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Movers & Shakers: Viewed through a queer lens
McColl Center Artist-in-Residence Abdi Osman documents Charlotte LGBT culture
by Matt Comer :: matt@goqnotes.com
Photographer Abdi Osman says he's al
ways been interested in visiting the South.
The history and culture is what's drawn
him here and what led him to apply for an
artist-in-residence position at the McColl
Center for Visual Arts, where his documen
tary photo exhibit is on display now through
March 18.
Osman, a Somali-born Canadian who
makes his home in Toronto, has focused his
work on the intersections of Muslim and
queer identities, as well as LGBT men of color.
In his three months in the Queen City, Osman
will work with the Lesbian & Gay Community
Center and McColl Center on his "Queer
Reclamation Community Outreach Project."
He's providing disposable cameras to
LGBT community members and asking them
to take pictures of people, places and artifacts
iconic of and symbolizing the city's LGBT cul
ture and community. In March, he'll combine
the various community-submitted photos into
at least one commemorative poster docu
menting queer life in the Queen City.
Osman's local project is an extension of
his life's passion.
"All my documentary photography is
mostly queer-themed work," he tells qnotes.
"When they asked me to do a community
project I came up with the idea of work
ing with the Lesbian & Gay Center. It made
sense."
Although he's only been in Charlotte for
a few weeks, Osman says he likes what
he's seen but didn't have any
expectations before
visiting.
"I wasn't expect
ing anything because
I wasn't familiar with
what kind of reaction
I'd get from people," he
says. "People seem to
be very nice."
And, even for a visitor,
it doesn't take long to ad
just to life here: "I also find
the city is not a big city but it
is very spread out," he notes.
Osman's final product
will be unveiled at the McColl
Center on March 19. In order
to make that final product a
success, he's asking folks to pick
up and return the disposable cameras before
the end of February. Cameras can be obtained
Photographer Ahdi Osman (photo at left) and a photo from his 'Discover Us...' series.
Photo Credit Abdi Osman
at the Lesbian & Gay Community Center or the
McColl Center. Individuals with photos of their
own can burn them to a CD and drop them off
at either location as well.::
info: mccollcenter.org. gaycharlotte.com
Movers & Shakers:
Raleigh Center is growing, reaching out
Shared office space and regional programs introduce new center to community
by Matt Comer :: matt@goqnotes.com
The dream of an LGBT community center
in Raleigh and for the Triangle is fast becom
ing more reality than dream.
Last fall, organizers with
the LGBT Center of Raleigh
kicked off their initial fund
raising stages and made
their public debut at their
first Coming Out Day event.'
Board member Glenn
Medderstold qnotes'm
October he viewed the
Center as a community
catalyst. Its board and
supporters are working
now to reach out to other
organizations and increase
awareness across the area.
In December, the
board announced a new
partnership with Triangle
Community Works (TCW).
The two groups will share
office space and work together on creating
and maintaining programs benefiting the
Triangle LGBT community.
Center board member Anthony Garcia-
14 qnotes Feb. 20-Mar. 5.2010
center
Copian is pleased and excited about the new
working relationship with TCW.
"They are
such wonderful
: ■ people and they
already have
such wonder-
i ful programs,"
‘ he said. "We
are able to help
them and they
are able to help
us and together
we can work for
the community."
The Center
and TCW
are working
together but
will remain
independent in
OF RALEIGH the foreseeable
. future. At some
point, the two groups might discuss further
the possibility of a merger.
"We have talked about that because
we're both striving to do the same thing
— create programs to do outreach for the
community," (3arcia-Copian said.
In March, the Center will host one of
its first major outreach programs. They've
established "0 Nights" which will take place
monthly at LGBT and LGBT-friendly establish
ments across the Triangle region. The group
will use it as a chance to familiarize itself with
community members and needs and allow the
community to get to know them.
"It is importnatto bring people to
gether and sort of connect people with other
people," Garcia-Copian said.
Bobby Hilburn, another Center board
member, said the new Q Night events will cre
ate opportunities to reach out beyond Raleigh.
"We want to use them to really reach out
to the outlying areas, too," he said. '
Garcia-Copian agreed: "We want to goto
Chapel Hill and Durham and other places. The
idea is to keep things going every month, get
feedback and help people. 1 feel the commu
nity is just too spread out."
The Center is continuing to encourage
folks to join its Founder's Triangle fundrais
ing campaign. They are seeking 1,000 people
who will make a one-time donation of $100 or
more. Those initial donors will be honored in
a permanent artistic display inside the new
Center's home.
"The Founders' Triangle really creates a
grassroots effect," Hilburn said. 'It feels like
everyone has a stake in the Center."
As of now, 100 community members have
met the Founders'Triangle $100-plus contribu
tion goal. Garcia-Copian and Hillburn encour
age others to join the cause. Donations can
be made online at lgbtcenterofraleigh.com.::
Q Night at Stael Blue
The LGBT Center of Raleigh will host
its first Q Night at Club Steel Blue in
Durham on March 5 at 7 p.m. The event
included live entertainment a luxury
raffle and speed dating.
Want to go?
Club Steel Blue
1426 S. Miami Blvd.
Durham, NC 27703
919-596-5876
clubsteelblue.com
lgbtcenterofraleigh.com