Fourth-year architecture students and co-presidents of the Queer students in the College of Architecture, Art and Design student organization—or QCAAD—Arturo Hernandez and Rachel Sampson organized an exhibition for LGBTQIA+ History Month. On display in the Charlotte and Richard McNeel Gallery in Giles Hall from October 16-18, the goal of the exhibit was to bring awareness to visual artists and architects who identify themselves in the LGBTQIA+ community.
"This exhibition aims to raise awareness of LGBTQIA+ individuals in CAAD. It will help students and faculty understand the hardships and achievements of these individuals," said Hernandez.
Titled “Be Proud of Who You Are & Be Proud to Support LGBTQIA+ Equality," the exhibition brought ideas together from LGBTQIA+ individuals that influence today's art, architecture, justice movements and political perspectives, including Andy Warhol, Grant Wood, Keith Haring, Philip Johnson and others.
Hernandez said QCAAD also wanted to highlight National Coming Out Day through this exhibit. National Coming Out Day, celebrated on October 11, encourages individuals to embrace their sexual orientation and gender identity openly.
In celebration, QCAAD organized a three-day workshop where students and faculty could walk around the gallery exhibition and paint or draw on a door representing "coming out of the closet."
"Our goal as an LGBTQIA+ organization in CAAD is to educate our peers and create a safe space in CAAD for students to feel a sense of belonging," said Hernandez. "This exhibition is a reminder that students and faculty are not alone in the careers they are pursuing."
