To Protect and Preserve

Primrose Paul is a Kenyan-born artist, writer, and curator currently based in Indianapolis, IN where she is pursuing her BFA at the University of Indianapolis. Her practice with writing involves exploring topics that surround the identity of the Black body in relation to cultural dynamics in mass media and philosophical discourse. Additionally, she is an editor for FIELD: A Journal of Socially-Engaged Art Criticism. Paul works as the curator at the Intercultural Engagement Center where she will be showcasing her second exhibition titled: To Preserve and Protect.

Paul's current exhibition explores the boundaries of identity within the LGBTQIA+ community. Speaking on this exhibition, “I think my goal thus far with the Belong Space has been creating representation. Culture has deep roots and it is hard for us to look past sexual diversity and the role it plays in shaping our world".  Aside from her work environment, the curator is a fashion enthusiast with a style she describes as an ever changing means of self-expression. In the future, Paul looks forward to working on exhibits that push the boundaries on subjects about identity and evoke critical questions about the perception of minority groups in the cultural marketplace.

Over the last three years as an artist, Amanda Bell has focused exclusively on digital art and illustration. After jumping from medium to medium over the course of her life, she found herself attached to the digital space. Bell leans on her background and knowledge in traditional art along with her curiosity for technology. She uses Procreate on iPad to draw and she is obsessed with visual texture and patterns. Bell uses a neutral color palette with red, a dynamic and polarizing color—it can be passionate in love on one end of the spectrum and hate on the other.

Bell's inspiration comes from a variety of places: specimen drawings, traditional tattoo flash, nature, surrealism, pop art, the postmodern and dada art movements, digital collage, mark-making, still life drawings, and her lifelong battle with mental health. As an artist, Bell wants people to feel something about her art even if they can’t identify what that emotion is. Giving little context about her piece Natural Selection 2021 is a way for people to insert themselves into it, the takeaway being whatever resonates with one in that moment almost like an intuitive reading. For Bell, art is an expression of vulnerability; a way for her to process trauma that she puts her soul into.

Indianapolis based photographer Mark A. Lee has been photographing the LGBTQ+ community for over thirty-five years. His work has appeared in a number of areas, newspapers and magazines, including The Indianapolis Star, NUVO, Unite Indy, and Hamilton Business Magazine. Lee is currently working as his mother's full time caregiver, and writing a book about his time caring for his father who had alzhimers  and emphysema. Lee's had the first LGBTQ+ photo exhibition at The Indiana Historical Society in 2015, and a traveling version is currently touring the state of Indiana. Photographs currently on exhibit at UIndy show a richness in the community as people gather together to celebrate the commemoration of matrimonies.

As a Nonbinary Black Artist, Jordann “HoneyDip” Dominique has created a bridge of communication amongst the Black Community using art, expressed through mixed media paintings and sculptures. As a self-taught artist, Jordann creates portraits based on moments in time where Black voices need to be heard the loudest. Their work addresses the Black Community’s response to trauma as the ability to mask emotions. With this lack of acknowledgment of emotions, it’s caused broken families, internalized anger, and left the Black Community battling anxiety and depression. When creating, Jordann enjoys uplifting the Black Community to break free from generational curses by encouraging the value in mental health and healing through self expression. Jordan puts emphasis on the normalization of having uncomfortable conversations about Black trauma and the power we gain by choosing to heal and the ability to express freely. Through personal experiences with trauma and their journey in therapy, Jordann wants to continue using their story as reference to continue having safe and open conversations about overcoming trauma within the Black Community.

Nyla (she/they) is a queer, Mexican American artist from the Rio Grande Valley in Texas that is currently pursuing her PsyD at University of Indianapolis. Most of their work is inspired by living in cities, experiencing people, and falling in love every day. This work in particular explores the theme of identity and how it is uniquely impacted by culture. It is a conglomerate of three recent digital art pieces, reworked to fit a central theme. In essence, who would you be without the entirety of your people who came before you, good and bad? Who would you be without the people you meet on the buses and sidewalks and coffee shops? Who am I without you? Who are you without me? And maybe most importantly, what are we all if not by some paradox, individually together?

Ryan Leigh Moore is a traditional artist from Detroit, Michigan. Moore recently graduated from Grand Valley State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in writing. As a child, she found herself spending a lot of time in art museums and creative settings, and always felt a creative flare within. Moore's art is heavily inspired by comics and old zines from the 1980s with a deep admiration for the artwork of Yoshimo Nara and Keith Haring. She enjoys creating art that depicts a wide array of human emotions and experiences. One of her current goals is the creation of comics series and zines of her own.

