http://sexinthepublicsquare.org/taxonomy/term/1086 The taxonomy view with a depth of 0. en http://sexinthepublicsquare.org/ElizabethsBlog/Mermaids-and-freedom <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3168/2600812623_36f8a37ab2.jpg?v=0" alt="mermaid women and children" width="500" height="424" /></p> <p>Artistry, activism, body paint, glitter, feathers, scales, nakedness, beautiful decoration, gleeful abandon: why only once a year? </p> <p> Saturday was the <a href="http://www.coneyislandusa.com/mermaid.shtml">Coney Island Mermaid Parade</a>. It&#39;s an art parade that&#39;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&#39;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. </p> <p>I&#39;m curious about other such festivals around the country. I&#39;ve recently learned via <a href="http://goingbraless.net/Forum3/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&amp;u=2">Liberty</a> at <a href="http://goingbraless.net/Forum3/index.php">Going Braless</a> (registration required) about a few that are very family oriented, as this one is. For example, she told me about <a href="http://eeyores.sexton.com/photos.shtml">Eeyore&#39;s Birthday</a> in Austin. Does anyone know of others? </p> <p>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 <a href="/user/7">Will Van Dorp</a> (see more in his <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/9246373@N06/sets/72157605757415227/">Flickr set</a> or on his blog <a href="http://tugster.wordpress.com/2008/06/22/summer-solstice-08/">here</a> and <a href="http://tugster.wordpress.com/2008/06/22/summer-solstice-08-b/">here</a>).</p> <p><a href="http://sexinthepublicsquare.org/ElizabethsBlog/Mermaids-and-freedom">read more</a></p> http://sexinthepublicsquare.org/ElizabethsBlog/Mermaids-and-freedom#comments arts Coney Island Mermaid Parade 2008 festivals New York City Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:39:08 -0700 Elizabeth 697 at http://sexinthepublicsquare.org