Every Why down in Why-ville liked Christmas a lot 

Why-ville was an online community in the pre-Myspace era. A cyber village home to millions of Why-villians, Why-ville was an innovative social platform offering refuge for countless netizens.

In 2019 Why-ville is the imagined space of community celebration and reflection where we ask "why?" Christmas has become such a gruelling social experiment for many. Considering the capital forces that determine it's commercial and emotional power we ask artists to reflect on how to steal Christmas.

In addition to a film/performance program, Loop will foster and encourage a gift exchange that avoids capital expenditure, focusing on a meaningful trade of ideas and objects as an alternative for giving at Christmas.

LIVE PERFORMANCES/MUSIC/VISUALS/FILM

Callan

Callan is a performer, artist and gd institution. Her outrageous and poignant work explores queer identity, sexual identity and spirituality trough music, cabaret and clowning with her as master of ceremonies for the festival, we can promise an experience you've never witnessed .before.https://soundcloud.com/thebandbaby/callan-take-it-easy?fbclid=IwAR1sSW4vRuM95vQnI5CnaNUivnPTWtEJG2UKmtohMRE3MoAG-2Slht2Xt8s

BJ Morriszonkle

BJ Morriszonkle is one of Melbourne, Australia’s most weird and curious musical creatures: Composer, Songwriter, Multi-Instrumentalist & One Man Band. He sometimes makes explodey sci-fi grunge cowboy outburst albums, sometimes large-form instrumental works for put together big bands,  sometimes phone ring-tones or soundtracks for varied media & sometimes,  just other kinds of special ear trash. BJ is inspired by cartoon music, sad old songs, horror soundtracks, exotica, punk, humans/wonk, vacuum cleaners and other things.

READINGS

Zarah Butcher-McGunnigle

Zarah Butcher-McGunnigle is from Auckland, New Zealand and currently lives in Melbourne. Her work has appeared in publications such as Cordite, Fanzine, and Best NZ Poems. She is the author of Autobiography of a Marguerite (Hue & Cry Press, 2014).

Jo Pugh

Jo Pugh is a Fijian-Indian writer, editor and artist based in Naarm Melbourne. Their work explores and centres queerness, brownness and marginalisation and has appeared in Visible Ink and the Where Are You From? project. They are a recipient of SEVENTH Gallery’s Emerging Writers Program and the Assistant Editor of un Magazine. Jo exhibited work at Brunswick Street Gallery and Tinning Street Studios this year.

FILM - The Lottery

An adaptation of Shirley Jackson's short story of the same name, "The Lottery" tells the story of a shocking annual tradition in a small village. Director: Larry Yust / Writers: Shirley Jackson (story), Larry Yust. Every year, on June 27th, in a small village in New England, inhabited by no more than 300 people, a lottery is held in which a family is chosen as part of a ritual to ensure a good harvest.

Part of the City Of Melbourne Christmas Festival, brought to you by LOOP.