“Are you a friend of Dorothy?” is a queer camp-themed show embodying the energy of queer safe havens/oases, including (but not limited to) Fire Island, Palm Springs, Saugatuck/Douglas MI, Val Kill, etc. It serves as a heartfelt reflection on the complex tapestry of summer and summer camp experiences that may have shaped us as queer youth, whether we were boldly out or quietly finding our way.
Named after a coded phrase used for queer signaling in the mid-20th century, this show celebrates and reflects upon the tireless work of our queer elders that paved the way and offers us a moment to breathe as we continue to fight in the trenches. It's a passionate exploration of what safety and sanctuary mean to each of us, a powerful reclamation of camp aesthetics that are intrinsically, unapologetically queer.
This show invites you to fully embrace and express your authentic self with all the fierceness and love that comes with being gay. It poses the questions:
- What does a modern-day queer oasis look like?
- In today’s tumultuous sociopolitical landscape, what do these safe havens symbolize for you?
- How may that differ from your past experiences or those of folks elsewhere in our country and the world?
- What can the queer community do better to serve ALL the intersectional identities of queerness?
- And what does it truly feel like to roam freely in spaces that welcome us just as we are?
Close your eyes and imagine—what does queer liberation taste like, look like, feel like? In all the divisiveness and politicization of our identities, let’s take a moment to enjoy the beauty of our existence and celebrate the magic of being queer!
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We highly encourage those with intersectional marginalized identities to apply and recognize the historical, current, and disproportionate disenfranchisement of certain members of the queer community. We acknowledge that black and indigenous trans and genderqueer people ARE queer culture, created camp aesthetics, and as such, we will prioritize those and other underrepresented perspectives during our selection process.
If you have any questions or need any accommodations, please reach out to our lead curator for this show, Courtney, directly at courtcreativecore@gmail.com
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ACCESSIBILITY: Please note access to our gallery space requires walking up a steep flight of stairs. We are happy to help you bring your work into the space if you are unable to do so, but please consider this when submitting larger pieces.
INSPIRATION: Looking for a jumping-off place? Some inspiration to get your creative juices flowing? Check out the following curated Pinterest board for this show: https://pin.it/2n0xv0dDj
Please remember not to copy any works exactly, and if any creations are heavily derived from a reference, give credit where credit is due :)