One of the outcomes of the Fat Studies conference is this overwhelming desire and motivation I now have to bring some of the beautiful fat activism I witnessed over the last 2 days from Sydney to Brisbane. I want to start a Brisbane chapter of Aquaporko, the fat sycnronised swimming team and I want to hold Bodies Abound events here too. Cleo Gardiner offered her support in helping me organise a Brisbane event! Kelli Jean is SO keen for us to bring Aquaporko to other Australian cities! We have support and encouragement, we just need to recruit BNE folks!
The Sydney fat activism we connected with has been born out of the queer community and the hugely performance based culture down there. Not being part of the Brisbane queer OR performance communities, I have no idea if it’s even possible to do that up here. Do I have enough friends and connections up here to fill an audience? To put on a show? It feels very much like I have to build a community in this city, and I’m not sure how well I can do that because I am an introvert and I don’t go out much.
So - this is a call out.
If you identify as fat and you want to join a synchronised swimming team, even if you have no idea what it entails (the Aquaporko girls taught themselves moves from youtube!!) please get in touch with me.
If you are a performer, writer, artist; if you are passionate about body diversity and questioning the cultural messages we are subjected to that make us feel bad about ourselves, our bodies; if you want to speak out against body and fashion policing, shame, minimising and reducing culture… yes, please get in touch with me.
I AM GOING TO SHOW THIS TOWN THAT IT IS FULL OF BEAUTIFUL BODIES THAT REFUSE TO BE INVISIBLE.
OH - here’s my email address: natalie (at) axisoffat.com