Hey Buds! đ±
(Randall's note: This was written by our team member, Taylor. Reader be warned.)
In case you missed it, last weekend we opened the new âBlossoming Beyond: Queerness in Natureâ exhibit with NH Audubon Massabesic Center. Itâs unbeleafable how busy weâve been over here at the Queerlective team!
Oopsie daisy. Thatâs a lot of puns. Hopefully theyâre starting to grow on you.
Okay, now that weâve weeded out all the Negative Nettles, I can dirt-rect (now Iâm really going out on a limb (sorry!!!!)) your attention to this article from NHPR about the exhibition. Mara did a wonderful job of capturing the essence of this event, and was able to talk with some of the contributing artists about their pieces.
And speaking of our amazing, talented, treemendous artists⊠(I bet you thought I was done with those puns once and floral. đ)
We canât forget to thank them for their participation!
- Kendra Abatsisâ âThrivingâ features crochet flowers and succulents that capture the queer communityâs resilience and adaptability.Â
- Lauren Boisvertâs âTogetherâ meshes a bright array of flowers and mushrooms.
- Bethany Clarkeâs linocut prints ask the viewer to consider: âwhat defines gender, and why does it matter?â
- Wynter DeLongâs âPhantasmagoricalâ uses oil on canvas to depict their identity through nature and color.
- Isa DeMarcoâs prints explore intersexuality and sexual habits of creatures across the animal kingdom.
- Jason DeYoung uses fabric and yarn to depict slime mold calling out what people have said about the queer community. Â
- Thomas Fifieldâs âAbout The Schizophyllum Communeâ zine provides information and observations about the sexual diversity of Schizophyllum mushrooms.
- Jackie Hansonâs âThe In-Betweenâ looks to capture diverse colors through the color pallet of Gilbert Bakerâs pride flag design.
- Christine Hoffmanâs pieces used pyrography and watercolor to capture New Hampshireâs beauty, as well as creatures both real and mythical.
- Anushka Koiralaâs âLavenderâ is a mixed media collage piece with flowers, sunshine, and rainbows that jump off the page.
- April Landryâs âMy Favorite Summer Activity is to Sit Outside and Wait for the Birds to Come Backâ illustrates the comfort she finds in nature through the use of her signature styles of comic art.
- Lane Lloydâs matte prints explore the complexities of gender and self-acceptance.
- Justice McDanielâs work transforms paint and repurposed materials into an ever evolving piece.
- Diana Mooreâs photography seeks to enhance the viewerâs appreciation of nature.
- Randall Nielsenâs Sanguine Ichor is a delightfully disgusting piece that somehow still looks delicious. Â
- Margaret Pangburnâs âUntitled Sunsetââ display the beauty that comes from letting queerness grow wild and free.
- Lynn Pinaâs poetry on canvas offers the reader insight into the intersection of life, nature, and the queer communities they surround themselves with.
- Fallon Raeâs 3D piece âMushroom Momentâ represents a presence of nature and the enduring purity of growth.
- Hannah Rowell-Joreâs âMating of Limax Maximusâ depicts the complex mating ritual of leopard slugs.
- Yasamin Safarzadehâs photography captures the beauty of landscapes through the view of negative film.
- Jezmina Von Thieleâs â8 Fold Octopus Goddexxâ was created using acrylics on wood in a devotional practice to the spirit of the octopus.
It was more than just an art show; it was a celebration of diversity, nature, and the beautiful ways they intersect. When they werenât enjoying the art, visitors of the exhibit were encouraged to gather in the center of the room to collaborate on a group coloring project that we hung around the room at the end of the event.
If those descriptions werenât enough for you, you can check out more photos from the event captured by NHPR here. And if you want to get an even better look, or purchase some of the art, you can visit the Massabesic Center between now and March 30th.
We hope to continue to seed yâall at our upcoming events.
Aloe you dearly,
Queerlective