By Susan Payne
Join LGBTQ Center Long Beach this Friday for its final Do Say Gay art workshop that explores historic queer artists and their work led by local artist Lucas Gordon.
Every week in May, Gordon has taught older LGBTQ+ adults historical lessons on queer artists, giving participants a chance to learn and create art that falls outside of the classic, heteronormative cannon as an opportunity for representation, personal storytelling and social justice advocacy.
The art is guided by the creation of “Identity Inventories” to help focus on the importance of art and the theme, “Art Where you Are,” in collaboration with Why We Rise LA and the Long Beach Arts Council.
“It’s important to talk about representation and gather LGBTQ+ individuals and look back on what artists have created and our roots because our community makes a difference. For what we are going through right now nationally, it’s important to come together, support each other and express ourselves through art,” said Valentina D’Allessandro, program manager at the Center in Long Beach.
So far, the DO SAY GAY workshops have been popular, so the Center is accepting RSVPs for this Friday’s workshop, D’Allessandro said. The class can hold up to 25 participants.
Final projects will be displayed during Fourth Fridays on Retro Row.
The final workshop will be held at the Center in Long Beach on Friday from 10 a.m. to noon, lunch included. Send RSVP email to vdalessandro@centerlb.org. To learn more about the workshop, visit bit.ly/3yPzC3R.
