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On Mermaids and Freedom
Artistry, activism, body paint, glitter, feathers, scales, nakedness, beautiful decoration, gleeful abandon: why only once a year?
Saturday was the Coney Island Mermaid Parade. It's an art parade that's been hosted by Coney Island USA, a not for profit arts organization, for 25 years to celebrate freedom, expression, diversity, joy and the summer solstice. I've attended each of the past four years and wish there were more opportunities for people to be out, in public, as happy and free in their bodies as they are at the parade.
I'm curious about other such festivals around the country. I've recently learned via Liberty at Going Braless (registration required) about a few that are very family oriented, as this one is. For example, she told me about Eeyore's Birthday in Austin. Does anyone know of others?
Below are some photos that I think show the best of the parade: the freedom and expressiveness of people of all ages, genders, orientations, body shapes and abilities. They were all taken by my partner Will Van Dorp (see more in his Flickr set or on his blog here and here).
For some reason that I can't quite explain to myself, this parade regular is my absolute favorite, four years in a row:
Two years ago I was able to run out and get my picture taken with him:
NOTE: Recently part of the parade's focus on freedom and expression has spotlighted the struggles over "development" (read: gentrification) of Coney Island. Click here for more info. This year Reverend Billy and Savitri D were King and Queen of the parade, calling on participants to attend an important community meeting tomorrow evening . If you want to keep Coney Island a people's place for free expression and preventing it from being overrun with luxury condos and high-end shopping, click here for more info on what you can do.
Here is a link to our SITPS photo gallery from last year's parade. We're in the midst of some transitions here, so this year's is the Flickr set that Will took.
Technorati Tags: Mermaid Parade 2008, Coney Island Mermaid Parade
