Ellen Blalock, artist – Opening Reception – Saturday, April 30 at 7pm

This exhibit is a portrait of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) families in Central New York communities. Through it we seek to challenge and change damaging myths and stereotypes about LGBTQ people and their families. We hope to contribute to the process of dismantling the destructive power of prejudice and intolerance. The photographs display positive images and first person accounts which relay the stories of LGBTQ people and their families here in the Central New York area.

In 2007, Ellen M. Blalock collaborated with Light Work and LGBT Resource Center at Syracuse University on a campus exhibition of CNY Pride Families. Some families only included domestic partners, some included children, ex-partners, grandparents and pets. Some writings were done by children explaining what it is like to have two moms. Some partners included the vows from their union ceremony. The process of making these portraits turned into a celebration of families, to show and share their love, their strength and their togetherness. The ArtRage exhibit includes more families, more diversity, video, and audio.