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ONLINE EXHIBIT: Sticky Impulse Archive Nights
Lavender Conception Conspiracy
Curated by Emily Guerrero
April 28 - May 12
PROGRAM
Lavender Conception Conspiracy is a two-part exhibit about dyke parenting in East Van in the 1980s and 90s. It takes its name from a lesbian mothers support group-slash-DIY insemination and pregnancy skill share from the mid 1980s, during a time that queer parents had little legal protection nor medical support.
VIDEO EXHIBIT
Motherfuckers
Laurel Swenson, 1995
“This is a video about lesbians who fuck lesbian mothers. This is a video about lesbian mothers who feel fucked over.” Short and sharp to get things started.
Lesbian Mothers
Amelia Productions 1981
“Through interviews with young people and their lesbian mothers, this tape explores the social stigmas of being a woman, a single mother and a social extreme – being a lesbian mother in today’s society.” Shot in the tradition of feminist conscious raising and anti-violence work, this video contains explicit discussion of violence against children.
Your Mother Wears Combat Boots
Laurel Swenson 1996
“A defiant montage of testimony, home video and rants, this video confronts the ‘just like straights’ model of middle class lesbian motherhood.” Some things have changed in the 15 years since Lesbian Mothers, and some things have decidedly not. MIXTAPE
Additional print, audio, and video archival resources compiled by Guerrero during her tenure as VIVO’s Archivist.
1-800 Yer Mama
Terra Poirier, 1998
“She cooks! She cleans! She nurtures! It’s Lesbo-Mom! Get yours today! The versatile new accessory for today’s discerning dyke… An embittered little rant on the fetishizing of dyke moms and their kids.” Rounding things out with some pointed advice to those of you interested in your friendly neighbourhood queer mom.
MIXTAPE
Additional video, audio and publication resources available at the Crista Dahl Media Library & Archive and local archives.
VIVO is located in the homelands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples in a warehouse space at 2625 Kaslo Street south of East Broadway at the end of E 10th. Transit line 9 stops at Kaslo Street on Broadway. From the bus stop, the path is paved, curbless, and on a slight decline. The closest skytrain station is Renfrew Station, which is three blocks south-east of VIVO and has an elevator. From there, the path is paved, curbless, and on a slight incline. There is parking available at VIVO, including wheelchair access parking. There is a bike rack at the entrance. The front entrance leads indoors to a set of 7 stairs to the lobby.
A wheelchair ramp is located at the west side of the main entrance. The ramp has two runs: the first run is 20 feet long, and the second run is 26 feet. The ramp is 60 inches wide. The slope is 1:12. The ramp itself is concrete and has handrails on both sides. There is an outward swinging door (34 inch width) at the top of the ramp leading to a vestibule. A second outward swinging door (33 inch width) opens into the exhibition space. Buzzers and intercoms are located at both doors to notify staff during regular office hours or events to unlock the doors. Once unlocked, visitors can use automatic operators to open the doors.
There are two all-gender washrooms. One has a stall and is not wheelchair accessible. The other is a single room with a urinal and is wheelchair accessible: the door is 33 inches wide and inward swinging, without automation. The toilet has 11 inch clearance on the left side and a handrail.
To reach the bathrooms from the studio, exit through the double doors and proceed straight through the lobby and down the hall . Turn left, and the two bathrooms will be on your right side. The closest one has a stall and is not wheelchair accessible. The far bathroom is accessible.
Emily is an archivist, librarian, parent, and Leo. Their ongoing research is an investigation into gossip as both an information practice and a method of care; their archival practice is rooted in commitments to community-responsive metadata and queer lineages. Since graduating with an MLIS from the University of British Columbia, she has worked at Xwi7xwa Library at UBC, Simon Fraser University Library, and multiple public libraries.
