— ocean vuong
For Queer persons one of the far reaching consequences of social ostracism is the perception that we live in isolation, separated from any sense of a real community. It is the misperception that our individual lives and actions have no connection to a rich, vibrant cultural community of other people who share our Queer life experiences. To contradict this misperception, many artists made statements in their submissions, that you can read in the exhibition, which assert that the suffering they experienced coming out and living their lives, as a Queer person, is an experience shared by other LGBTQIA+ persons. That is, in our unique cultural community, our personal experiences are frequently communal experiences; that they contribute to what binds us together as a cultural community. The artists’ artworks function in the same way: they are an expression of a personal experience of the artist, which we as members of the Queer community can now closely view as reflective of our lives and of our community; that they are speaking to us about us, or “When I say me, I say you”. These thirty seven artists have created alternative routes through their art, for themselves and also for us. Their powerful, uncompromising artworks individually, and as an entire exhibition, demonstrate that you and I are not isolated individuals wandering in an alien world. We are members of a cultural community, fifteen million strong in the US, who have created an amazing alternative life together for ourselves. We can revel in the wonder of our community, viewing these diverse, assertive artworks. In Philadelphia, Queer art and culture is thriving. The William Way LGBT Community Center (WWCC), through the generous volunteer commitment of the Arts Committee, is the only cultural organization in the city which promotes the artistic practices of Queer artists living in the Philadelphia region. Without this inspiring dedication by WWCC our cultural presence in the city would be invisible; we would be erased. I encourage you to support these artists, three of whom will be presenting a group exhibition next year. But also support WWCC, which is like our cultural community’s embassy. Janus Ourma MS., MA Curator
Jesse Harrod has an MFA from the department of Fiber & Material Studies at The Art Institute of Chicago, and a BFA from Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University. She is currently head of Fiber & Material Studies at Tyler School of Art, Temple University. Her practice explores embodiment, gender, and sexual identity. Working with multiple media forms and materials, Harrod’s work builds on herstories of the 1970’s feminist art to offer queer imaginations of the body, from the abject to the grotesque to the humorous. Her practice most centrally contributes to a broader collective effort to redefine the meaning of queer aesthetic form.
"The three artists I have selected each have very different practices and produce totally different work to each other. Their works stood out to me; they each have a unique creative vision and expression in their art work. I felt that these works, to some degree, represent the complexity and diversity within the LGBTQIA communities as well as demonstrate the many ways artists can approach making and expression."
William Way LGBT Community Center
1315 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
P: 215-732-2220