Tag Archives: The New Gallery

Introducing Levin

The Calgary Gay History Project has a new volunteer researcher, Levin Ifko!

We first met Levin at the first National Queer and Trans+ Community History Conference in Edmonton in 2024 and have been impressed ever since. Levin has a keen interest in local history and will specifically be digging into trans histories in Calgary—a subject that needs more research attention!

Now for Levin’s introduction:

“Levin Ifko is an artist and writer from and based here on Treaty 7 land in Calgary. He has a 10+ year background in local queer and trans advocacy, from helping start the GSA back in his high school, volunteering with organizations like Skipping Stone Foundation and the Centre for Sexuality, to facilitating arts programming for queer youth and adults. 

Levin is perhaps best known locally as a visual artist, and often uses his art to speak about navigating and celebrating queer and trans culture. He’s shown his work throughout the city at galleries such as Esker Foundation, Stride Gallery, and The New Gallery, as well as in schools, libraries, and community centres across the province as part of the TREX Travelling Exhibition Program. He received a BFA from Alberta University of the Arts in 2022. Since then, he has worked to support the city’s arts scene through writing about local exhibitions, organizing events and programming, as well as through his work as an arts administrator. 

Levin is passionate about the lives of queer people here on the prairies. He is excited to begin sharing research about local trans history as part of the Calgary Gay History Project.”

Welcome Levin! Look for future blog posts with the author’s initials {LI}.

{KA}

A Queen’s Fury and other news…

A Queen's Fury

We have new summer reading material, thanks to Neil Richards who gave us a parting gift of a 1968 gay pulp novel, which was a duplicate in their archive. Everyone in Saskatoon during last week’s gay history research trip was exceedingly helpful, and the amount of Calgary materials in these archives are a testament to the closeness and cross-pollination between gay communities on the Prairies.

If you are in Calgary next weekend you should check out the Human RITES conference, an exploration of faith and identity, April 29-May 1. Conference organizer, Pam Rocker, explains that Human RITES was created because of the recognition that religion, in a broader sense, still actively marginalizes LGBTQ people. The conference goal is to create a space where people can discuss religion, identity and sexuality comfortably and respectfully.

Highlights include, an evening with Rae Spoon, singer/songwriter/author, workshops with writer/speaker Brandan Robertson and a reading of ‘oblivion’ by local playwright Jonathan Brower (he also is a researcher & collaborator with the Calgary Gay History Project).

Finally, we are looking forward to our upcoming Beltline Gay History Walk as part of Jane’s Walks in Calgary on May 7th. Mixing it up, we will have a travelling artist with us during the walk. Bogdan Cheta, will be presenting some of his work, a manifesto has come to light  which was conceived at an artist residency in Calgary’s oldest artist-run centre, The New Gallery.

Art + History = Delicious Event.

{KA}