A Space for Queer Artists Takes Shape in Pawtucket - Inside Art with Michael Rose

A Space for Queer Artists Takes Shape in Pawtucket - Inside Art with Michael Rose

 

In 2021, it is reassuring to note that Rhode Island remains a fertile place for visual artists to take root. One of the newest art organizations to call the state home is the Queer Art Collective (QAC). Conceptualized in December of 2020, QAC moved into the historic Pawtucket Armory in March and has quickly gained recognition for its mission to create a space for LGBTQ+ artists to share their work without being tokenized. In a state that prides itself on its art culture, young venues such as QAC merit the support necessary for them to thrive.

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Taylor Davis, the organization’s founder, is a well-traveled art enthusiast and a recent transplant to Rhode Island. When asked what the response to QAC has been thus far, she has positive things to say, stating, “The community of artists that I've been able to meet and work with since conception of this project has been one that's abundant with love and support. The Providence and Pawtucket arts communities have been nothing but kind and supportive and working with other local organizations is exactly what fuels my fire.”

Through October 5, QAC’s current exhibition, When the Colors Fade: A Queer Riot Against Corporate Pride, features a compelling collection of contemporary works in a range of media by artists Lauren Packard, Nicole MelNicky, T Taumanu, Joe Welch, Becka Shertzer, and Alice Walker. The show, presented in QAC’s high-ceiling space, includes pieces as varied as ceramics, multi-faceted works on canvas, and plaster casts. The artists represented in the exhibition live and work as far afield as Norway. The work on display does not come from one point of view, but is reflective of the unique experiences that each artist brings to the table.

Speaking of how QAC plans to support queer artists, Davis says, “QAC aims to represent and unabashedly support the voices of queer artists without a skewed heteronormative lense. Please leave your biases about what queer art ‘should’ be at the door and experience it for what it is.”

 

 

Alongside the main exhibition, QAC offers affordable items in a selectively assembled shop. Ceramics and jewelry are presented alongside unframed works on paper, giving buyers access to smaller-scale pieces by some of the artists with work on view as well as a broader stable of creatives affiliated with the organization.

A key goal of the group is to present the featured artists on their own terms. When asked what she hopes guests take away from a visit to QAC Davis states, “I can only hope that each person who visits QAC walks out having experienced genuine intention. Every piece of the exhibition and gallery shop is built to amplify the intention of each artist. I want people to feel like they just left a meaningful conversation with each one of them and take from that what they will.”

QAC’s current exhibition achieves Davis’s goal quite well. Alongside the show, Davis has also produced a well-designed zine that allows guests to dive in and learn more about the artists with work on view. The zine contains statements from visual artists, works by queer writers, as well as a list of resources for the LGBTQ+ community in Rhode Island.

 

 

Located in the armory, QAC is at the center of some of the other visual arts assets that populate Pawtucket. Within the armory’s vast drill hall, the well-established Foundry Artists Association holds their Holiday Show each December. Just down the street, Gallery 175 offers regular exhibitions of local artists in the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center. In the mill buildings on the surrounding blocks, dozens of artists make their studios. From September 10 - 19, Pawtucket will also host its 23rd Annual Arts Fest, in which QAC will participate. In this context, QAC is uniquely positioned to bloom as an unrivaled venue, celebrating queer artists in the region and beyond.

Speaking of the future of the organization she has conceived and brought to life, Davis says, “QAC is a fluid project, but I don't think we'll ever live in a world where it's mission won't be relevant. I will always maintain a physical gallery that harbors, not only the queer voices that speak from within, but a safe space for the individuals that come to visit. We will be branching out to do more projects transcontinentally and I'm excited to watch the network of people who have been involved see their own circle of what's possible grow with it.”

QAC’s current exhibition is well worth a visit and continues through October 5. The group’s next show, Petrichor, will include a reception on October 9. Tickets will be available online. Current hours at QAC are Fridays and Saturdays from 12-6pm.

 

Learn more about Queer Art Collective at their website www.thequeerartcollective.org.