Poster House, the first museum in the United States dedicated to the global history of posters, is hosting a walking tour celebrating the history of the Queer Harlem Renaissance on Saturday, August 17 from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM. The tour will conclude at 4West lounge, 303 W 127th St. Tickets are $25.
Inspired by the acclaimed exhibition Wonder City of the World: New York City Travel Posters the walking tour will take participants back in time to learn about the queer Black artists and writers who dominated the cultural space between 1919 to 1935. The tour will feature the gay social networks of the Harlem Renaissance, as well as the safe spaces that were integral to the community—spaces that no longer exist.
Utilizing augmented reality through the Queer Harlem phone application, participants will be able walk through Harlem and witness the people, places, and histories of the past, from Drag Balls to Rent Parties. The event will conclude with a performance by Harmonica Sunbeam and mixer at 4West Lounge. All proceeds from this program will be donated to the Ali Forney Center.
This tour will be hosted by Brian Turner and Abriannah Aiken, the co-authors of Disappearing Queer Spaces, and will feature the Queer Harlem app that digitally reconstructs seven spaces from the Queer Harlem Renaissance, including the Savoy Ballroom, the Rockland Palace, and the Niggeratti Manor (a self-proclaimed name). This program was created in collaboration with DLR Group, which funded the Queer Harlem app through an internal grant.
All proceeds from this program will be donated to the Ali Forney Center.
