In case you’ve been feeling like you could use a little inspiration in these confusing times, Brooklyn-based queer artist/activists Anna Barsan and Jessie Levandov have collaborated to create SIGNIFIED, a new, multi-platform webseries highlighting the work of queer-identified individuals “who are fostering, enriching and sustaining vibrant and diverse communities.” This project will undoubtedly fill you with positive emotions like compassion, hope, and curiosity.

According to Barsan and Levandov, the inspiration for the series came from “a desire to provide a common platform and literally common space for these communities to come together to witness their overlapping work, voices, lives and struggles”:

We hope this series will serve as a catalyst to begin the long but necessary journey in holding one another accountable, in joining forces, in exercising our social responsibility to queer communities, of color communities, immigrant communities, trans communities, and many more. The urban space is where our journeys collide and hopefully where our solidarity can take root.

 You’ll probably recognize Brooklyn Boihood in this video:

SIGNIFIED from anna barsan on Vimeo.

If you’re in the New York City area, SIGNIFIED is celebrating its official launch on August 28th at the very cool new BMW Guggenheim Lab, from 2-5pm. The lab, a travelling community think tank and gathering space, will invite the public to “participate in experiments, learn about and explore relevant issues within the city and to collectively participate in solutions.”

You should go! Here are the details:

Location: BMW Guggenheim Lab

First Street entrance: 33 East 1st street (btwn 1st and 2nd Ave)
Second Ave entrance: Second Ave at Houston
Date: August 28th, 2011 2pm‐5pm

For more info, contact Jessie Levandov – Jessie[dot]levandov[at]gmail.com, or Anna Barsan – anna[dot]barsan[at]gmail.com.

Fun fact: Our editor Riese has known Anna Barsan since Anna was like in 3rd grade and they both lived in Michigan. See how everything comes back around? It’s like the circle of life!

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