The third exhibition of the academic year, queer!, celebrates queer diversity, empowerment, and joy.
Nestled in a quiet corner of the department of Education, Norman Rea offers a welcome retreat from the chaos of Courtyard to enjoy the very best of student and local talent.
As I first stepped into the gallery, I was greeted by the vocals of a live performance by Miri Ukulele and the bustle of a busy opening night.
There were a number of excellent performances throughout the night, including Ph7 Band and slice!.
Stepping further into the gallery, the exhibition featured a diverse range of artwork, including poetry, zines, paintings, and textiles.
Speaking of the showcase, Norman Rea said:
“It is indeed important for galleries to challenge heteronormative and cisgender conceptions of society in this way, because of the historic omissions that have existed (and continue to exist) within these public spaces.”
As a free event, the gallery makes itself accessible for as many people to access the exhibition as possible. There is also the opportunity to purchase some of the artwork, supporting queer and local artists.
There was a real atmosphere of excitement, and the students running the exhibit were all very friendly, making for a truly successful opening night.
The exhibition includes a drag night featuring York alumni Crudi Dench on the 2nd of February, welcoming other artistic forms of queer expression.
Norman Rea will be showcasing their queer! exhibition until Saturday 11th February 2023.