What is the Rainbow Challenge?
A chance to support youth who identify as LGBQT+ in a creative way.
You take monochromatic photos (all one colour) and then we will gather all of the images taken and create an epic exhibition that will be projection mapped onto buildings up and down the country. (This is our vision at least and we are in the process of getting funding to create the project).
We are inviting libraries, groups and schools to join in.
It is something you can do collectively with a group in your location in term 1. Our you can do it solo during our Summer Challenge starting in the new year.
The Exhibition will be like a Batman signal for all young Rainbow youth who just need to be seen and accepted for who they are.
The idea for the exhibition came from the following story.
Lillian who is a Click Happy student in Christchurch came up to Wellington for a Create Happy Magazine workshop. They recently realized that they are queer and became quite emotional after spending time on Cuba street in Wellington's downtown. "You guys have a rainbow crosswalk and there is even a drag queen crossing light! I walked into a bookstore with a rainbow flag in the window and some old dude was at the counter...he could have been gay or an ally it didn't matter...he made me feel welcome. When I walk down Christchurch in a pride shirt I am worried I will be judged or confronted...in Wellington, I felt completely safe being me. I need to figure out how to help Christchurch to be as welcoming as Wellington. "
We were already exploring monochromatic imagery in Click Happy so it made sense that we used the blocks of colours to create something beautiful for Lillian to spread our trust's message of compassion for Every Body.
Heartivism
The world feels as if it is becoming more and more polarized. Our goal is to create a counterpoint and instead, weave the people together. One amazing monochromatic image at a time.
Our trust was founded in an act of Heartivism - Heart + Art + Activism. In the beginning, it was for body positivity for women. This time it is in celebration of the diversity of our youth.
Our trust is called Every Body is a Treasure. And that means EVERY BODY. Our beautiful rainbow youth, our beautiful allies, as well as our beautiful youth who have been taught to not tolerate those who are different from themselves. We all have a need to be loved, cared for, a need for community, a need for purpose, and a need to matter. We are all treasures.
We practice non-violent creative activism that seeks to empathize and listen to understand each other. Only empathy and non-violence stand a chance of helping us to bridge a polarized world.
We are looking for classes, libraries, and youth groups join.
We have all the teaching content ready to go. All you have to do is work your way through the rainbow and have students take images with their devices of monochromatic images of the week. As they work their way through the challenges they learn more about visual storytelling and composition. And their images could become part of the national exhibition.
What sort of Equipment do I need to photograph for the exhibition?
Anything that will take a picture
- DSLR/ Mirrorless Camera
- Cellphone
- Tablet
You can edit it with anything that you like
- Photoshop
- Lightroom
- Snapseed
- Any app that allows you to modify your image but there needs to be a photographic element that you took in the final image and you cannot use copyrighted images from others.
What do the hosts need to provide if we are doing it as a group?
- A venue for students to meet up.
- A police-screened teacher, librarian, or youth worker to hold space for the students - or in school groups could hold the workshops for themselves during lunch or in class if allowed.
- Ideally things that could be used in monochromatic photography such as:
- $2.00 shop plastic tablecloths in the colours of the rainbow.
- Facepaint and glitter if the students want to become part of the art
- Fabric backgrounds or cardboard backgrounds.
- Clothes or objects in primary colours to use as still life or flat lays.
The students can be asked to bring things from home that are those colours as well to increase the number of objects that they have to experiment with. Or you can just go on meditative walks to see how many things of that colour you can find and photograph in interesting ways.
What if I want to just donate my images without my name attached?
No worries. Just sign up as "Just Me".
What happens to the images?
Any images you submit could be used in the exhibition, in the video that is sent around to libraries and schools, or to create merchandise and Art that could be used as fundraisers for more HeArtivism activities (Heart + Art + Activism). We are fundraising to get the video projection mapped onto buildings around the country to be like a Rainbow Batman symbol to little rainbow youth around the country so that they are not alone. We also have visions that, in the future, we will be able to collaborate with artists to use the imagery as pixel blocks in grand-scale pieces of Art like murals or installation pieces.
The infinity rainbow is also a symbol for Neurodiversity, so we plan to use the imagery to celebrate our Neurodiverse whanau as well.
You own the copyright to any image you submit but by submitting it you give us an unconditional licence to use it forever and to gift it to other artists to use in ways that honour compassionate creativity and are respectful of the rainbow and neurodiverse communities. Your shared image is a koha of aroha for the Rainbow and Neurodiverse community.
How old do I need to be to enter my content?
This project is for students who are under 25.
Do I need to be "diverse" identifying to take part in the workshops?
The workshops are open to everyone! Our trust, Every Body is a Treasure Trust, believes that everyone, irrespective of their background, ethnicity, or identity, contributes to the beautiful rainbow of humanity. This workshop is a way to honour and celebrate the unique colours that each individual brings to our world
How do I sign up our group/class ?
Sign up form is at the bottom of this page.
What if I'm an individual and I just want to sign up but am not part of a group?
Sign up below as an individual and we will send you the materials so that you can do the project on your own if you like. But you can also join us on Wednesday nights if you are 24 and under to learn and shoot with us.
Register Here
