Queer Country Art Exhibition
Last Friday I attended the opening of the Queer Country Art Exhibition at Dudley House in High Street Bendigo. This exhibition is a part of the Bendigo Pride Festival which runs from the 17th of March till April 2nd : https://bendigopridefestival.com.au/
The invitation to exhibit was sent to me by a friend of ours. I had always attended the event but had never considered being a part of it. Reasons being, I have only recently started creating works again that I thought would be appropriate or relevant. Ironically, the theme for this year was COMMUNITY. I happened to have a piece that I created during university that was titled just that! Even more ironic, it was based on my time as a professional drag performer in Brisbane, including an image of me in drag from a photo shoot I did in my early 20's!
So application in, I waited for the acceptance email. I am trying to get more of my artwork out and about, not just out of the closet! I have also entered work into the Bendigo Art Show run by Rotary, with 4 pieces entered for exhibition.
After a few days, I received a response with my acceptance into the QCA show and the rest is history! Ironically, the abbreviation QCA also stands for Queensland College of Art, where I studied and completed this piece....A full circle moment!
The exhibition was well attended and I met some great people, although I have to say that I am a little hesitant in speaking about me, After all these years of teaching and performing, you would l would be a natural at it! But, when you haven't had to for so long, it takes a little warming up. Are people really that interested? Anyway, I hope that the connections I made at the opening foster more involvement within not only the art community in Bendigo, but also the queer community.
The exhibition runs until the 2nd of April, and for those of you who are unable to attend, here is the piece I entered called COMMUNITY.
A little about this piece. I created this piece at a time where there was a lot going on in the queer community internationally. Not only were there the typical homophobic slurs being flung around, but the lives of many in various countries were being taken, by their governments, for their sexuality. I am thankful to live in a country where my government no longer dictates to me that I cannot be who I truly am, let alone puts me to death over it. Australia has come a long way since my growing up in Queensland in the 80's and 90's.
I mean, it wasn't all that long ago that Tasmania still had anti-gay laws in place, overturned in the late 90's.
So I wanted to incorporate some political elements to the piece. It seems ingrained into our society after all. There will always be a struggle, as I am of the belief that with any group or segment of society, there will never be full acceptance. We are human after all and the fight will never end.
I also included images of people from different segments of the community. Gays, Lesbians, Drag Queens, Drag Kings and transgender. As a performer on the scene for several years, I was fortunate enough to meet many wonderful people from all aspects of our community. Allys and members of the queer community that became close friends and family. It is an experience that I will hold dear to me for the rest of my life and I love the diversity the queer community has.
It is worth celebrating!