Future is Genderless

The Future is Genderless asks us to question and examine the way that gender is personally expressed right now, and how the future of gender can evolve. We are at this cultural inflection point where body autonomy and body rights are being brought to the forefront and being intertwined with the complexities of our other identities. Can we embrace the varied and individual expressions of one another and find ourselves accessing the humanity we need to not only accept ourselves but accept others as they are? This show features over 15 local community and student artists.

    

SHOW GUIDE   MEET THE ARTISTS  CURATOR NOTE

 

Thank you for being here and visiting the Pickney Gallery!

I can't express how much it means to us when people in our community visit our gallery shows.

As a community-minded artist and instructor, I spend a lot of time listening to what's on other people's minds. And in my role at the gallery, I want to take those spontaneous and heartfelt conversations and transform them into gallery shows where community can gather, reflect, and have meaningful insights. In the months before this show, I was having many personal conversations about gender and queer identity with students and young people. And the common thread was a desire to express their various gender identities and realities in a non-judgmental and welcoming space.

As we know, sometimes spaces meant for those who share similar identities aren't actually that welcoming. I didn't expect that legislation directed at perpetuating harm towards queer and femme-embodied people would be heightened in this moment. With all that said, the original intent of this show remains the same. And it's sole purpose is to create and hold space to be together and show support to each other in this moment.

I've always found art to be an antidote to harmful mindsets. Art can slow us down enough to see each other's humanity and feel our emotions more clearly. So I hope through this show we can feel the connection and support of a community that wants a more accepting and loving future.

Warm regards,
June L. Park