Opening Reception - Sister Hold On: Reclaiming Third World Lesbian Imaginaries
Organized by Bay Area Lesbian Archives
Located in our EastSide Cultural Center & 2285 Gallery
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Join Us for the Opening of Sister Hold On: Reclaiming Third World Lesbian Imaginaries presented by Bay Area Lesbian Archives & EastSide Arts Alliance
This exhibition draws upon the rich legacies of Third World lesbian activism, art, and consciousness, highlighting the ways in which our stories, struggles, and resilience continue to shape the present and the future. The event will feature welcome remarks, live performances, light refreshments, and an exclusive display of archival materials from the Bay Area Lesbian Archive, offering a deep look into the power of collective memory and the importance of preserving these histories.
Guiding our reflection is the profound insight of Audre Lorde, who reminds us of the radical interconnectedness of art, identity, and survival:
"While Black sisters don't like to hear this, I would have to say that all Black women are lesbians because we were raised in the remnants of a basically matriarchal society no matter how
oppressed we may have been by patriarchy. We're all dykes, including our mommas. Let's really start getting past the shibboleths and taboos. They don't really matter. Being able to recognize that the function of poetry or any art is to ennoble and empower us in a way that's not separate from our living, that belief is African in origin."
– Audre Lorde
This opening reception is not just an exhibition—it's a space for community gathering, reflection, and imagining new futures together. Through archival material, art installations, and performances, we will explore the revolutionary power of Third World lesbian poetics, collective survival, and the ongoing work of reclaiming our stories.
We hope you’ll join us for an evening of powerful reflection, connection, and celebration. Please share widely with your networks and feel free to bring friends and family.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
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In partnership with Bay Area Lesbian Archives, EastSide Arts Alliance presents Sister Hold On: Reclaiming Third World Lesbian Imaginaries, an exhibition that celebrates the collective power of third world lesbians and the intersectional struggles they championed in creating a collective future in the Bay Area.
Bringing together past, present and future, this exhibition taps into Third World Lesbian imaginaries to build a space of gathering and of collective future-building, where love, struggle and resilience coexist.
Sister Hold On will showcase archival materials from the Bay Area Lesbian Archive and new work from artists Shreya Shankar and Malaya Tuyay.
Bay Area Lesbian Archives was founded by artist and activist Lenn Keller in 2014. This exhibition celebrates BALA’s 10 year anniversary.