October, being LGBTQIA+ History Month, has offered a plethora of engaging activities and events from the Rainbow Center on campus. LGBTQIA+ History Month was first observed in the United States in 1994, created at a small high school in Missouri. Decades later, the month is still celebrated on a much larger scale.
The founder of the month, Rodney Wilson, initially envisioned it to be a time of celebration, recognizing all the icons and historical figures that have paved the way for better freedoms regarding sexual orientation and gender identity. Coinciding with National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11, LGBTQIA+ History Month is a reminder to have pride all months of the year, not just during June.
In the name of self-expression, the Rainbow Center hosted its annual Art Gala on Wednesday, Oct. 23. Accompanied by light refreshments and music, the event was a friendly social centered around vast student talent. Art is often a universal way of forming connections and creating community, which is one of the major goals of the Rainbow Center. The Art Gala provides a place for queer artists to showcase their work and tell their personal stories, in a setting surrounded by love and support.
“Art as a medium communicates a lot about the human experience in ways other mediums cannot,” said Sam Arevalo-Hoefer, a fifth-semester anthropology major and art minor, who shared their own artwork at the gala. “Queer artists can recreate experiences via art that connects people. The art demonstrates oppression and encounters outside of cis-heteronormative society by allowing a queer voice to give us new perspectives to learn and understand from.”
Despite efforts to move forward, oppression towards the LGBTQIA+ community still exists in today’s world. Hosting events like this helps to create a safe space for those in the community and their allies, meeting to share a common love for art. Coming together to celebrate differences and acknowledge unique experiences is so important in a time where the media is filled with endless hate.
“It’s a pretty casual event, but the Rainbow Center gives a place to show things off,” Arevalo-Hoefer said. “Being queer is a part of our lives and it is important to share that with people. The art humanizes our experiences.”
Many of the pieces — whether they were digital art, sketches or paintings — were accompanied by a brief bio from the artists. However, there were opportunities for artists to remain anonymous if they did not feel comfortable sharing their name or identity.
Beautiful collages and intricate penciling and blending were all present to provide insight into the lives of the artists. Several artists explained that their pieces were meant to serve as empowerment, while others focused on darker themes of identity, overall creating a balanced experience for those who observed the showcase.
Avi Obie, a seventh-semester digital media and design major, stated, “C.J.’s piece is my favorite because of the collaging. It’s very cool, a good way to show off pictures to put a collective thought together.”
C.J. Srour is an artist that depicted many scenes from punk culture and riot grrrl lifestyles in their work. Srour’s identity as a genderfluid lesbian plays heavily into their feminist art.
The Rainbow Center’s Art Gala was a successful night of celebrating beauty and expression, as complicated as the subject may be.
Obie summed up the event perfectly, explaining that “the people who get to come see it witness the community building and education aspect of the Rainbow Center’s mission. The Art Gala is a great first introduction into queer art, which is not so common in grades K-12. People witness how queerness can be interpreted into art.”