Light Work Pleased to Announce the CNY Pride Families Exhibition
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Exhibition Dates: March 22-April 4, 2008
Location: Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center
Reception: Wednesday March 26, from 5:30-7pm
Light Work is pleased to announce the opening of the CNY Pride Families exhibition, which is on view March 22-April 4.
The exhibition features portraits of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people and their families in the Central New York region. The exhibit aims to provide true-to-life representation of LGBT families that are often missing from the mainstream media. The exhibit welcomes members of the campus and the Central New York community to come and learn about these families and their experiences through the visual photographs and the print stories that accompany them.
The CNY Pride Families exhibit is on view in the Panasci Lounge, located in the upper level of SU's Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center, from March 22-April 4. An opening reception will be held on Wednesday, March 26, from 5:30-7pm in Room 304 of the Schine Student Center. The reception will feature remarks from some of the families included in the exhibit, along with artist Ellen M. Blalock. The exhibit and reception are free and open to the campus community and the public. RSVPs are requested to lgbt@syr.edu or (315)-443-3983, but not required.
"These photographs capture a historical moment in which these LGBT families find themselves pioneering their way through a society that does not legally recognize their relationships,"
said Adrea Jaehnig, director of the LGBT Resource Center at Syracuse University. Jaehnig felt that these families are breaking down prejudice and stereotypes by opening up many people's hearts and minds. "We hope that this exhibit will move us closer to the day when LGBT people will have access to the same rights and protections as heterosexual people do to take care of their families," she added.
The CNY Pride Families exhibit was a collaborative effort between the Syracuse University LGBT Resource Center, Light Work/Community Darkrooms, and local artist Ellen M. Blalock. The exhibit is modeled after a similar national exhibit titled Love Makes a Family, which was on display at Syracuse University in October 2006.
Kim Dill, a CNY community member whose family is featured in the exhibit, said, "This project was a great experience for our family to participate in. It not only gives visibility to the diversity within the LGBT community, but it also allowed our daughter Olive to see many other families just like hers." Artist Ellen M. Blalock added that she hopes to help combat homophobia in schools, religious, and work environments through this exhibit.
A print catalogue featuring some of the families along with a listing of LGBT resources and organizations in the CNY area will make its debut at the reception, and additional copies will be distributed at various locations throughout the greater Syracuse area. More information on the exhibit, along with pictures of all of the families can be accessed online at: http://lightwork.org/exhibitions/past/cnypridefamilies/
Parking is available at the SU event rate of $3.50 in the University Avenue Garage. Directions and maps to parking lots are available on the SU Parking and Transit Services website (http://bfasweb.syr.edu/parking/). Requests for handicapped-accessible parking should be made in advance by calling 315-443-3983.
For more information or media inquiries, please contact Amit Taneja, associate director of the SU LGBT Resource Center, at lgbt@syr.edu or 315-443-3983.
This exhibit is co-sponsored by the Syracuse University LGBT Resource Center; Light Work/Community Darkrooms; U.Encounter Grant; Chancellor's Feinstone Grants for Multicultural Initiatives; and the Division of Student Affairs.
[Image by Ellen M. Blalock]
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