installation view (photo by E.G. Schempf)
Contrary to what you might have been told, the natural world is full of queerness. Trees have changed “sexes” and often simply reproduce with themselves. Numerous species engage in same-sex behaviors, and male seahorses even give birth. The Earth is much more fluid than the rigid binaries humans have placed on it. Queer Ecology as a field of study embraces the diversity of nature and the many forms of queerness that can be found beyond the human world.
At Charlotte Street, the exhibit “Queer Ecologies II” playfully pushes back against the false rhetoric of nature being binary and solely reproduction-focused, by blending the field of queer ecology with artistic expression that shows the vastness of our shared environment. At a time when both the environment and queerness are under threat, this exhibition positions itself as a place of open expression and inquiry about what exists beyond the human world.
In collaboration with the Waiting Room in Kansas City and Purple Window Gallery in Chicago, “Queer Ecologies II,” curated by Bianca Brandolino, Lily Erb, Maven Kennedy and SK Reed, features the work of 20 queer artists from across the Midwest. The artists represent various artistic mediums as well as approaches to the topic of queer ecology. Some lean toward natural materials and scientific inquiry, like Maya Davis’ An Expression in Scorched Earth: I Didn’t Ask to be Invasive, which positions white mulberry biochar against mulberry paper. The work draws attention to the history of the silk trade in the Midwest through this invasive species.
Other artists lean into common queer-coded imagery found in nature, like Lucas Nguyen’s fruit-laden quilts, Is the BIG enough? and Bê đê Fruit. Each piece delves into stereotypes of being queer and Asian, reclaiming pride in being Vietnamese American amidst pejorative stereotypes by dominant white queer culture.
Walking into the exhibition is like entering a forest — there is as much to see along the floor as on the walls, and as you draw closer, tiny intricacies in the works are revealed. Calder Kamin’s Snapdragons is one such piece, with patterned flowers adorning gaping dragon mouths. Upon closer examination, the familiar recycled materials it was constructed with become apparent.
An air of menacing mystery is set by looping audio from Oona Taper’s animation, “The Frogs and Their Friends,” as the thumping bass and muffled voices become a sort of soundtrack for the exhibition. The risograph-printed animation shows commonly tested on animals in anthropomorphic forms, enjoying a night out at a bar. This revelry is juxtaposed in Taper’s “The Rabbit Always Dies,” depicting the overlap of brutal animal testing and the misguided history of pregnancy testing.
Eli Brown takes queerness into the fantastical with Interspecies Intimacy Survival Kit, featuring dildos made from mycelium, as their artist statement calls, “the world’s first living, fabricated phallus.” Next to the piece is their online database “Another Mother” of multi-sex/hermaphroditic plants, fungi and animals. Brown’s deeply environmental focus mixed with distinctly queer humor uncovers a central theme of “Queer Ecologies II.” The exhibit is humorous yet sincere, with certain artists branching into experimental practices while others reconnect with traditional ones.
“Queer Ecologies II” is balanced with equal parts artistry and significance. The works are thoroughly researched, with practices that are considerate of the “more-than-human world.” At its heart, the exhibition expands stagnant thoughts of what it means to be human or queer, opening avenues for broader connections to the world and each other. Writer of the accompanying “Queer Ecologies II” essay, Alej Martinez writes, “… these exquisite works act not only as vehicles for belonging but also as excavations.”
Featured artists include: Bianca Brandolino (they/them), Maya Davis (she/they), Lily Erb (them/them), Eve Gordon (she/they), Naomi Hamlin-Navias (they/them), Kate Humphrey (she/her), Missy IsaMoore (she/her)—part of Petals & Iron Collective, Linye Jiang (she/her), Katie Kaplan (she/her), Maven Kennedy (they/them), Justin Korver (he/him), Calder Kamin (she/her), Emily Mulvaney (she/her/they), David Nasca (he/him), Lucas Nguyen (they/them), SK Reed (they/them), Oona Taper (she/her), Exer Thurston (they/them), Kellen Wright (she/her), Eli Brown (they/he).
“Queer Ecologies II” continues through May 2 at Charlotte Street Gallery, 3333 Wyoming St. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. For more information 816.221.5115 or charlottestreet.org.
