THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

This free and open to the public exhibition, "Queer the Path: LGBTQ+ Art for and by Us," will showcase a collection of collaborative works by intergenerational groups of LGBTQ+ artists and makers.

Now in its fifth year, the LGBTQ+ Intergenerational Dialogue Project, according to its co-founder and co-facilitator Adam Greteman, "continues to create space and time for different generations to meet, dialogue, make art and build connections. Every year brings new lessons, new insights into LGBTQ+ histories and important conversations about present circumstances facing LGBTQ+ people across the lifespan and identities.

"This year's exhibition looks to show how to queer the path to learning about LGBTQ+ lives alongside how it is in community we can help clear the path for new generations to become part of expanding LGBTQ+ communities."

Greteman said all the participants relished this opportunity to share their works with the wider public, adding that working in in intergenerational groups "allows us to model the important work—artistic, emotional, social, educational—that we all engage in together … Queer the Path promises to spark further dialogues with viewers about the complex, diverse and technicolor lives that are a part of LGBTQ+ communities."

Fifteen young adults and 15 elders took part each year. An intergenerational team of facilitators and researchers—consisting of four faculty members, three graduate students and two elders—took part as well.

Greteman said "we also have two elder friends of the project who prepare homemade lunches for us at each dialogue session. So it is an intergenerational group through and through."

This year's Spring 2024 exhibition features the artwork of 12 young adults and 12 elders. The six other participants had to step away during the Spring semester due to course schedules and health concerns. Greteman said that they still "remain part of our community."

One of the intergenerational groups includes Kathy Munzer, a 77 year old retired social service manager and lesbian community activist; RosaLinda Canchola, a 73 year old retiree with a B.A. in Anthropology; Andy Farrar, a 26 year old queer trans academic studying contemporary art history at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC); and Star, a 26 year old aromantic, bisexual, genderfluid South Asian, Pakistani Muslim woman who is working towards her Masters in Art Therapy and Counseling at SAIC.

Munzer was recruited last year by another project member. "It sounded like a good way to better understand our younger LGBTQ+ community," she said.

Canchola became interested after she attended last year's exhibition.

"While moving from one exhibit to another, I became curious about the conversations that I overheard being exchanged between youth and elders," said Canchola. "I observed their camaraderie as they spoke to me while answering my questions to them. I too wanted the opportunity to participate in this kind of relationship. How to communicate with the youth. Having so many questions unanswered and wanting access to all the youth could teach me and I, them led me to inquire and join the 2023-2024 session."

As for Farrar, they said it was in Spring 2023 when they were talking to one of their professors "after I mentioned there were not many courses offered at my university regarding queer culture and art history. From there, I met [LGBTQ+ Intergenerational Dialogue Project Co-Founder and Co-Facilitator] Karen [Morris] and was able to learn more about the project before joining initially in Fall 2023. I followed through into the second part of the class this Spring, where I got to work with my new friends Star, Kathy and RosaLinda on a beautiful sculptural garment for the upcoming exhibition."

Star decided to join the project last year as she was developing her potential thesis for her SAIC research class.

"Initially, I was going to do research on queer spaces in the Chicagoland area that specifically served queer South Asians/Muslims.," said Star. "My thesis idea changed, but I enjoyed the Fall [dialogue] class that was offered and had to complete the second class as well. I liked being surrounded by other queer folk. And last semester, there were also two other South Asians in the class that really made me feel welcome. I was sad to see they did not take this class as well. I am actually really enjoying this class more, though. I love my group and our project."

The group named their piece "Hot Wires: Building a Wearable History." They decided to visit Gerber/Hart Library and Archives (Gerber/Hart) to get inspiration and came upon the women's music and culture focused Hot Wires magazine, which started them on their artistic journey.

"We wanted our project to be interactive, and the work of Felix Gonzalez-Torres came to mind," said Munzer. "Finally, a KD Lang album cover—colorful and fantastical, inspired."

Farrar said that they wanted to "make something that folks could contribute to and would retain a vitality to it past our initial installation of the work. We also called back to Gonzalez-Torres and his work 'Untitled (Portrait of Ross in L.A.)' which was a primary inspiration for how we wanted audience members to engage with the work."

Star added that their piece would "instead of being a subtractive piece that comments on the AIDS crisis, we preferred to make ours an additive piece. This is a collective garment that will document the histories of queer folk, both the good times and the bad times. All the important things from looking at the sunset, to getting top surgery, to the first time someone faced discrimination, the solidarity within the queer community and even what divides us. It is all important.

"We also took inspiration from a KD Lang album cover that was just so beautifully messy, like our community and ourselves. And of course, the Hot Wires magazine was the inspiration for our namesake. And not to mention Frida Kahlo and her use of color. She also inspired us through subject matter, being able to depict painful topics."

The group continually inspired each other. Munzer hopes that, by sharing their artmaking, others will be inspired to interact with people of different generations. Farrar added that—especially now when there is a spate of anti-LGBTQ legislation being introduced and passed into law in GOP-controlled states—it is more important than ever to ensure that LGBTQ+ voices are heard through various means of communication, including this upcoming exhibition.

Star told this publication she is excited to share this with the wider public "not only in the way that it may be witnessed and touch other people and move them as art often does, but in the way that the public is also the artist. We have made a base for others to build on and to have their own hand in the making. The public also become creators of this work and in turn have an impact on others who witness it. I think that's exciting. I think that's deep."

Munzer said that being involved with this group was "educational, inspiring and fun" while Canchola encouraged other elders and youth to participate in this year's class because "you will find it a wonderful experience."

Farrar said how much fun it was to work together and "come to understand everyone's unique skills" while Star spoke about what it means to be queer, no matter if you are in or out of the closet or how you present yourself to the public because the most important thing is your own authenticity. Star added that it is vital to find your community wherever you can, like she has done with this dialogue project, because "it is hard to do things alone."

Greteman hopes that people get to see "the beautiful and complex ideas, relationships, community and art that emerge when LGBTQ+ generations meet after viewing this exhibition. That the exhibition sparks conversations with viewers about a whole range of issues, histories, and questions that the pieces raise. From the legacies of HIV/AIDS to the role of storytelling, to reclaiming spaces from our queer pasts, the exhibition will, we hope, showcase the importance of intergenerational dialogues."

The exhibition will also be on display at Center on Addison from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on April 27, 30 and May 2.

See generationliberation.com/ and windycitytimes.com/lgbt/-LGBTQ-Intergenerational-Dialogue-Project-connects-youth-elders-in-conversation/70102.html .