The Nights and Days of Tribades Program 2009

Fri 11.9 ¦ Sat 12.9 ¦ Sun 13.9 ¦ Mon 14.9 ¦ Tue 15.9 ¦ Wed 16.9 ¦ Thu 17.9 ¦ Fri 18.9 ¦ Sat 19.9 ¦ Sun 20.9

Friday 11.9

9:00 am – 6:30 pm

THE SILENCES OF THE ARCHIVES, OR HOW TO APPROACH ARCHIVES FROM A QUEER PERSPECTIVE

The Society of Swedish Literature in Finland, Ritarikatu 5

Free entrance | To attend this session, rsvp by Aug 31 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it | in Finnish and Swedish

Things that are not understandable from a heteronormative perspective have for long eluded researchers and other users of archival materials. Queer alternatives in personal histories and in texts and images that document the past tend to escape the attention of untrained observers, or their significance is overlooked or denied. Yet the archives ooze queer meanings to those who can construe the signs differently.

The seminar will explore the queer potential of literary and cultural archives, and consider options for non-heteronormative ways of approaching different materials. A host of researchers and representatives of literary archives from Finland and Sweden will be presenting at the seminar. The languages used are Finnish and Swedish.

An evening reception is held at SKS on 5-7 pm (Hallituskatu 1). An exhibit related to the seminar themes, assembled from the collections of SKS (Finnish Literature Society) and SLS (The Society of Swedish Literature in Finland), is displayed at SKS, Ritarikatu 5. The exhibit is open to public also on Tuesday Sept. 15, 2 pm - 4 pm.

Organizers: Elsi Hyttinen, Katri Kivilaakso, Rita Paqvalén, Rivinväli, SKS Literary Archives, SLS and The Department of Finnish language and literature at the University of Helsinki.

Seminar schedule in pdf-file

Saturday 12.9.

10 am – 1:00 pm

QUEER ARCHIVES IN THE NORDIC CONTEXT

University of Helsinki Main building, Unioninkatu 34, Auditorium III, 2nd floor

Free entrance | in English

Informal discussion and exchange of ideas for those working with archive materials. Discussion language is English. In cooperation with Christina Institute for Gender Studies, The Department of Finnish language and literature at the University of Helsinki ja Society of Queer Studies in Finland.

7:00 pm

KINGS AND MINXES CABAREE

Music Theater Kapsäkki, Hämeentie 68

Tickets 12 €/ 9 € for members of Rivinväli and Mummolaakso| bookings kabaree(at)tribadit.fi | performances mostly in Finnish

An evening filled with queer entertainment and glamour, showcasing the icons of lesbian visibility in Finnish cultural life Tiina Lindfors and Eeva Soini from the renowned dance theater ERI, the awesome Burlesque Polaire troupe, the stylish drag king duo Herraspojat, and a host of other kings. The evening is emceed by Armas Panos (winner of the drag king competition at Tribades in 2000) & friends. Theater restaurant Allotria is open before the show.

photo: Minna-Maria Lappalainen

photos:Burlesque Polaire (left), Ville Nissinen (right)

Sunday 13.9

3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

LITERARY AMBIVALENCE

Luckan, Verandan, Simonkatu 8

Free entrance | in Swedish

How can sexual and gender ambivalence be portrayed in literature, or what is queer literature like? In what ways may language and literary configurations contest gendered norms, and what are the tabooed desires in today’s literature? Discussing these issues are Swedish-language authors Monica Fagerholm and Katarina Gäddnäs, together with the host, literary critic and scholar Rita Paqvalén. Monica Fagerholm is well-known for her novels The American Girl (2004) and Diiva (1998), and her latest book Glitterscenen will be published in the fall of 2009. Katarina Gäddnäs has written six works of poetry, among them Venuspassagen (2005).

In cooperation with Luckan.

photo: Charlotta Bought

Monday 14.9.

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

BEYOND THE RAINBOW ART EXHIBITION, opening reception

Gallery G18, Yrjönkatu 18, 3rd floor

Free entrance | Gallery hours Mon-Fri 9:00 am – 6:00 pm, Sat-Sun 12:00 am - 4:00 pm until 27 Sept

What's it like to live as a non-heterosexual in 2009? What are the topical questions now, after 40 years of the birth of the Gay Liberation Front? Has the increased visibility of lesbians and gays also increased their tolerance in society? Does it even matter, to which sexual category one belongs? What’s going on for those of us, who do not want to register their partnership or make babies? Which forms of sexuality are forbidden or taboo? What is sexual anarchism today? These and other questions are analyzed in "Beyond the Rainbow", the 10th anniversary art exhibition of the lbt culture week The Nights and Days of Tribades.

