LGBTQ+ Collective Show

On display in the Stanton Gallery May 31 – June 24, 2022.

Artists who identify with the LGBTQ+ community in our region were invited to participate in this collective show to help show support to those who may be struggling in their identity in this marginalized group. The show represents a group in our community who have felt dismissed, put-down, or otherwise excluded in other galleries, environments, or social communities.

We envision our space as a dynamic and vibrant hub to promote and preserve creativity as part of every human’s daily life.

Clear Lake Arts Center

Artists were encouraged to submit work either about their life & struggles as members of the LGBTQ+ community or artwork that doesn’t inherently pertain to their affiliation in the community. This gives all members of LGBTQ+ community a chance to showcase their work just like we host other themed exhibitions throughout the year for a variety of mediums and groups of artists.

The Clear Lake Arts Center has a well-defined set of core beliefs, and hosting shows of this nature cause our actions to meet our values. Hosting the LGBTQ+ Collaborative Show allows us to embrace aspects of our diverse community we don’t always get to showcase, include artists who might otherwise not fit exhibition criteria, and show that we genuinely want to make the effort for all in the community to have the opportunity to share their love for the arts.

We believe in community by welcoming and engaging all members of our diverse community. We seek input from you, listen with respect, and by offer a variety of activities.

We believe in inclusion by inviting everyone to bring their creativity and uniqueness to the table. Promoting curiosity, considering other perspectives, and working together.

We believe in wholeheartedness by caring about what we do and the community we serve. This is done through compassion and kindness, being sincere and respectful, and connecting and encouraging each other.

Clear Lake Arts Center’s Vision, Mission, and Values

Shows with any type of theme can change one’s interpretation of the work. An artwork of a person can be seen differently when it’s framed in an exhibition of self-portraits vs an exhibition about clothing styles from the past. Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe work might be interpreted differently in a exhibition about Marilyn than an exhibition on LGBTQ+ artists. Looking at work from these different perspectives encourages people to think critically and see the world from another person’s filter. A photographer might focus on composition while a painter might look at the texture of brush strokes, and a financially secure person may see different things in a work than someone struggling to make ends meet. Starting out with the information of the artist’s background can inform the artwork in different ways.

Please stop in to see the amazing work from your peers, neighbors, and even friends represented in the show. Happy Pride Month!