Excerpts from : Subjects of the Visual Arts: Bicycles by Carla Williams / Taisau
“Bicycles, introduced in Europe around 1863, were the first democratic means of transportation. In practical terms, bicycles eliminated the reliance on the horse and buggy.
The “Golden Age” of bicycles came in the 1890s and they were particularly fashionable in cosmopolitan cities such as New York, London, and Paris.”
“During this Golden Age campaigns were waged to encourage women to ride and, as a result, the bicycle became both a symbol and a means of women’s liberation.
With the new transportation came a “rational dress” movement for women, who could not reasonably be expected to ride in full skirts, wearing the average of thirty-seven pounds of clothing that was common before the advent of the cycle. As a result of the cycling craze bloomers in the 1880s at last became a viable fashion option for women, although feminists had pushed for years for their acceptance.
Another direct result of cycling’s popularity was a rise in female athletes–cycle riding had proved that exercise was not detrimental to women as was commonly believed. However, women cyclists were criticized for abandoning their femininity and becoming “mannish” or “manly women.”
In the United States, an image of singer Katie Lawrence appeared in men’s clothing on the sheet music for the 1892 popular song Daisy Bell, a love song to a cycling woman about a bicycle built for two. ”
“In France, Art Nouveau advertisements for bicycles often included nude or otherwise liberated women; one ad from around 1899 for Liberator Cycles depicted a bare-breasted helmeted Amazonian warrior alongside her wheels, while another from around 1895 for Cottereau Cycles showed a woman astride her cycle while breast-feeding.
In Staten Island, New York, lesbian photographer Alice Austen often pictured her bloomer-wearing women friends astride their bikes. In what would be some of her only commercial work, Austen made the illustrations for Violet Ward’s book Bicycling for Ladies (1896).”
Hey everyone,
I just wanted to let you all know that we are still looking some volunteers for this year’s Pride! We have lots of opportunities available, for both individuals and groups. Our new system allows people to create a volunteer account, and immediately select their own events/times/tasks/shifts. It’s super easy, and there is no waiting. People will know the level of their commitment immediately.
We also have TONS of group opportunities if you are interested in getting involved as a group.We are currently looking for volunteers for the following events:
Davie Street Dance Party, July 31st
Terry Wallace Memorial Breakfast, August 1st
The Pride Parade, August 2nd
Sunset Beach Festival, August 2nd
Individuals can sign up on our website at www.vancouverpride.ca, and interested groups can check in with me (Monika, mwhitney@vancouverpride.ca)
All volunteers get T-Shirts, Snacks, Drinks, and an invitation to our awesome Volunteer Party (August 8th, 2009). Our volunteers also get front-row seats to the parade, to be behind the scenes at one of the biggest events in the city, and are eligible to win lots of prizes.
Thanks so much!
Cheers,
–
Monika Whitney
Director, Volunteers
Vancouver Pride Society
office: 604-687-0955 fax: 604-687-0965
email: mwhitney@vancouverpride.ca
www.vancouverpride.ca
| July 1, 2009 | to | July 31, 2009 |
Editors Note:
Rhizome Cafe is a lesbian-owned business in Vancouver with a lot of great events of interest to lesbians. I’m posting their monthly events newsletter in it’s entirety below. Enjoy!
July 2009 at Rhizome
Café * Arts Venue * Community Space
317 East Broadway
Dear friends of Rhizome-
We hope you’ll join us for the various events listed below. Also, remember that we’re open for delicious lunch, dinner, weekend brunch, snacks and drinks. Our complete hours are listed at the end of this message.
Also, let us know if you’d like to use our Community Meeting Room for your group’s activities. You can check our website for more information on what we do and how we do it: www.rhizomecafe.ca.
Please note that Rhizome will be closed for a summer break from Monday, July 13 through Wednesday, July 22. We’ll reopen at 11:00am on Thursday, July 23.
Here’s what’s coming up:
Art on our Walls
The Muse’s Studio: Drawings by Kyla Bourgh
Events
YouthMADE: Voices and Visions Premiere!
Thursday, July 2, 7:00pm
In April, 19 youth from Vancouver and Port Alberni came together to make a series of videos about racism and discrimination. These incredibly moving films will be used in schools throughout BC to support inclusive, critically aware and socially just communities. Come and experience the power of digital storytelling. Film makers will be present. Presented by the Access to Media Education Society.
Free
When Lions Roar: An Evening of Expression
Friday, July 3, 6:30pm
The Sikh Activist Network hosts an evening of poetry, spoken word and other artistic pieces to mark the 25th anniversary of Sikh genocide in India. Use the power of words, unity and community on this night to express your feelings, emotions and solidarity against oppression.
By donation
What the F do YOU Know? Quiz Night Fundraiser for “The F Word”
Saturday, July 4, 7:00pm
The F Word, Vancouver’s only feminist radio show (heard Saturday mornings on Vancouver Co-op Radio, 102.7FM) hosts an evening of hilarious, feminist pub quizzery. This is your chance to have fun and test your knowledge with your friends, while you support a real rarity: women-centered media! All are welcome!
