IN and OUT Blog

Co-curators Ellen Kritzman and Stephen Silha conducted over 25 interviews in researching the exhibit.  These videos, which are viewable in the exhibit IN AND OUT: Being LGBTQ on Vashon Island, show a number of Islanders’ stories.  Like the exhibit itself, these are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Island’s rich LGBTQ history.

Go to the Interviews page

Last fall, the Heritage Museum received the John D Spellman Award for exemplary achievement in Interpretation for highlighting and celebrating the histories of Vashon-Maury Island’s diverse communities, at a ceremony presided over by King County Executive, Dow Constantine, and the King County Office of Historic Preservation.

“The exhibits cited for the award, were conceived, curated, fundraised and constructed by volunteer community groups in coordination with the Museum, said Brian Brenno, president of the Vashon Maury Island Heritage Association, at the award ceremony.   “The museum’s partnership with groups committed to telling stories of their heritage brought regional exposure to the museum and strengthened our bond with the Vashon community.”

Those groups included the Vashon Japanese-American community and supporters who put together “Joy and Heartache: Vashon’s Japanese-American Legacy,” and the vestiges of the Vashon Gay Pride Alliance, which was very active in the 1990’s and early 2000’s, who assembled the IN AND OUT exhibit.

Ellen Kritzman and Stephen Silha, curators for the In and Out exhibit, commented, “There is not a formally organized LGBTQ+ community on Vashon.  The community is more a spread of disparate individuals who, while they may know each other, have never witnessed themselves represented publicly as an identified community. This exhibit represents and tells the story of the LGBTQ+ community on Vashon-Maury Island.”

Recently, the Museum was informed that it will also receive the 2020 Exhibit Award from AKCHO (Association of King County Historical Organizations) for the IN AND OUT exhibit.  The ceremony was to have taken place April 29, but the Association has announced it will likely happen later in the summer. The public will be invited.

“The Vashon Heritage Museum is where history lives on Vashon.” commented Bruce Haulman, new Heritage Board President and longtime Vashon historian. “That history cannot be adequately told without including the stories of all of the people of Vashon. For too long the stories of women, people of color, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ islanders, and other marginalized groups have been left out of our island’s history. The Heritage Museum is committed to telling all of the stories that come together to form the living history of this magical island.”

Location: Vashon Heritage Museum Opening Dec 6th, 6:00 pm
& Vashon Island High School Library 
Date: Month of December Opening Dec 6th, 6:00 pm
Background:
Activists played a key role in changing attitudes, policies, and regulations during the early years of the AIDS epidemic in the US. Ms. Schuerholz was a member of the AIDS activist organization ACT UP.  The library will display her powerful documentary photography along with artifacts from the activist movement. The exhibit will also include a film series. The pop-up photography exhibit and presentation as part of the ongoing IN and OUT exhibit @ the Vashon Island Heritage Museum. 

BIG JOY WEEKEND offers interactive glimpse into filmmaker/poet James Broughton’s inspired creativity

January 11 & 12, 2020
Vashon Center for the Arts

What’s it like to have an angel who guides you through life as a poet?  To find your soulmate at age 62? To have friends like Allen Ginsberg, Imogen Cunningham, Pauline Kael, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and Alan Watts?  What’s it like to feel both male and female?

Find out about one “crazy old man’s” exuberant life January 11 and 12 as Vashon Center for the Arts celebrates the life, poetry and films of James Broughton (1913-1999), the pre-Beat poet and experimental filmmaker from San Francisco and Port Townsend.

The two-day celebration embraces three events:  a documentary film (Saturday afternoon), a poetic performance piece (Saturday evening), and a screening of Broughton’s experimental films with commentary by people who knew him (Sunday late afternoon).

Join us for the world’s first-ever BIG JOY WEEKEND:

CABARET SCREENING OF AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY
BIG JOY: The Adventures of James Broughton (2013, 82 minutes)
Saturday, January 11 at 2 p.m.