Grayson O"Connell is currently a sophomore studying studio art sculpting, with a minor in entrepreneurship. Born 2003, in South Bend, Indiana, they are originally a self-taught artist that mainly focuses on abstract and surrealism art. Grayson’s inspiration is influenced by the idea of exploring the unconscious mind, emotions, and nature. They believe that the best works are created when “the kind is able to make adjustments in the present with no set idea” when creating. Grayson is currently exploring this concept of abstract and surrealism within the 3D world of art. This past year, they had their first sculpting exhibition and they are looking forward to more opportunities to expand and share their artwork. Their piece on display is an abstract mixed-media work on an illustration board. With this piece, they wanted to capture how fun it is to be yourself and how amazing it is to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Francisco Gomez is a student at the University of Indianapolis and a self-taught artist. His piece shown in the exhibition was inspired by an event that happened to him and his partner. Both are proud Mexican-Americans of indigenous descent and practice their cultures strongly. It explores dynamics of being in a same-sex relationship in the Mexican community and how difficult it can be. Religious trauma, intergenerational pressures, hyper-masculinity, and staunch homophobic ideals have caused major issues for members of our community who are also LGBT. This piece is a testament in the fight against those ideals.Gomez said, "Part of what inspired me to do this project is a lack of representation in popular media of POC in the LGBTQ+ community. Especially with the Mexican and Latin members, we are mitigated to the spicy tormented lover, or the sassy gay Latin sidekick.

Furthermore, usually when same-sex male relationships are shown on TV, I find that many show both men being white or if there is a POC the other partner is usually white. I have very rarely seen a same-sex couple in popular media that are both POC. This piece goes against this by hinting both members are Mexican through using the color schemes of the Mexican flag, green, red, white, and brown and proudly showing their features in the center spot of the page. Finally in true essence to the story there are many watching and even some recordings in the piece yet they all fade away with the two individuals in the center being the only ones define"

Olive Harmeyer is a mixed media fine artist and Art Therapy student based in Indianapolis, IN. They earned a Bachelor of Fine Art from Herron School of Art and Design in 2021. They are anticipated to earn a Masters of Art in Mental Health Counseling: Art Therapy from the University of Indianapolis in 2024. Harmeyer’s art is focused on their personal narrative from the perspective of a non-binary lesbian with a strong psychology background. They say, “Many of my core memories are associated with my upbringing and experience as an openly queer person.

I wrestled with identity, internalized and external homophobia, gender, and fetishization. With this expressed story, I want viewers to reflect on their own experience and interconnect our lived history.” Common imagery and themes include the human body, both the external body and internal anatomical structures, and mortality. Their preferred mediums are soft sculpture, specifically the use of yarn and foam, and oil painting. Rebirth is an oil painting with a figure encapsulated in a womb of sorts, illustrating Harmeyer’s experience of coming to terms with their gender identity while being rebuilt, reformed, and rebirthed anew in vivid bright colors.

Polyester Womb is a soft sculpture installation of suspended unique womb-like sacs interconnected by the yarn that covers the forms. Harmeyer states that the piece represents connections we make throughout our lives. “There is something so beautiful about the concept of found family, especially in queer communities. The amount of unconditional love that we have for those we bond with can be so much more powerful than the love lost because blood relatives are not accepting.” Harmeyer’s resume includes the curation and planning of Herron School of Art and Design’s annual Wearable Art Show in 2021, works shown in local galleries such as Eskenazi Fine Arts Center, and participation in local queer-centric art markets.

Cambel Castle is a mixed media artist. She enjoys photography, art journaling, creating zines and more. Ever since Cambel was younger she has loved and created art. Since the years have passed that has not changed. Nowadays you will often find her working on art projects, whether it be for her art classes or for personal reasons. She often creates something new every day, sometimes it can be as small as a poem and sometimes it can be as large as a painting. In her works she often tries to convey a meaningful topic, such as her zine collection Love Another which covers the topic of homophobia and LGBTQIA+ pride.

Each piece in this collection is different from another. Ranging from poetry to informing, each zine has its own message. Cambel encourages every artist to use their art, to use their voice to raise awareness about different topics. She believes that if you use your voice it can cause ripples for waves of change. Cambel has had other works published such as poetry in the University of Indianapolis literacy magazine titled Etchings. More of her work can be found within those copies and also on her instagrams. To see her photography visit @cambelsphotography, to see her zines follow @thelostandfoundzine, to see her art journal follow @artjournalwithcc.

