FAFSWAG BALL 2015

FAFSWAG BALL 2015

Project 2015-08-09 11:47:51 +1200

In 2012 Pacific visual artist Tanu Gago and Pati Solomona Tyrell created a Pacific LGBTQI arts brand entitled FAFSWAG which combined a colloquial abbreviation of the Samoan term for third gender ‘Faáfafine’ i.e. FAF with the urban slang word for style, SWAG.

The brand spoke to the gender and sexual diversity of Pacific people living in the urban landscapes of Auckland, New Zealand. Created as an online portal for Pacific LGBTQI+ identified communities to connect / discourse / socialise / share and collaborate through mutual creative interest.

Over time the brand has gone on to work with community on various arts projects that cover a diverse spectrum of the creative industry, including but not exclusive to , Dance, Performing arts, Photography, Film, Visual arts, Writing and Experimental works.

Similar to our online portal the brand functions by bringing people together just because… In doing this we identified pretty early that our fab community don’t really have access to public space where we can be ourselves, do and talk about the things that interest us. So producing events, gatherings, experiences, activations quickly became one of our core practices as an art collective.

We now have ten official members that play key roles in organising and delivering our yearly calendar of community events / activations. All of which is voluntary work where none of the artists / members get paid.

Producing events and creating space has meant sometimes door knocking in our local hood and scabbing money off people with the means to support us. This is why we are here asking for your help. This year we would like to deliver our third instalment of what has been one of our largest events. THE FAFSWAG BALL 2015.

The FAFSWAG Ball is an even that combines American New York City ball culture with local Maori and Pacific flavour. The ball scene has been steadily growing and NZ and we have been fortunate enough to watch it go from strength to strength. It has been important as an art collective invested in nurturing this rear form of self-expression for a generation of kiwi’s enamoured by Vogue / ballroom culture and it’s meaning, impact and relevance to their lives, interests and passion.

So we are asking for your help to get his years ball into a suitable space and make it turnt up as possible in honour of our emerging vogue community, and those that seek to slay the Ballroom Floor with their exceptional talent / voice and expression.

So please pledge and help us to produce an event that expands on its previous versions and affords our community a space to claim and own. We are seeking a modest $3000 dollars to go towards our operational cost such as venue and production expenses like audio, staging and lighting. 

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