$5 per person, register in teams
In Our Meeting Room: Participatory Economics Social
Wednesday, July 8, 6:30-8:30pm
Ever heard of participatory economics? Interested in finding out how people are working to implement it? If so, then this social is for you. Economics isn’t just for old white men smoking cigars! Hosted by the Vancouver Parecon Collective.
Donations appreciated but not expected.
Women in the Round: Joanna Chapman-Smith, Kate Reid and Sarah MacDougall
Thursday, July 9, show starts at 8:30, but come early to get a seat!
Joanna, Kate and Sarah present a rollicking, estrogen-injected evening of powerhouse women in folk music from the Canadian West. All three women have just released sophomore albums this year and will be playing songs from their new albums. Please join them for an unforgettable night of acoustic tunes, laughter and story-telling!
$10-$15 sliding scale
Board Games are So Gay!
Friday, July 10, 7:00pm
We’re back with another round of queer-friendly board games! Bring your favourite games or use ours. Our in-house DJs will keep the tunes coming!
By donation, no one turned away.
Rhizome Summer Holiday
We’ll be closed from July 13 through July 22 for our summer break. Rhizome will re-open on Thursday July 23 at 11:00am!
Book Launch: Back in the Days
Thursday, July 23, 6:00pm
North End Girl Productions and Wattle & Daub Books are thrilled to host the launch of Addena Sumter-Freitag’s “Back In The Days,” a collection of poetry and creative nonfiction on war, peace and getting by for one Black family in Winnipeg. Come join us and celebrate with drinks, laughter, and a selection of exciting stories and poems that will warm your heart, rock your soul, and let you live a while, “Back in the Days.”
Free
Disrupt dis reality! Featuring abstract random
Friday, July 24, doors at 7:00, show at 8:00pm
This evening will highlight music by arts activists across different communities, media, and genres. Featuring random abstract (from Toronto)–part poetry, part music, part play, part call to arms to humanity. random abstract will be joined by the local Cultural Medicine Cabinet, hip hop artists, and more.
$5-10 sliding scale
Brand New Sneakers
Saturday, July 25, 8:00pm
The sun is out and a great time to sport Brand New Sneakers in your bermudas and bangles! Hosted by musician Eirene Cloma, Brand New Sneakers is a diverse, free-spirited, and youthful twist to Vancouver’s women’s music scene. This fourth edition features Diane Reyes, Larissa Feng, Skream-me, and more!
$7-$10 sliding scale
Bi the Way It’s Our Cabaret 2, Featuring The Heartfelt Apologies
Friday, July 31, 7:30pm
The Bisexual Social/Support Group in partnership with The Centre present Bi the Way It’s Our Cabaret 2, an evening of performance in a laid back atmosphere. Featuring live music by The Heartfelt Apologies and others, delicious food, and the opportunity to meet other bi and supportive folks who have been waiting for a social event like this for so long!
By donation, no one turned away for lack of funds.
Country of the People’s without Owners
Saturday, August 1, 7:30pm
La Chiva: Colombia Solidarity Group hosts a screening of “Country of the Peoples without Owners,” a documentary film produced by the Colombian Nasa Indigenous Community. What happens when the poorest and most marginal people confront, without weapons, the most powerful regime of Latin America, sustained and backed by the economic, political, military, and media powers of the United States and their transnational corporate allies? The response is apparent in the wisdom of the five point agenda that provided the fuel for the Popular Minga. A short forum will follow the screening of the documentary. Afterwards, enjoy the rich diversity of Colombian beats with DJ La Salsomana.”
Sliding scale, $5 and up, to benefit the Nasa Indigenous Community Radio Station
Thanks! See you soon!
Rhizome
Café * Arts Venue * Community Space
Where we are:
317 East Broadway
Vancouver, BC, Coast Salish Territory
For more information:
604-872-3166
www.rhizomecafe.ca
rhizome@rhizomecafe.ca
Our regular hours:
Tuesdays: 4 to 10pm
Wednesdays: 11am to 10pm
Thursdays: 11am to 10pm
Fridays: 11am to midnight
Saturdays: 10am to midnight (brunch from 10 to 3)
Sundays: 10am to 3pm (brunch from 10 to 3); and occasionally for events from 4:30 to 7pm-ish
We’re closed on Mondays.
A note on our name:
In the botanical sense, a rhizome is a root system that some plants (like lilies and orchids and ginger and bamboo) use to spread themselves about. While the roots of most plants point generally downward, the rhizome is a horizontal root system that runs parallel to the surface of the ground. The plant sends shoots up from nodes in the rhizome, creating what look like many separate plants. These seemingly unrelated individuals are actually all connected, through a system that’s not immediately visible to the eye.