Casey Stanley (they/them) is a self taught non-binary artist, activist, and bunny lover. They find beauty in intentional imperfection, and favor bright colors. Seeing art as an effective tool for navigating internal reflection and exploration, a common theme in their works is powerful figures, usually in moments of self-perception. Stanley is an organizer with Queer Fort Wayne, working to foster a queer scene in Fort Wayne worth being a part of. Stanley says, "Our society often tries to deny trans and queer people our power. By channeling our inner power through art, we are able to escape external validation, a unique and powerful eye into the queer experience." To see more of their journey, you can follow them on Instagram at @CaseyKeepstrying

Fran Smith is a queer and non-binary POC visual artist based in Fishers, IN. They specialize in layering watercolor and chalk pastel, as well as digital illustration combined with meaningful text. They graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Oregon. They have won several awards for their writing and poetry. Their artwork and poetry have also been featured in publications such as The Siren Magazine and Align Magazine, as well as in the Protest Art exhibition at The Galleries at the Community College of Baltimore County. Smith utilizes space and bright colors to tell unique stories about their experiences.

They combine text and images in a visually appealing way to convey themes such as racial justice, LGBTQIA+ issues, and body positivity. Smith also explores the theme of forbidden sapphic yearning in this three-part exploration into raw emotions and the female form. Inspired by stolen glances and charged embraces, Fran delves into the mind of their fourteen year old self-enamored with their best friend, a love unrequited.

Cj Sparks (2002, Indianapolis) is an artist who works in a variety of media. Through a firm grasp of many mediums, they are able to explore many themes and ideas. By demonstrating the every present ideologies of societal norms, Sparks utilizes various overlapping themes and strategies. Several recurring subjects can be recognised, such as a recognition of community, self care's power, and social justice issues, all while exploring the artistic process and reaching for change. Their artworks demonstrate how our perspective shapes our reality and often tells a story centering around the ways to shift and see in new ways.

It challenges the many binaries we continually construct in society, examining how flexible they truly are. By using themes such as queer identity, disability, and craftsmanship, their work often explores the ways the media we consume shapes our viewpoint, and ultimately, our lives. Their works are notable for their colorful palettes and tactile nature. This is of great importance, as the artist believes all art should be touched, if possible. By focusing on techniques and materials, they consider making art a craft which is executed using the utmost care.

Wynter Rhoads is an artist obsessed with money, sex, and religion. This is the consequence of their small town, Indiana, Christian upbringing. They are a recent Herron School of Art + Design graduate that works primarily through painting and printmaking. With no desire to limit themself, Rhoads explores many different mediums including oils, watercolor, lithography, installation, and much more. Through a lens of guilt and rejection, their work builds identity, self worth, and personal community by constructing a narrative rooted in personal experience, and modern kitsch. This new narrative challenges the traditional narrative of Christianity.

Their work explores a commonality between classic and contemporary aesthetics through the usage of ornate frames, over-the-top fabrics and clown makeup. Bright, unnatural colors, intentionally flat objects, and graphic illustrations are used to create a strong initial response from the viewer. Rhoads often appropriates arrangements and visual cues from historical works of art to place their feelings and experiences into well-known compositions of Christian iconography. In addition, modern kitsch and classical symbols of death and religion are combined to create fantasy-like scenes that become the stage for abstract feelings, memories, and experiences.

Chicago-born artist Kivonte Houston is a digital artist and owner of Vitaloveclothing which has a purpose of not only providing fashionable clothes but reminding us that Love is Vital. He is currently a student at the University of Indianapolis and an avid leader for underrepresented groups as a delegate of the Office of Inclusion and Equity. As the designer, he has been able to work on the curation of events that are culturally significant to minority groups including Juneteenth and Cinco de Mayo.

Houston’s interest in the arts was initiated by his love for music videos and clothing brands so coming into college, he knew he was going to academically pursue a path in the arts. His influences come from icons such as Nigo who is known as the godfather of streetwear. Houston is a self-taught artist with his works depicting the fusion between fashion, music, and fine art. Works currently exhibited are representations of things and spaces that make one feel safe

Primrose Paul is a Kenyan-born artist, writer, and curator currently based in Indianapolis, IN where she is pursuing her BFA at the University of Indianapolis. Her practice with writing involves exploring topics that surround the identity of the Black body in relation to cultural dynamics in mass media and philosophical discourse. Additionally, she is an editor for FIELD: A Journal of Socially-Engaged Art Criticism. Paul works as the curator at the Intercultural Engagement Center where she will be showcasing her second exhibition titled: To Preserve and Protect.

