---

---

Avi Critz and Persephone Corvid Rose’s four-word motto — “be gay, do art” — can be seen on the 2nd Street Art Gallery’s walls, though opening night is still two days away.

Critz, Rose and Thomas Kelem, the hosts of Queer Things Radio on KFUG 101.1 FM in Crescent City, are spearheading the gallery’s first Queer Art Show. The show, which features roughly 25 pieces, will begin with an open house on Saturday and will be on display for two months.

Kelem, who moved to Del Norte County from Chico, said he had taken part in an art show called “Coming Out for Art” on Coming Out Day, which is Oct. 11. He, Critz and Rose thought a similar show in Del Norte County would be fun and set about planning for it in November. The goal, they say, is to create a safe space for LGBTQ individuals living in Del Norte County.

“It’s an opportunity for people to express that part of themselves, part fo their queer identity or experience, and to have a way of putting that out in the world that’s creative and impactful,” Kelem told the Wild Rivers Outpost on Wednesday.

“Queer people are included in other art shows, but just having a focus on it helps create more visibility and gets other people to see, ‘Oh, these are people that are doing something or have some way for me to relate to them or have something to offer.’”

Having a queer-specific safe space also allows artists to create art for the sake of art, Critz said.

“You can have fun with it,” he said. “Sometimes you draw something fun or paint something fun because that’s also an expression of your experience.”

Rose, who has been an artist in various mediums for much of their life, said there are a lot of symbols and codes unique to queer art. Much of it had to be subtle because being queer was historically illegal, they said.

For Rose, who has a drawing in highlighter on display called the “Idolized Self,” noted that their contribution to the show and Critz’s has much to do with the shape of the body.

“Longing and yearning are big ones,” Rose said. “It’s very subtle in queer art, though. One of the symbols has been two hands almost touching but not quite; the hesitation and fear.”

The Queer Things Art Show is a show by queer people for queer people because many don’t have that opportunity in Del Norte County, Rose said.

The show will include photographs, drawings, paintings and sculpture, Kelem said. Kelem’s art, black-and-white photographs he hand colored, will also be on display.

One piece that stands out to Kelem is from college, years ago, of a hand-colored photograph of someone he was in love with.

“He was taking a nap in my dorm room and I took a photograph,” he said. “It was a black-and-white photograph that was hand colored.”

Critz said his contribution to the show include two digitally-created pieces that he printed out. One is a torso, which is similar to Rose’s and is also a representation of the idealized self, he said. Both Critz and Rose noted that a lot of trans art focuses on the body.

“The inspiration was, ‘What if I didn’t have boobs and also had magic?’” Critz said. “The other one was I was listening to a song and it just made me feel gay and I’m like, hmm…, this fits with this character with a franchise I connect with, so time to project.”

The three hosts also thanked the 2nd Street Art Gallery, also known as the California Redwoods Art Association, for their willingness to serve as a venue for the Queer Things Art Show. Kelem said the gallery’s representatives were excited and enthusiastic about opening space to the local LGBT community.

The Queer Things Art Show & Opening Party will be held from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Saturday at the 2nd Street Art Gallery, 1228 2nd Street in Crescent City.

Queer Things Radio airs from 1 p.m.-2 p.m. the first Sunday of the month at KFUG 101.1 FM in Crescent City and online at kfugradio.org.

---

SHARE →