Years before the Beats arrived in San Francisco, the city exploded with artistic expressions – painting, theatre, film, poetry. And at its center was the groundbreaking filmmaker and poet James Broughton.  Big Joy explores Broughton’s life and art which weaves the quirky, bizarre, sexual and charming – all with a sprinkling of spirituality. His remarkable story spans the post-war San Francisco Renaissance; his escape to Europe during the McCarthy years; a special film prize at Cannes; his consorting with the Beats; making films celebrating the human body…before meeting his soulmate at age 62; becoming a bard of Gay liberation; and dying a conscious death during the last months of the century. 

Produced on Vashon Island, Big Joy has been to over 50 film festivals including South By Southwest, Tribeca and Hong Kong. It won several awards including the Reel Northwest Award at Seattle International Film Festival, and played in a shortened version on many PBS stations. Vashon Islander Stephen Silha was a friend of James Broughton, and was present at his death in 1999 in Port Townsend. Inspired by Broughton’s films, books, and philosophy, he began a biography project which morphed into this film and a robust web presence [bigjoy.org].

ECSTASY FOR EVERYONE!
An original performance piece celebrating James Broughton by Jason Jenn
Saturday, January 11 at 8 p.m.

Poet James Broughton had many sublime personal mottos, including “Adventure, Not Predicament,” “Follow Your Own  Weird,” and “I believe in ecstasy for everyone!” In this show, you will feel all of these.  

Los Angeles-based performance artist Jason Jenn (a/k/a the Troubadour Trixter) brings to vivid life on stage the wit, wonder and whimsy of Broughton’s world and words.  Dramatic readings are supported by movement, song, film clips, costumes, props and other visual elements inspired by Broughton’s films to express the heart, soul and wisdom of his extraordinary life.  Broughton’s work speaks to us with a most beguiling charm, both devoutly spiritual and sexually liberated. The themes are relevant as ever in these troubling times. [jasonjenn.com]

IN BED WITH JAMES BROUGHTON AND FRIENDS
Experimental film screening, conversation with people who knew Broughton
Sunday, January 12 at 4 p.m.

Called by some the Father of West Coast Experimental Film, James Broughton (1913-1999) made 23 experimental films, and wrote 23 books of poetry.

Experience some of his films and discuss them with people who knew James, including filmmakers Janice Findley and Corwin Fergus.

Testament (1974 – 20 min) –  A whimsical look at Broughton’s life.  He thought it might be his last film, but then he met Joel Singer.

The Water Circle (1975 – 3 min) – An example of his poem/films – an art form he pioneered.  We might also show his 1951 poem film Four in the Afternoon – 15 min.

The Bed (1968 – 20 min) was his most famous film. Made during the summer of love at Druid Heights, Alan Watts’ Marin County compound, it explores all the things that can happen on a bed. Cast includes Watts, Imogene Cunningham, Gavin Arthur, Anna Halprin, and many hippies.

Devotions (1983 – 22 min) –  A collaboration with his husband Joel Singer, Devotions explores many different ways men can love each other.

In the midst of winter, come explore your own joys and sorrows for the world’s first BIG JOY WEEKEND, at Vashon’s beautiful Vashon Center for the Arts, 19600 Vashon Highway SW.
Note: Contains nudity and adult themes.

Last year, for their wedding, David Mielke and Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma offered their guests an original performance that they called a “Gaybaret.” They wanted not only to share their stories—and the story of how they met—but also to delve into the deeper and more universal aspects of those stories, using a cabaret form that combined storytelling, original songs, and theatrical magic.

What emerged was an unusual and moving exploration of how friends and teachers help us to be ready to meet and say yes to a life-partner—gay, straight, or otherwise. Come be part of the public premiere of this inspiring and innovative show, newly revised into a free-standing performance that David and Tom plan to take on the road. Expanded and developed with support from 4Culture and presented in collaboration with Vashon Center for the Arts and the Vashon Heritage Museum exhibit “In and Out: Being LGBTQ on Vashon Island,” Gaybaret promises to be a singular theatrical event.

Friday, November 22 at 7:30  |  Saturday, November 23 at 7:30  |  Sunday, November 24 at 2pm
$10 Student, $16 VCA Member, $18 Senior, $20 General in advance – $23 at the door