Paul's current exhibition explores the boundaries of identity within the LGBTQIA+ community. Speaking on this exhibition, “I think my goal thus far with the Belong Space has been creating representation. Culture has deep roots and it is hard for us to look past sexual diversity play a role in shaping our world".  Aside from her work environment, the curator is a fashion enthusiast with a style she describes as an ever changing means of self-expression. In the future, Paul looks forward to working on exhibits that push the boundaries on subjects about identity and evoke critical questions about the perception of minority groups in the cultural marketplace.

Cambel Castle is a mixed media artist. She enjoys photography, art journaling, creating zines and more. Ever since Cambel was younger she has loved and created art. Since the years have passed that has not changed. Nowadays you will often find her working on art projects, whether it be for her art classes or for personal reasons. She often creates something new every day, sometimes it can be as small as a poem and sometimes it can be as large as a painting. In her works she often tries to convey a meaningful topic, such as her zine collection Love Another which covers the topic of homophobia and LGBTQIA+ pride.

Each piece in this collection is different from another. Ranging from poetry to informing, each zine has its own message. Cambel encourages every artist to use their art, to use their voice to raise awareness about different topics. She believes that if you use your voice it can cause ripples for waves of change. Cambel has had other works published such as poetry in the University of Indianapolis literacy magazine titled Etchings. More of her work can be found within those copies and also on her instagrams. To see her photography visit @cambelsphotography, to see her zines follow @thelostandfoundzine, to see her art journal follow @artjournalwithcc.

Traditionally, the story of Judith and Holofernes comes from the deuterocanonical book of Judith where Judith was able to get into the tent of the Assyrian general (Holofernes) and behead him. Holofernes was set to attack the Jews. The story has been retold through art history and often with a twist depending on the gender of the person told. When retold by men, Judith was depicted as soft and unsure of what she was doing. When Artemisia Gentileschi made her version of Judith, themes of female rage, revenge and solidarity appeared as she seemed to take charge.

Today when analyzing Wynter’s version, they insert themself into the beheading and take the place of Holofernes. There is also suspense on who Judith is in this piece as the artist conceals the face of the beheader. There is also the use of chiaroscuro (the contrast between the light subject matter and a dark background). A sense of sorrow is depicted on the subject’s eyes as they make eye contact with the viewer.

Mark Lee has been photographing the Indianapolis LGBTQ+ community for more than 30 years and his works shown in the gallery all show the unification of individuals in marriage. Religion has been a root in the denial of the existence of members of the LGBTQ+ community as people think of it as sin. There is a sense of irony as a light is shed on the celebration of marriage in church, a sense of community is created by people surrounding the couples.

Polyester Womb is a soft sculpture installation of suspended unique womb-like sacs interconnected by the yarn that covers the forms. Harmeyer states that the piece represents connections we make throughout our lives. “There is something so beautiful about the concept of found family, especially in queer communities. The amount of unconditional love that we have for those we bond with can be so much more powerful than the love lost because blood relatives are not accepting.”

Rebirth is an oil painting with a figure encapsulated in a womb of sorts, illustrating Harmeyer’s experience of coming to terms with their gender identity while being rebuilt, reformed, and rebirthed anew in vivid bright colors.

This piece is about learning to be gentle with your journey and show gratitude for the space you are growing in.  There will always be something to work on and that’s okay. It’s important to celebrate yourself every step of the way. Show gratitude for living. My struggle with self doubt almost beat me. I couldn’t celebrate my accomplishments because I was so focused on what I wanted my future to look like. Nothing felt good enough. Being present allowed me to acknowledge the small victories like getting out of bed, eating three meals a day, and even being kind to myself. Before you can learn to accept the large accomplishments, learn to accept the small ones. You deserve your flowers. Seek for validation within. I’m enough. Be proud of what just living feels like.

Spuds in love reminds us that love exists in all forms, and that life and love should be full of fun and joy. How can we imagine a world in which joys is the standard? In which color and life and love surround us most days, not just some?

Francisco brings us a beautiful drawing of a couple, lost on the dance floor. As a part of many Latino celebrations and gatherings, this couple is entangled in a dance, and are watched and recorded as if they are the main part of the show. In this sweet moment, we look at the pure act of dance as a form of love, but wonder about the statement that two gay men make as they move together in such an intimate act. We crash through the walls of masculinity and see two people, living in a moment.

What are the ways in which our world is still subjected to evolution? Into weeding out the weak and focusing on the strong? What ways do we see natural selection working in society when we look at inequalities? Who is deemed the weak and who is deemed strong?