The Farmingdale State College Memorial Gallery highlights and celebrates contemporary LGBTQIA+ artists of New York as part of EMBRACE, a virtual summer PRIDE exhibition.
Courtesy of Beth Giacummo
The exhibit, running on the college’s Visual Communications - Art + Design Facebook page through September 15, features the work of one invited artist each day. The public is invited to visit the site daily to see the exhibition unfold.
Courtesy of Beth Giacummo
EMBRACE, curated by Anu Annam and Beth Giacummo, includes works in all media reflecting various interpretations of how the LGBTQIA+ community has historically overcome separation and is paving the way for far-reaching acceptance. “With physical expressions of love and affection limited globally,” Giacummo said, “the concept of the human embrace has never been more timely and unifying."
Courtesy of Beth Giacummo
Many Pride celebrations, which typically take place during Pride month in June, and which Giacummo said "serve as a primary source of support for many in the LGBTQIA+ community,” were canceled due to the pandemic. EMBRACE is a way everyone can "come together."
The following are a few of the participating artists:
Bea Emilia Hogan
Bill Thierfelder
Brandon Perdomo
Carole J. Amodeo
David Antonio Cruz
Greg Fox
Kyle Horne
Lex Barberio
Lola Flash
Margaret DeLima
Marilyn Minter
Maya Kawachi
Molly Crabapple
Nichelle Rivers
Nicklin Heap
Robert Stenzel
Roya Jenner
Sam Neukirch
Terri Muuss
Tobi Kahn
Werner Sun
Courtesy of Beth Giacummo
One of the featured artists, mixed media artist Roya Jenner, created the piece “Safe Space” for the exhibition. In her artist statement, Jenner said she “wanted to express how everyone has an identity, that although different – everyone is equal…You can’t really pick your BINGO cards... what you get is what you get and you take ownership of them and hope for the best …I hand drew in LGBTQ symbols showing just some of the identities that humans identify with. Note that the center square says SAFE SPACE. This translates to that all have equal access to a ‘safe’ & free space to be themselves."
Photo courtesy of Beth Giacummo
Visit the Visual Communications - Art + Design at Farmingdale College Facebook page to view the exhibit which takes place now through September 15.
About the Memorial Gallery
The Memorial Gallery's mission is to serve as a vital teaching instrument and visual resource that enriches the Farmingdale college campus cultural life as well as that of the surrounding community. It acommplishes this through the exhibition of imagery related to the communication arts, which represent a wide range of media, cultures, and time periods.
The Memorial Gallery is located in Hale Hall, on the campus of Farmingdale State College State University of New York, 2350 Broadhollow Road (Route 110). The gallery and campus are currently closed to the public. All programming is being presented virtually.
