OPENING RECEPTION – SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2019 from 6-8pm

Hudson Valley artist, Joe Radoccia’s painted portraits pay homage to LGBTQ elders.

The oversized portraits in this exhibition represent our hard won freedom to be present, to be as out and visible and large as we want to be. The scale acknowledges the magnitude of the About-Face in attitudes and acceptance that has unfolded in the 50 years since Stonewall. They claim space in an open environment that did not exist when we were born, that did not exist for most of our lives, and that many of us thought we would never live to experience.

But these paintings are also personal, About Faces, our faces, and our individuality. As elders our faces become maps of our experiences, of what we have endured. The vulnerability of a work on paper, the intricacy of the mark making, and the way these come together form portraits that mirror the delicate complexity of the negotiated paths that made us who we are today.

This exhibit is intended as an invitation to enter an intimate conversation with LGBTQ elders, with a few younger voices. And to pause, for a visual musing on the passing of time and our unfolding changes.

Local LGBTQ+ History
As part of this exhibition we wanted to honor local LGBTQ+ history. On display are flyers, posters, photos, t-shirts, buttons, programs and books on loan from community members. We have also documented local LGBTQ+ history on a web-based timeline. Please view it HERE.  If you would like to contribute your story please get in touch!

This exhibition is in collaboration with CNY Pride & SAGE Upstate, Inc. and funded, in part by Bousquet Holstein, PLLC and the Puffin Foundation. This exhibition is made possible, in part, by funding from the County of Onondaga, administered by CNY Arts.

 EXHIBITION SPONSORS:
Caroline Cargo, Sylvie Destian, Lynn Fallon & Greg Daily, Julie Gozan & Tom Keck,
John Haritatos & Mark DeSalvia, Jeffery Herrick, Sr. & Moe Harrington,
Jack Mannion & Stephanie Miner, Deirdre Neilen, Diane Ogno, Rick Olanoff & Susan Wadley,
Minnie-Bruce Pratt, Deborah Rose, Mara Sapon-Shevin & Karen Sayers, Carl Schultz, and Susie Weiss

2018-19 SEASON SPONSORS:
Annemarie Deegan, Kathy Flack, Bob Gates & Deborah Welsh, GEGENSATZ PRESS, Ruth Heller/1199SEIU,
Joyce Homan, Mary Kuhn & Dave Thomas, Kim & Steve Linkinhoker, Anthony Malavenda & Martine Burat,
Sidney Manes, Jeremy McKay, Pam McLaughlin, Lauren & Walter Melnikow, Fred & Diane Murphy,
Shirley & Larry Novak, George Savage, Laurie Gilmore Selleck, Vince Sgambati, Jeff Unaitis, and Amy Zamkoff

SPECIAL BENEFACTORS:
Anonymous, Bousquet Holstein, PLLC, Donald Blair & Nancy Dock, Caroline Cargo, Edgewood Gallery,
Therese A. Deegan, Ann Jamison, Rick Olanoff & Susan Wadley, Robert Sarason & Jane Burkhead, and Sandra Hurd & Joel Potash

SUSTAINING SPONSORS:
Walter Putter & Marilyn Smith

Become an Exhibition Sponsor!
A donation of $100 will list you as an exhibition sponsor. [wpedon id=”12352″ align=”left”]