The Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG) showcased queer youth art as part of Capital Pride 2018 on Aug 22.
The showcase, called “Come-Unify,” was meant for queer youth 25 and under to showcase their artwork. Over 200 youth attended it, discussing their pieces with visitors and sharing snacks.
The event allowed for all forms of art,from improv performers to spoken word and visual art, with each piece telling a story about the youth that created it.
Some of the art pieces represented the struggle for acceptance in the LGBTQ+ community. Some pieces celebrated how far the community and Canada have come, while others made statements about a lack of services and inclusion in the country.
The pieces expressed feelings of acceptance and joy, but also pain. Art depicting hurt, discrimination and betrayal took stage, as well as pieces that underscored the importance of representation, inclusion, and reclaimed language.
This event was put on by Départ, the OAG’s youth council. The council, created in January 2017, hosts events with a focus on youth engagement.
“We have a tiny budget and we make magic happen,” Alexis Boyle, a youth council member, said.
Previously, the council has worked on initiatives to encourage youth collaboration with the gallery. It had a temporary tattoo parlour, for example, and hopes to put on youth workshops in the future.
The youth art that was shown at Come-Unify was submitted for consideration and selected by the council. Candid Yanze, a youth council member, said the council decided to show off every submission it received.
“We thought it was important to allow everyone to have a chance to showcase their art in a large gallery setting,“ Yanze explained. “These events allow a large portion of youth to come together. They play music, eat food, and have fun together to build community. These events are all about opportunity and inclusion.”
From interactive stations for silk screens to button-making, not only did the showcase display art, but Boyle said the show sparked further interest from attendees.
“We had a lot of young people let us know that they’d want to submit to this event in the future,” Boyle said. “We hope to have even more art next year.”
Photos by Aaron Hemens