Participating artists are Viva Granlund, Corinna Helenelund, Anna-Liisa Kankaanmäki, Katariina Katla, Anne Koskinen, Laura Lilja, Heidi Lunabba and Kaija Papu. The exhibition is curated by Ph.D. Annamari Vänskä.

6:30 pm – 9:00 pm

BI-CAFE ON ARTS

Maikki Friberg Home, Bulevardi 11 A 1

Free entrance | in Finnish

A discussion focusing on the role of art for one’s sexual identity. Which cultural products have been informative or transformative in the way of opening new sexual and gendered horizons for you? Can erotics be labelled as a subject of art? The evening is hosted by Ulla Sinerlahti. In cooperation with the Feminist Association Unioni.

Tuesday15.9.

5:30 pm -8:00 pm

AN EVENING OF YOUR OWN TEXTS

Maikki Friberg Home, Bulevardi 11 A 1

Free entrance | in Finnish

The evening is dedicated to creative writing and other kinds of text production in any genre. Authors read out samples of their texts, and the audience can contribute with comments and feedback. Discussion over a friendly cup of coffee. Coordinated by Laura Pihlaja. In cooperation with the Feminist Association Unioni.

photo: Liisa Karvonen

Wednesday 16.9.

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

BEYOND THE RAINBOW: ARTIST PANEL DISCUSSION

Novia University of Applied Sciences, Yrjönkatu 18, room 204, 2nd floor

Free entrance| in Finnish

Curator Annamari Vänskä and artists of the Beyond the Rainbow exhibition introduce the exhibition’s queer themes.

use gate on Yrjönkatu 16 & turn right, there's a ramp on your left side

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

CRASH COURSE IN FACIAL HAIR APPLICATION AND MAKE-UP TECHNIQUES FOR KINGING

Novia University of Applied Sciences, Yrjönkatu 18, room 206/207, 2nd floor

10 € + materials fee 10 € | instruction in Finnish but very practical & visual, can be followed with little help from other participants

At this practical workshop you learn the best tricks to give your face a masculine look. Workshop instructor is Kristiina Puukko, an experienced drag king and Drama Instructor. To sign up for the workshop or to get more info please mail workshop(at)tribadit.fi. Deadline is Sept 12.

use gate on Yrjönkatu 16 & turn right, there's a ramp on your left side

7:00 pm

YHDEN TÄHDEN REVYY (ONE-WOMAN REVUE)

Music Theater Kapsäkki, Hämeentie 68

Tickets 12-24 € | Lippupiste www.lippu.fi or tel. 0600 900 900 (1,75 €/min + local network charge) | Performances also on Sept. 10, 17, 23 and 26 at 7:00 pm and on Sept 30 at 1:00 pm

Drag, divas and a bunch of evergreens! The show takes you through the 20th century history to the tunes of popular music. Covered topics include the phantom of the opera, the fall from grace of Russian aristocracy, cabaret in the 1920s, the stock market crash of 1929, the world wars, Suomi-Filmi movies, women's emancipation, hippies, karaoke, silicon implants and gene manipulation. The revue's star is Kaisu Kurki, who appears in thirty different roles in this hilarious parody: " A man in woman's clothes is almost invariably funny, whereas a woman in men's clothes is not a laughing matter. I'll disprove that point."

Script, dramaturgy and stage direction: Kaisu Kurki. Consultant-director, choreography: Markku Arokanto.

Thuesday 17.9

6:00 pm

PINK READING GLASSES

Rikhardinkatu Library, Rikhardinkatu 3, 3rd floor,

Free entrance | in Finnish

In recent years, a heap of books with lesbian and transgender themes ranging across a variety of genres have been published in Finland. Four book-lovers - Katriina Koskinen, Auli Köngäs, Repo Männistö and Ulla Sinerlahti – read four books and sum up their impressions to the audience. On their reading list are Tiia Aarnipuu’s nonfiction work Trans: Sukupuolisuuden muunnelmia, editor Robert Aldrich’s Rakkaus samaan sukupuoleen: Homoseksuaalisuuden historia (Gay Life & Culture), Alison Bechdel’s graphic memoir Hautuukoti (Fun Home) and Kiba Lumberg’s novel Samettiyö. Discussion is facilitated by Virva Hepolampi.

use gate on Korkeavuorenkatu 43, phone entry

Friday 18.9.

2:00 pm

The Fish Child (El niño pez)

Lucía Puenzo/ Argentina, Spain, France, 2009/ 96 min

Kinopalatsi 8, Kaisaniemenkatu 2

Tickets and more Love&Anarchy films: www.hiff.fi

XXY (2007), the first film of the Argentinian director Lucía Puenzo, charmed with its plainspoken and touching story about an intersexed teenager Alex. Inés Efron, who gave a gripping performance in the lead role of XXY, makes a reappeareance in Puenzo's new film The Fish Child as Lala, a daughter of a wealthy family who falls in love with the domestic servant Guay.

