Inviting everyone under the rainbow By Fiona Campbell
June
is Pride month,
Arts Education
a time when LGBTQ2S+ communities around the world celebrate the freedom to be themselves. And so the Quinte Arts Council proudly hosted the third annual Everyone Under the Rainbow show.
Sarah Winn, Daniel Fobert, Ella Wagner, Rosyln Dechert and Yuan-Quin Ingrid Kao in our Gallery Window.
But Pride is about more than just rainbows and parades. Pride month is rooted in a history of oppression, harassment and violence against the LGBTQ2S+ community, and this month’s celebration is an antidote, of sorts, dedicated to uplifting and amplifying LGBTQ2S+ voices, celebrating their culture and supporting LGBTQ2S+ rights.
While there are dozens of different pride flags, representing a spectrum of sex, sexuality, attraction, and gender, we displayed the under three flags: the six-striped rainbow flag, a symbol of LGBTQ2S+ pride, the transgender flag and the pansexual flag. Our intention is to foster new connections with artists in our LGBTQ2S+ community in Quinte to provide a safe place for them to showcase and celebrate their art, and provide a safe place for them to be.
While the QAC gallery was still closed, we hosted a celebration of art in a variety of mediums – sculpture, oil, acrylic, collage and digital – that reflects, respects, features and speaks to our LGBTQ2S+ community and allies. We featured artists Luis Cisneros,
“LGBTQ2S+ representation matters, and seeing artists, allies and advocates who proudly embrace their identities contributes to education, increased acceptance and ultimately community building,” says QAC executive director Janet Jarrell.
Yuan-Quin Ingrid Kao, Breadwinner
Luis Cisneros, Awakening
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Sarah Winn, Queen
Yuan-Quin Ingrid Kao, Ladyfingers
