Art and Advocacy

It’s the middle of December. And while everyone in Sarasota is thinking of the winter holidays and visiting family members, Anthony Paull and Natalya Swanson can’t get their minds off the month of May. 

Paull and Swanson, lead organizers for the three-day, multi-art form Harvey Milk Festival, have been in planning mode for months. Divided into three equal days highlighting a different art form, this year’s festival (May 14, 15 and 16) will have film, visual art and music components. Paull, 38, is in charge of booking musical acts, film screening and public relations for the festival. He has been with the festival since its first year. Swanson, 24, is leading the festival’s visual art selection.

Founded in 2010, the festival was started to serve two functions. First was to honor and memorialize the festival’s namesake, Harvey Milk, the first openly gay American elected to public office, who was assassinated in 1978 in San Francisco. The second function was to foster emerging musical, artistic and cinematic talent who support LGBT equality through legislation.

“This festival is basically my life for five months,” says Paull. “It’s worth it because I believe in the festival. My favorite part of the festival is seeing the families come out. Everyone is just so happy, and the community comes together, and you see so many people smiling. It’s a magical day.”

The tricky part for Paull and Swanson is curating a festival so that every work of art, film and musical act flows together with the festival’s theme of equality. The festival that was once held in a parking lot continues to grow — this year it’s taking place at three downtown locations: Burns Court Cinema, the HuB and Five Points Park.

“I think since the Harvey Milk Festival has been downtown and been so successful that it’ll inspire more events downtown,” says Swanson. “It’s a wonderful location and really accessible to everyone, and it can be utilized in so many different ways other than craft markets.”

FILM
Hosted at Burns Court Cinema, Paull and the festival present one film each year that speaks to LGBT themes and issues. According to Paull, unlike other programming in the festival, the film is aimed at an older audience so films can discuss adult and dramatic issues that affect not only the gay community but speak to the universal nature of human life.

This year’s film fits that description. “Tiger Orange” is directed by Wade Gasque and co-written by Gasque and star Mark Strano. The film depicts the tumultuous relationship between two gay brothers as they deal with the death of their father. The father’s death reunites the brothers in their small central California town as they face their past, present and future happiness.

“I always try to book a film that has some recognition and has been on the film festival circuit,” says Paull. “I think this film is good for our older audiences. The film has some funny dialogue but some darker themes to it, so it’ll be interesting to see how the audience responds.”

After the film, Paull (a humorist and author by trade) and comedian Blake MacIntyre will perform comedy routines to balance out the film’s dramatic themes.

ART
When it comes to emerging local artists in Sarasota, Swanson is tuned in. A graduate of the University of South Florida, Swanson is constantly on the lookout for new talent as an art liaison for Ringling Underground and as a volunteer for Ringling’s conservation laboratory.

“The art component of the festival is extremely important because if you look at surrounding communities such as St. Petersburg or Tampa, there are a lot of galleries or smaller spaces that do these themed, curated events that give younger, emerging artists a chance to exhibit in the community,” says Swanson.

The art component of the festival will display works from 20 regional artists, some of who are enjoying their first professional show.

But unlike past years when the art show was limited to one day of the festival, the Equality Gallery will be up from May 15 to 31, at the HuB. And though the festival has an underlying theme of LGBT advocacy, Swanson is hands-off on what can be submitted.

“People are open to submit whatever they want,” says Swanson. “In the past, the gallery asked for specific themes. I find that that is really limiting. I don’t ask people to tailor their art to a specific theme in most cases. I let the artists speak to a theme they envision and create works for it.”

“It’s worth it because I believe in the festival. My favorite part ... is seeing the families come out. Everyone is just so happy, and the community comes together, and you see so many people smiling. It’s a magical day.” – Anthony Paull, film and music booker and public relations manager for the Harvey Milk Festival

MUSIC
Originally started as a music festival to showcase local and emerging musicians, the live-music sector of the three-day festival is still the centerpiece of the weekend. Taking place in the heart of downtown at Five Points Park, the free outdoor concert features local and international indie rock artists and bands. Running from 2:30 p.m. to midnight May 16, the lineup includes Jami Gee, RedFeather, Chasing Jonah, Beach Day, Amythyst Kiah & Her Chest of Glass, Lost Lander, Kodak to Graph, MeteorEYES, Yip Deceiver and Bright Light Bright Light.

“There’s a science to it,” says Paull. “The first year I didn’t know what I was doing, but after the sixth year, I finally have a method. I like to start local and grow bigger and bigger with each act until we reach the international acts as the night goes on. Also, I like for the music to get dancier and dancier. The people need to be dancing.”

For Paull and Swanson, the congregation of people and families throughout the day makes the hours of volunteering for the nonprofit festival worth it.

“I love what I do by giving back to the community,” Paull says. “It’s really gratifying to be doing something for the community and something that I can stand behind.”