The Fish Child comes close to on an updated version of Thelma & Louise. From a description of a complicated relationship between two young women, this sombre tale progresses into a story of crime when passion and desire drive the women into desperate action. Presented by: Love&Anarchy Helsinki International Film Festival.

3:00 pm – 6:00 pm

HEIDI LUNABBA: STUDIO VILGEFORTIS – Providing a beard for every woman, lady, girl and boy

Kamppi, Mauno Koivisto Square (btw Lasipalatsi and the old Bus Station)

Free admission

At Studio Vilgefortis anyone can get a beard of ones choice. The beard is for free. All customers have their photograph taken after the beard is finished. Studio Vilgefortis got it's name from St Wilgefortis, a female saint whose cult arose in the 14th century.

Wilgefortis had been promised in marriage by her father to a pagan king. To thwart the unwanted wedding, she had taken a vow of virginity, and prayed that she would be made repulsive and in answer to her prayers she sprouted a beard, which ended the engagement. In rage, Wilgefortis's father had her crucified.
Wilgefortis was venerated by people seeking relief from tribulations, in particular by women who wished to be liberated from abusive husbands.

6 pm - 10 pm

at the rainbow cafe: oi tyttöni (tahdon rakastella sinua)!

Neighborhood clum room Myötämäki, Siltasaarenkatu 28

Free entrance

An atmospheric evening with a musical performance. Actress Eeva Putro sings about love and the life of passions, accompanied by decorator/painter Pirjo Yksoksa on guitar. Inexpensive refreshements from the rainbow cafe. Performance starts at 7 pm and lasts for about half an hour. In cooperation with Rainbow Cafe.

Saturday 19.9.

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

WOMEN IN NEW QUEER CINEMA

DTM, Iso Roobertinkatu 28

Free entrance | in Finnish

In her talk, Marjo Pipinen will approach the New Queer Cinema phenomenon from a women’s perspective, asking what’s been going on with queer in the course of this decade. Marjo Pipinen is a programmer of Vinokino film festival.

2:30 – 6:30 pm

BAZAAR PINK 80 CENTS

DTM, Iso Roobertinkatu 28

Free entrance

A marketplace that brings together lbt-friendly, rainbow-coloured, and queer goods, services, entrepreneurs, artists, collectors, buyers and sellers. Come and enjoy the bazaar atmosphere, despite the statistical fact that a woman’s euro is only 80 cents, and the traditional folk wisdom that lesbianism is cool otherwise but not business wise. The event is moderated by Kristiina Puukko. A table for swapping books from Invisible Library is also available.

Read more about the bazaar, and book your own market niche or display table by Sept 3 at basaari(at)tribadit.fi

photo: Virva Hepolampi

10:00 pm- 04:00 am

NIGHT OF THE TRIBADES

DTM, Iso Roobertinkatu 28

8 €/ 2,5 € with membership cards of Rivinväli or Seta member organizations, and those over 35 yrs (incl. coat check). Age limit 18.

Kick out the blues and join the party! Don't miss tonight's special guest band WonderSka straight from Berlin, and on their first Finnish gig. Rock, rap, reggae, and ska - dancable, antidepressive music that takes care of tension, constipation, and sexual dysfunction. Coupled with Funk Sisters, our Finnish musicians with verve.

Sunday 20.9.

3:00 – 6:00 pm

SAPPHIC LITERARY SALON

Villa Kivi, Linnunlauluntie 7

Free entrance | presentations in Finnish

This year the salon features two authors whose recent works break new ground in Finnish lesbian fiction: Kaarina Valoaalto (Avantgarderob ja muuta irtaimistoa, 2008) and Gerry Ilvesheimo (Lykantropia, 2009). Journalist Elsi Hyttinen and Virva Hepolampi host the salon and interview the authors. Live music, book signing, refreshments. In cooperation with Lukukeskus and Kivi-talo foundation.

9:00 pm

The Fish Child (El niño pez)

Lucía Puenzo/ Argentina, Spain, France, 2009/ 96 min

Kinopalatsi 8, Kaisaniemenkatu 2

Tickets and more Love&Anarchy films: www.hiff.fi

XXY (2007), the first film of the Argentinian director Lucía Puenzo, charmed with its plainspoken and touching story about an intersexed teenager Alex. Inés Efron, who gave a gripping performance in the lead role of XXY, makes a reappeareance in Puenzo's new film The Fish Child as Lala, a daughter of a wealthy family who falls in love with the domestic servant Guay.

The Fish Child comes close to on an updated version of Thelma & Louise. From a description of a complicated relationship between two young women, this sombre tale progresses into a story of crime when passion and desire drive the women into desperate action. Presented by: Love&Anarchy Helsinki International Film Festival.

photo: Sari Havukainen