Matter Queer Space Manitoba Inc.

### Context Profile for Matter Queer Space Manitoba Inc.

#### 1. Organization Mission & Cause
**Mission:** Matter Queer Space Manitoba Inc. is dedicated to creating a safe and inclusive space for QTBIPOC (Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities. Their mission revolves around fostering artistic expression, cultural education, and community engagement, particularly focusing on the intersections of gender, sexuality, and race. They aim to challenge colonial narratives and promote healing through art and community dialogue.

**Cause:** The organization addresses systemic inequalities and advocates for the rights and representation of marginalized communities, particularly those who identify as QTBIPOC. They emphasize the importance of reclaiming cultural narratives and supporting artists from these communities.

#### 2. Type of Activities
- **Art Exhibitions:** Hosting solo and group exhibitions that showcase the work of QTBIPOC artists, such as the recent exhibition "Giiwe; Chasing Wild Strawberries" featuring Lucas Corbin Cole.
- **Community Events:** Organizing artist talks, workshops, and community discussions that engage the public and foster dialogue around important social issues.
- **Fundraising Campaigns:** Engaging in fundraising efforts to support their programs and initiatives, including securing grants for accessibility improvements.
- **Virtual Galleries:** Developing online platforms to showcase artwork and reach a broader audience.

#### 3. Tone of Voice
The tone of voice used by Matter Queer Space is **friendly, inclusive, and inspiring**. The language is accessible yet thoughtful, reflecting a commitment to community engagement and cultural sensitivity. They often use a narrative style that invites readers to connect emotionally with the content, emphasizing personal stories and experiences.

#### 4. Emoji Usage
The organization does not prominently use emojis in their communications. Their focus is more on formal and respectful language that aligns with the serious nature of their mission and the topics they address.

#### 5. Key Facts
- **Founding Information:** Specific founding details were not available on the website, but the organization is actively involved in the local QTBIPOC community.
- **Scale:** They have hosted multiple events and campaigns, indicating a robust engagement with the community.
- **Impact Metrics:** While specific metrics were not detailed, their programming and community engagement efforts suggest a significant impact on local QTBIPOC artists and audiences.
- **Volunteer Information:** Information on volunteering was not explicitly provided, but the organization likely welcomes community involvement given its mission.

#### 6. Writing Guidelines
- **Style:** Use a conversational yet respectful tone that reflects the organization's commitment to inclusivity and community.
- **Content Focus:** Highlight personal stories, community impact, and the significance of events and exhibitions. Emphasize the importance of representation and cultural reclamation.
- **Language:** Avoid jargon; use clear and accessible language to engage a broad audience. Incorporate narratives that resonate with the experiences of QTBIPOC individuals.
- **Call to Action:** Encourage participation in events and support for the organization through donations or volunteering, while maintaining a tone of invitation rather than urgency.

This context profile serves as a foundational guide for creating personalized and impactful content for Matter Queer Space Manitoba Inc.

Reserve your seat for the artist talk. 
Gallery seating is limited.

Suggested donation: $10

Artist Talk and Gallery Admission

Gallery Admission Only does not guarantee a seat for the artist talk. Gallery seating is limited.

Suggested donation: $5

Gallery Admission Only

Join us for the opening reception of Giiwe; Chasing Wild Strawberries at Matter 2SQTBIPOC Gallery* featuring the work of Lucas Corbin Cole. Please note that there will be limited seating for the artist talk. *A note on location: The gallery is in the lower level of 433 Graham Avenue. At this time, the gallery is stair-access only. We recognize that this is a barrier and are working towards securing grants that will allow us to install a vertical platform lift. We will be live-streaming the artist talk. A virtual gallery of the artwork will also be available on our website, coming soon. Matter would like to thank the University of Winnipeg Department of Women's and Gender Studies and the Margaret Laurence Fund for their support.-- About Giiwe; Chasing Wild Strawberries:Giiwe; Chasing Wild Strawberries provokes discomfort and curiosity by considering how heteronormative patriarchal structures disproportionately take up space and how these colonial power structures remain complicit in the exploitation of QTBIPOC bodies and relationship with land. Inspired by the precision of their Uncle’s artistic expression, their visual storytelling experience encompasses a traditional woodland style that playfully challenges how freedom and pleasure are measured by proximity to heteronormative white-ness. Their creative vision is inspired by the liminal space that exists when a person experiences discomfort aroundQTBIPOC bodies as a consequence of colonial violence. Artist StatementBorn in Brandon, MB (Treaty 2) in 1993, Lucas Corbin Cole (they/them) is a Sturgeon Clan Anishinaabe-mixed settler, living in what is currently known as Winnipeg, MB (Treaty 1). The nation their family belongs to is Couchiching First Nation (Treaty 3) — which is where their late grandmother grew up prior to being sent to boarding school in Brandon at the age of 14. Lucas is a self-taught Two Spirit, Indigiqueer, and trans artist that holds harm reduction and sex positive values as central to their living and learning journey. They are also a grass dancer and have been crowned 2024 Two Spirit Ogichidaa at the 7th Annual Two Spirit Pow Wow in Winnipeg. Their creative expression offers a unique vantage point on how they express their intersecting identities when (re)connecting to their culture. A fundamental teaching they hold themselves accountable to is how our Ancestors and land have dreamed of a queer future for us and it is our responsibility to keep carrying these dreams forward. They recognize the value in lived experience and so having come out as a Two Spirit Indigiqueer person more than a decade ago– they feel a responsibility to honour these teachings for future generations or those who do not feel safe to come out. In late 2023, Lucas began practicing a distinctive woodland style playing with ink on paper that integrates genitals, reproductive organs, and fruit — that is when Giiwe; Chasing Wild Strawberries came to life. A visual storytelling experience contextualizing Ancestral knowledge deeply embedded in the body through emotion and feeling that challenges the liminal space heteronormative patriarchy occupies. Their art is literal and intentionally sexualized to highlight the exploitation and commodification of feminism, land, and natural resources. This series is a tribute and reclamation through land-based trauma-informed education and gentle love towards their trans and queer body.

