Alejandro Santiago Photography » Queer

Southern Decadence, New Orleans 2014

Alejandro — Sat, 20 Sep 2014 13:00:07 +0000

My road trip through the American South took me to New Orleans the weekend of Southern Decadence, the Crescent city’s gay street festival. New Orleans is one of my favorite cities. It was great to see the haunted streets of New Orleans spilling with queer energy. Photographing San Francisco’s Sister Roma of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence was definitely a highlight. Here are some photos from the Saturday night festivities along Bourbon Street.

What It Means To Be Seen: Photography & Queer Visibility Photo Exhibit at Ryerson Image Centre

Alejandro — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 12:29:59 +0000

I’m honored to announce that my photos of Hotnuts will be included in “What It Means To Be Seen: Photography & Queer Visibility”, a photo exhibit at the Ryerson Image Centre curated by Sophie Hackett, the photography curator at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Hotnuts is an amazing queer dance party in Toronto’s west end that was created by Mary Messhausen & Produzenti.

The ideas of visibility and greater acceptance have long been tied together for those in queer communities. So much so that it is plausible to suggest that one of the projects developing alongside the LGBT rights movement since the 1960s, though unofficial and organic, has been to produce a visual record. Greater visibility has often meant greater representation in mass media outlets and this visibility has undeniably increased over the last four decades — so too have LGBT rights.

Photographs have, of course, played a key role in this. But what has this photographic visibility consisted of? To celebrate World Pride 2014 Toronto, this exhibition takes a closer look at this rich photographic record, and the ways photographs have served to bring to light a sense of collective characteristics, experiences and ambitions for queer communities.

http://www.ryerson.ca/ric/exhibitions/WhatItMeansToBeSeen.html

The exhibit is free and open till the public daily until August 24, 2014.

10×10 Photography Project Exhibition!

Alejandro — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 16:34:27 +0000

This year I participated in the 10×10 Photography Project. The 10×10 Photography Project was created by James Fowler four years ago to celebrate queer artists. Each year 10 queer photographers are chosen to photograph 10 queer artists of their choice. It culminates in a giant photography exhibit celebrating 100+ queer artists. I’m so lucky to have been able to photograph 10 queer artists that I love:

Ronnie Burkett
Jade Campbell Scott
Heather Cassils
Jon Davies
Bruce Dow
Vanessa Dunn
Buzz Huneedew
GB Jones
Robert Lepage
Tawiah M’Carthy

The past few months have been spent planning, shooting, editing & printing the portraits for the exhibit so I’m very excited to share my portraits. The opening reception is happening at the Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen Street West). It will be on display until August 17th. Along with the exhibit their will be a book available which features all of the portraits from the show.

Vag Halen + Light Fires @ Art Gallery of Ontario

Alejandro — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 19:36:23 +0000

Last night Vag Halen + Light Fires gender-fucked the Art Gallery of Ontario’s first Thursday party. From Regina’s high-flying kicks to Vag Halen’s Vanessa stage diving across the AGO… Check out the photos below.

I SHOT SHARON NEEDLES–live + undead in Toronto!

Alejandro — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 19:27:27 +0000

Last night at Fit in Toronto, Sharon Needles woke from her coffin with a mic in her hand ready to kill with her debut single “This Club is a Haunted House”. The reigning queen of Rupaul’s Drag Race ate money, lost a claw, spat beer at the audience and then she made it snow! And we loved it.

Big thanks to Phil Villeneuve and all the folks at Fit for making it happen… More photos to come!

watch Sharon’s killer new video for “This Club is a Haunted House” below…

Mykki Blanco @ Bambi’s, Toronto

admin — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 14:42:50 +0000

Mykki Blanco tore his way thru Bambi’s in Toronto with an energy & ferocity that was raw & soulful . His rhymes were as tight as his weave. He didn’t miss a beat and the crowd was right behind him. What a perfect way to cap off a birthday weekend. Check out the photos from the show and Mykki’s amazing video for “Wavvy” directed by Francesco Carrozzini.

Art Attack Auction features SERVE: The Work

admin — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 14:57:21 +0000

I was so honored when Buddies In Bad Times Theatre approached me to feature one of the photos from SERVE: The Work as its main image for their annual art auction ART ATTACK. We have donated a large sized (24″/36″) print of “SERVE: The Work” for the auction. It is a limited edition print, 1/4. Additionally very person who purchases a V.I.P. ticket to the auction will receive a copy of SERVE: The Work, Book I. Be on the look out for this image all over town and don’t miss the auction. The selection at Art Attack this year is incredible take a look at the entire auction catalog here.

Nina Arsenault at the Royal Ontario Museum

admin — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 20:50:31 +0000

Transsexual artist Nina Arsenault bares all in full body paint at the Royal Ontario Museum as part of the Great & Fabulous Display of Realness. More photos to come.

The Great & Fabulous Display of Realness

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 23:56:54 +0000

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre presents: The Great & Fabulous Display of Realness at the Royal Onatrio Museum in Toronto. May 18, 2012. Photo & Design by Alejandro Santiago.