Tasmania, committed to servicing our local and national communities. They aim to support voices telling the stories that need to be heard now, practices that break from oppressive traditions, and those that take risk in thinking and idea sharing.
They were a successful recipient of this Small Grant round to fund “A Big Ol Queer Show” (working title), tying together the practices of Kamberri (ACT) and Lutruwita (TAS) Queer artists and forming a collective of regionally based artists to celebrate Queerness.
Curated collaboratively by Beau (Belle) Palmer and Zara Sully, the selected artists explore themes of queer bodies, sexuality, nature, and the politics of representation in fine art spaces. Both Launceston and Canberra have thriving regional queer communities that are not at the forefront of representation when it comes to Pride within Australia. This show will intersect the experience of a total of 16 queer artists, in a town where Queerness was illegal until 1997. A celebration that brings a sense of belonging to our community.
