Calgary Gay History

{This week, we have a guest post from Calgary photographer Wilmer Aburto. In autumn 2023, Wilmer collaborated with the Rainbow Elders to capture portraits of members from our city’s 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. The portraits are dramatic and impactful, and we invited Wilmer to share his story. Enjoy – K.}

INSPIRATION

To honour 2SLGBTQIA+ elders and celebrate their remarkable resilience. The ‘Rainbow Elders Photographic Portrait Collection’ pays respect to Rainbow Elders Calgary, whose members identify as part of the Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual communities. Each has contributed significantly to building a richer community in Calgary.

The photo shoots took place at the historic Lois Szabo Commons, named after a pillar of Calgary’s queer community who opened the city’s first queer-run social space and has been active in Rainbow Elders Calgary for years. Some portraits were also captured at the Calgary Board of Education Building.

Wilmer invited makeup artists Josee ‘La Güita’ Palacio and Subliminal Rabbit to create unique looks for each of the seven participants. The artists incorporated each person’s favourite colours and themes into their overall appearance. Once makeup and wardrobe were finalized, each participant was photographed.

Wilmer was inspired by Vincent Cianni’s groundbreaking work documenting the experiences of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals in the US military. Cianni, who has been a long-distance mentor to Wilmer in previous collections, paved the way for capturing the stories of marginalized communities. His influential book, “Gays In The Military: Photographs And Interviews,” motivated Wilmer to shed light on the lives of 2SLGBTQ+ elders in Calgary, continuing the tradition of using photography to reveal hidden narratives and contribute to the broader historical record of 2SLGBTQ+ experiences.

Building on this foundation, Wilmer hopes to bring to Calgary more stories of seniors who are members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, further expanding the scope of these important narratives and deepening our understanding of their unique experiences.

EXHIBITION

For Wilmer, it was paramount that these powerful portraits be reproduced on an imposing scale, allowing viewers to fully immerse themselves in the subjects’ experiences and emotions.

The collection made its inaugural appearance at The Grand during Calgary Pride’s Alphabet Mafia event in August 2024. The photographs were displayed in a striking 4 feet by 5.5 feet format, towering over attendees and commanding attention.

The monumental size of these prints not only honoured the subjects, many of whom were present at the event, but also symbolized the larger-than-life impact these individuals have had on their communities, as hundreds of guests gathered to pay tribute to their legacy and contributions.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Wilmer Aburto is a Mohkinstsis (Calgary) based photographer born in Nicaragua. He is passionate about using art for social advocacy. Recently, Wilmer travelled to Nicaragua to facilitate art projects supporting youth in impoverished areas. He also gave artist talks and workshops for education providers, collaborating with organizations initiating, supporting, and promoting cultural projects in Nicaragua and Central America.

Wilmer has exhibited his photography at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. His work was featured on the cover of Freq magazine and selected for the Italian publication Imago Mundi, which was exhibited alongside the Venice Biennale. He has received several awards for Leadership, Inclusivity, Community Partnership, and Arts Culture.

You can find Wilmer on Instagram: @wilmerphotography

“I hope these portraits remind us to centre the voices of Calgary’s 2SLGBTQIA+ elders, so that we can learn from their experience and knowledge.”

{WA}