Bio

Shawna Dempsey and Lorri Millan create smart and funny feminist performances, films, videos, artist’s books and public art projects. They have performed and exhibited throughout Canada, Japan, Europe, Australia, and the U.S. These collaborators since 1989 are infamous for pieces such as We're Talking Vulva, A Day in the Life of a Bull-Dyke and Lesbian National Parks and Services.  

The Work of Shawna Dempsey & Lorri Millan compilation on DVD is available through Video Pool Media Arts Centre

Works

Lesbian National Parks & Services Presents: Endangered Species

  • 2009
  • Shawna Dempsey, Lorri Millan

That formidable force of conservation officials, Lesbian National Parks and Services, presents three portraits of lesbian species in crisis. Not unlike the renowned 1970s Hinterlands Who's-Who series, these public service announcements point to the perils of habitat loss and poaching. The Marxist Feminist, the Lesbian Separatist and the Bull-Dykus Americanus are featured in this parody of nature education.

Lesbian National Parks & Services Presents: Endangered Species

Vigilance

  • 2014
  • Shawna Dempsey, Lorri Millan

A woman is dragged through an empty field in scenario reminiscent of horror movies and news stories. But she is alert, impassive, and remains vigilantly focused on the camera. This hand-processed, Super 8 film juxtaposes degraded, awkwardly-staged footage of every woman's worst nightmare with an interior monologue regarding media representation of sexualized violence. The piece asks how violent, misogynist images play out in our psyches and in our culture. The film was commissioned by 8fest, To

Vigilance

Super

  • 2009
  • Shawna Dempsey, Lorri Millan

What would a feminist superhero look like? Could she leap tall buildings in a single bound? Could she bend steel with her bare hands? What would her name be? And would anyone remember it? Commissioned by MAWA's Art Building Community Symposium, performance artists Shawna Dempsey and Lorri Millan have created an aging superhero with unusual powers. Watch as she wrestles the notion of "super" to the ground! In light of reality TV and celebrity culture, where everyone who wants to be a superstar ca

Super

Consideration Liberation Army

  • 2007
  • Shawna Dempsey, Lorri Millan

The Summer of Thought was unleashed upon the citizens of Winnipeg in 2007. For three months, Consideration Liberation Army agitated for unbridled thought and thoughtfulness.

Consideration Liberation Army

Archaeology and You

  • 2004
  • Shawna Dempsey, Lorri Millan

Originally a multichannel video installation at the Royal Ontario Museum, Archaeology and You contemplates fallen empires, language and the motivating power of fear.

Archaeology and You

Lesbian National Parks and Services: A Force of Nature

  • 2002
  • Shawna Dempsey, Lorri Millan

The Lesbian Ranger Corps is a fast growing and dynamic force of professionals dedicated to lesbian wildlife in all its forms.

Lesbian National Parks and Services: A Force of Nature

Calamity

  • 2000
  • Shawna Dempsey, Lorri Millan

"Calamity" follows the Wild West heroine Calamity Jane through time.

Calamity

Peril!

  • 2000
  • Shawna Dempsey

Peril! charts the dangerous territory of women's everyday lives. The tightrope walker vacuums across Niagara Falls while pondering employment; the bearded lady waits by the phone while holding up the world; the human cannonball hurtles through space, unsure if she will ever land, but making the best of things. Using video imagery from Dempsey and Millan's performance, " The Headless Woman" (The Western Front, January 1998), this video features acts of daredeviltry by Sharon Bajer, Lorri Millan

Peril!

Homogeneity

  • 1998
  • Shawna Dempsey, Lorri Millan

Using the metaphor of suburban architecture, "Homogeneity" archly critiques the desire for conformity within the/our queer community.

Homogeneity

The Headless Woman

  • 1998
  • Shawna Dempsey, Lorri Millan

The Headless Woman is a monologue by Shawna Dempsey that recounts a revelatory love story between a headless woman and a sword-swallowing man. It was performed live with a pianist and bass clarinetist who provide emphatic musical interludes and interjections and create a cabaret-style atmosphere.

Headless Woman, The

Waitress

  • 1997
  • Shawna Dempsey

"Waitress" is about its title; a short documentary style series of interviews with Winnipeg waitresses, culminating in a portrait of service industry workers that is honest, humorous and most of all enjoyable to watch. The joys, complaints, frustrations and anecdotal reminiscences given by each waitress are edited together to supply the viewer with a better understanding of what this under appreciated profession is really about.

Waitress

Good Citizen: Betty Baker

  • 1996
  • Shawna Dempsey, Lorri Millan

"Good Citizen: Betty Baker" follows a civic-minded housewife as she tracks the missing Prince Phillip. This madcap chase takes our heroine Betty from our neighbor's trash, to a strangely exciting all-girls bar, to the arms of a handsome lady golfer. Cherry pie never looked so good.

Good Citizen: Betty Baker

A Day in the Life of a Bull-Dyke

  • 1995
  • Shawna Dempsey, Lorri Millan

This video tells the story of a big boned butcher who finds passion and purpose. Both the public and the private lives of this “strange animal” are documented with the same mix of reverence and glee found in the exposés Bull-Dyke mocks. However, because we see the world through the eyes of the subject, this fictionalized history is filled with all the joy, pain and ambivalence each of us experiences.

A Day in the Life of a Bull-Dyke

What Does a Lesbian Look Like?

  • 1994
  • Shawna Dempsey, Lorri Millan

Produced for Much Music’s Word Up program, "What Does a Lesbian Look Like?" examines a plethora of big dyke stereotypes and embraces them. Performed by Shawna Dempsey and a whole whack of gals. Created by Dempsey and Millan.

What Does a Lesbian Look Like?

Object / Subject of Desire

  • 1993
  • Shawna Dempsey, Lorri Millan

In their familiar, humorous style, Millan and Dempsey explore the elements of passionate lesbian love. A woman stands in isolation, clad in a paper ball gown that is both fragile and stiff. On it, and on her environment, are reflected projections of her desire and its denial.

Object / Subject of Desire

We're Talking Vulva

  • 1990
  • Shawna Dempsey

A five-foot, six-inch rappin’ vulva, in an unexpected parody of the music video genre, leads the viewer on a complete description of female genitalia.

We're Talking Vulva

We're Talking Vulva

  • 1990
  • Shawna Dempsey, Lorri Millan

At long last, everything you’ve always wanted to know about down there, but were afraid to ask. A groovy guide to feminine hygiene wherein our heroine, Ms V., struts her stuff about town in the funkiest anatomical tour ever. She raps! She dances! She’s big! "We’re Talking Vulva" is a wear and care manual with kick- it’s a rock video.

We’re Talking Vulva