A Conversation with Joan
On —- the current interns and volunteers were invited to speak with the Joan Nesstle. Remember I mentioned in my first post how she is one of the founders of the LHA? At this point in my summer journey at the Archives, I got to meet Deb Edel (in person) the other co-founder of the Archives, and now I was going to meet with Joan Nestle. This was an opportunity to not be missed.
We all met with Joan via Zoom because she lives in Australia is all the way on the other side of the world in Australia. She moved there some time ago and lives with her partner, Dianne Otto. She continues to do all kinds of work with the Arhcive and LGBTQ+ community within Australia and remotely around the world.
This conversation with Joan felt like such a gift. As I look back on the video recording it brings tears to my eyes that we have been so lucky to engage in conversation with such an amazing person as Joan. She wants so much for us to be a part of the Archives, especially in its growth to keep going for years to come.
We all sat in awe while Joan spoke to us. Some of us asked questions, some of us made contributing comments but I could sense that mostly we were all just so happy to be listening to everything Joan had to say about the past and future of the Archives.
with new liberation there is chance for exile.”- Joan
Joan spoke extensively about her experience working in the bar sence in NYC in the 70s. She spoke about butch femme dynamics (which she has written about in many of her published works) She also spoke of “freekdum” and the “freaks” - what Joan was inspired by during her time during starting the archives..
an eye for the erotic encounter” - Joan
archives has been an erotic passion of mine
time at the archives gices to ehse metaphors of ….
talked about the digital world and how that ties into the moment we are in now. One of the interns asked Joan how she was able to connect internationally. (intern worked in the international periodicals) Joan explains that “it will reach places you never even thought about” It will reverberate back to you she says
“it wasn’t digital it was the human way” —- can connect to team human
can we find a way to capture the digital joan asks us?
we went on to discuss what that might look like especially as photographers - joan wants us to give to the archives - parts of you will be in the archives
there is nothing as hot as a good idea - joan
rebecca states how “it always feels like a home” accessanle to just anyone. different from other archives.
temi saying she gave a tour and how people loved how they could just take things down for yourself
joan wants the accessiblity to continue.
a hated community power of invention. - that is what the archives was joan said
be as diverse as we can - joan
where every you see a lack that should be the concentration of the archives - joan
leave with a different voice then when you came - joan
the only way we can build the future is by adding our own bits of herstory to the archives.
we are all important to this herstory.
thank you to a lover - write.
the archives is. way to say thank you to anyone that has come into your life.
you are the collection - joan
your poltic interests are all part of the archives as well.
working together in groups helps build the connection .- you need to feel the warmth of each other - the emotion on peoples faces - joan
joan in courage us to write even a paragraph about someone that might be forgotten that should be given to the archives.