This June, ClearStory Arts will partner with the Chattanooga Queer Empowerment Collective to present We Were Always Here, the only Pride-themed gallery exhibition in the state of Tennessee. Opening Friday this showcase celebrates the "resilience, creativity and vision" of LGBTQIA+ artists from the Tennessee River Valley.
Review for the exhibit:
We Were Always Here honors the struggles and triumphs of queer artists residing in the Tennessee Valley Area—past and present—while drawing inspiration from queerness in nature and the possibility of a liberated future. Through work that is at once intimate and expansive, this exhibition highlights the complexity of life in an LGBTQIA+ body and envisions a more inclusive tomorrow.
Intended as a celebration of LGBTQIA+ identities and experiences, the show features pieces that push boundaries, defy convention and weave a tapestry of queer life.
“This is a time to take a stand,” says Danielle Quesenberry, executive director of ClearStory Arts. “As we witness increasing efforts to exclude marginalized communities and erase our shared history, it becomes even more critical to create space for these identities to be seen, honored, and protected. ClearStory Arts has always—and will always—hold the doors open.”
This exhibition marks a collaboration between ClearStory Arts—now operating as a nonprofit with a mission to foster sustainable, inclusive space for artists—and the Chattanooga Queer Empowerment Collective, whose mission is to build a resilient region where queer, trans, and gender nonconforming individuals have the resources, support and community they need to thrive.
“Art has always been a form of resistance,” says the Chattanooga Queer Empowerment Collective founder, Eleven Boaz. “We are thrilled to partner with ClearStory Arts to uplift LGBTQIA+ artists and celebrate the beauty and power of queer existence.”
The opening reception is Friday from 6-8 p.m. at ClearStory Arts, 1673 S Holtzclaw Ave. The closing reception is set for Saturday, June 28, from 2-5 p.m.