An afternoon of eco-queer creativity, ritual, and resistance as transgender artist Graham Bell Tornado launches their latest book
Territory, Animal Union & other Eco-Queer Utopias
by Graham Bell Tornado
Graham launches their latest book, documenting a two-week residency in Dumfries & Galloway with EcoArt
This beautifully subversive work explores:
Animal Union – the world’s first trade union for animals
Eco-Queer Utopias – blending queer theory and
environmental activism
Trans Territory – a call to re-imagine our relationship
with nature, bodies, and binaries
Graham is a Scottish artist, who lived locally for two years at the Orchardton Artist´s community by Auchencairn, returned to the area to carry out a series of performances, talks and actions based on their ecoqueer arts practise. According to queer theory, binary distinctions between masculine/feminine, hetero/homosexual, male/female are fluid and the field of queer ecology extends this to the human/animal binary. The book documents various performances and interventions including their Animal Union project where festival goers at the Nithraid festival were invited to join the world´s first trade union for animals.
At this event Graham will talk about his work and
++ Live Ritual Performance by Geyserbird ++
Graham’s alter ego will lead a participatory ritual to
heal the united (queer) nations of our planet.
EcoArt Residency
In August 2024 I spent an intense 2 week period making art in Galloway on a residency with EcoArt. The central focus of my work was the preparation of a banner and performance based on the idea of a trade union for animals - the Animal Union - at the Nithraid River Race festival, but I also carried out workshops, performed at an event in cand gave a talk about my practice at the amazing Dark Space planetarium in Kirkcudbright.
I also continued work on 2 long term projects – the P.I.N.Q Park project of Post Industrial Natural Queer parks, and Trans Territory, a series of micro interventions in the landscape- adapting them to the local context. These works explore a queer form of ecology, reclaiming our ties with nature, since for centuries LGTB bodies were seen as unnatural, perverse and shameful a situation which historically caused an exodus from rural communities to the relative anonymity of the city.
The P.I.N.Q. Park Project imagines a network of spaces where queers –in common with other displaced peoples and animals– can find a safe haven in abandoned spaces, neglected spots that nature is recolonising. Secondly, in Trans Territory, I envisage a world without frontiers in which trans bodies can roam the terrain unafraid and in liberty.
All of this work was documented in the book Trans Territory Animal Union and other Eco-Queer Utopias which will be presented as part of the Kircudbright Arts and Crafts Trail.
Friday 1 Aug 3.30-5pm
FREE ENTRY | Books available to purchase | Refreshments. Donations appreciated
PLEASE CANCEL YOU PLACE IF YOURE UNABLE TO MAKE IT. THANK YOU
Also check out other Arts events in Gatehouse of Fleet, Festivals in Gatehouse of Fleet, Sports events in Gatehouse of Fleet.