Hi <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip" fr-original-style style="background-color:rgb(248, 248, 255);border:1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255);border-radius:4px;color:rgb(42, 42, 196);padding:1px 8px;font-size:11px;display:inline-block;margin:0px;overflow-wrap:anywhere;user-select:none;box-sizing:inherit">First name , Thank you for registering to attend the opening night of Giiwe; Chasing Wild Strawberries, a solo exhibition featuring the work of Lucas Corbin Cole. The artist talk will be from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m, and the gallery will be open until 9:00 p.m.  We look forward to seeing you at this event! - The Matter team Matter Queer Space Manitoba Inc.433 Graham Avenue, Lower LevelWinnipeg, Manitoba R3C 0M3 info@mattermanitoba.org www.mattermanitoba.org@mattermanitoba

Join us for the opening reception of Giiwe; Chasing Wild Strawberries at Matter 2SQTBIPOC Gallery* featuring the work of Lucas Corbin Cole. Please note that there will be limited seating for the artist talk. *A note on location: The gallery is in the lower level of 433 Graham Avenue. At this time, the gallery is stair-access only. We recognize that this is a barrier and are working towards securing grants that will allow us to install a vertical platform lift. We will be live-streaming the artist talk. A virtual gallery of the artwork will also be available on our website, coming soon. Matter would like to thank the University of Winnipeg Department of Women's and Gender Studies and the Margaret Laurence Fund for their support.-- About Giiwe; Chasing Wild Strawberries:Giiwe; Chasing Wild Strawberries provokes discomfort and curiosity by considering how heteronormative patriarchal structures disproportionately take up space and how these colonial power structures remain complicit in the exploitation of QTBIPOC bodies and relationship with land. Inspired by the precision of their Uncle’s artistic expression, their visual storytelling experience encompasses a traditional woodland style that playfully challenges how freedom and pleasure are measured by proximity to heteronormative white-ness. Their creative vision is inspired by the liminal space that exists when a person experiences discomfort aroundQTBIPOC bodies as a consequence of colonial violence. Artist StatementBorn in Brandon, MB (Treaty 2) in 1993, Lucas Corbin Cole (they/them) is a Sturgeon Clan Anishinaabe-mixed settler, living in what is currently known as Winnipeg, MB (Treaty 1). The nation their family belongs to is Couchiching First Nation (Treaty 3) — which is where their late grandmother grew up prior to being sent to boarding school in Brandon at the age of 14. Lucas is a self-taught Two Spirit, Indigiqueer, and trans artist that holds harm reduction and sex positive values as central to their living and learning journey. They are also a grass dancer and have been crowned 2024 Two Spirit Ogichidaa at the 7th Annual Two Spirit Pow Wow in Winnipeg. Their creative expression offers a unique vantage point on how they express their intersecting identities when (re)connecting to their culture. A fundamental teaching they hold themselves accountable to is how our Ancestors and land have dreamed of a queer future for us and it is our responsibility to keep carrying these dreams forward. They recognize the value in lived experience and so having come out as a Two Spirit Indigiqueer person more than a decade ago– they feel a responsibility to honour these teachings for future generations or those who do not feel safe to come out. In late 2023, Lucas began practicing a distinctive woodland style playing with ink on paper that integrates genitals, reproductive organs, and fruit — that is when Giiwe; Chasing Wild Strawberries came to life. A visual storytelling experience contextualizing Ancestral knowledge deeply embedded in the body through emotion and feeling that challenges the liminal space heteronormative patriarchy occupies. Their art is literal and intentionally sexualized to highlight the exploitation and commodification of feminism, land, and natural resources. This series is a tribute and reclamation through land-based trauma-informed education and gentle love towards their trans and queer body.

Matter Queer Space Manitoba Inc.

Add a donation for Matter Queer Space Manitoba Inc.

"Giiwe; Chasing Wild Strawberries" - A Solo Exhibition featuring the work of Lucas Corbin Cole

433 Graham Ave

Artist Talk and Gallery Admission

Free

Gallery Admission Only

Free