Queer Artists Bloom in NH Audubon

The turnout of more than 70 people blew our stalks off! The food was ferntastic! Thank you, Green Beautiful! And the sense of community made our hearts bloom. I’m sorry, I think I’m getting a little too sappy.

Oopsie daisy. That’s a lot of puns. Hopefully they’re starting to grow on you.

Okay, now that we’ve weeded out all the Negative Nettles, I can dirt-rect (now I’m 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. 😏)

We can’t forget to thank them for their participation!

• Kendra Abatsis’ “Thriving” features crochet flowers and succulents that capture the queer community’s resilience and adaptability. 
• Lauren Boisvert’s “Together” meshes a bright array of flowers and mushrooms.
• Bethany Clarke’s linocut prints ask the viewer to consider: “what defines gender, and why does it matter?”
• Wynter DeLong’s “Phantasmagorical” uses oil on canvas to depict their identity through nature and color.
• Isa DeMarco’s 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.  
• Thomas Fifield’s “About The Schizophyllum Commune” zine provides information and observations about the sexual diversity of Schizophyllum mushrooms.
• Jackie Hanson’s “The In-Between” looks to capture diverse colors through the color pallet of Gilbert Baker’s pride flag design.
• Christine Hoffman’s pieces used pyrography and watercolor to capture New Hampshire’s beauty, as well as creatures both real and mythical.

• Anushka Koirala’s “Lavender” is a mixed media collage piece with flowers, sunshine, and rainbows that jump off the page.
• April Landry’s “My Favorite Summer Activity is to Sit Outside and Wait for the Birds to Come Back” illustrates the comfort she finds in nature through the use of her signature styles of comic art.
• Lane Lloyd’s matte prints explore the complexities of gender and self-acceptance.
• Justice McDaniel’s work transforms paint and repurposed materials into an ever evolving piece.
• Diana Moore’s photography seeks to enhance the viewer’s appreciation of nature.

• Randall Nielsen’s Sanguine Ichor is a delightfully disgusting piece that somehow still looks delicious.  
• Margaret Pangburn’s “Untitled Sunset”” display the beauty that comes from letting queerness grow wild and free.

• Lynn Pina’s poetry on canvas offers the reader insight into the intersection of life, nature, and the queer communities they surround themselves with.
• Fallon Rae’s 3D piece “Mushroom Moment” represents a presence of nature and the enduring purity of growth.
• Hannah Rowell-Jore’s “Mating of Limax Maximus” depicts the complex mating ritual of leopard slugs.
• Yasamin Safarzadeh’s photography captures the beauty of landscapes through the view of negative film.
• Jezmina Von Thiele’s “8 Fold Octopus Goddexx” 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 weren’t 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 weren’t 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 y’all at our upcoming events.

Aloe you dearly,

Queerlective