Queer Kids Exhibit Displays Photos of LGBT+ Individuals
Brought to national attention by The New York Times, artist Michael Sharkey’s Queer Kids exhibit opened in the Lamont Gallery on Sept. 15. Met with praise from both those at PEA and beyond, the exhibition was extended past its original closing date until Oct. 21. Sharkey also conducted interviews with PEA students, which he plans on utilizing in a short documentary about life for the Exeter LGBT+ community.
Queer Kids features 27 photographs of young adults from around the world who identify as part of the LGBT+ community, with ages ranging from 12 to 22. While Sharkey has captured hundreds of images before, the collection displayed at Lamont is a “very edited” group of subjects, according to the artist.
“This exhibit is a powerful representation of these students—it says we believe that all Exonians should be able to bring their whole selves to the table regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation.”
The idea for Queer Kids originated from Sharkey’s own identity. “My initial inspiration came out of an interest in investigating my own queer youth and upbringing and how that was sort of different than what was happening currently in the world, and [to] sort of [try] to understand the new generation and document how these changes have come about and continue to happen,” he said.
Beneath or beside each photograph is an excerpt from Sharkey’s interview with the subject or subjects displayed. Sharkey’s questionnaire was formulated with the help of writer and journalist Rosie Schaap. “We wanted to put together a group of questions that not only addressed issues of identity and sexuality, but also just what it was like to be a young person in the world,” he explained. Some questions concern music taste and other, less serious topics. “Anyone, no matter their orientation or identity, could relate to [the questions] at some level,” Sharkey said.
Originally, Sharkey reached out to LGBT+ youth through the Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), an organization for American public school students identifying as part of the gay community. However, after first publishing his work, many kids reached out to Sharkey and asking to be a part of the exhibit.
Sharkey’s decade-long project came to Exeter through Director of Student Activities Joanne Lembo, who has known Sharkey since they worked together as co-editors of Bennington College’s student-run newspaper. The exhibit originally debuted at the Stonewall National Museum and Archives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 2014 before Sharkey worked with Lembo to bring the project to Exeter.
Lembo, who is a prominent figure in many LGBT+ clubs on campus, felt that the exhibit was relevant to life in the Exeter community. “Over 15 percent of our students identity as part of the queer community,” she explained. “This exhibit is a powerful representation of these students—it says we believe that all Exonians should be able to bring their whole selves to the table regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation.”
Sharkey highlighted this message of inclusion and acceptance as incredibly important to the basic foundation of his work. “There’s so many different issues that young, queer people are faced with today, and those things need to be talked about, and there needs to be more platforms for these kids to tell their stories and talk about their lives—tell the world who they really are,” he explained.
Upper Jacob Hunter, who also identifies under the “queer umbrella,” found familiarity when viewing the exhibit for the first time. “I immediately saw a black queer woman with long dreads and black glasses, the one I had saw in posters. That had to be the first one I sprinted to, because for me, it is very rare to be exposed to queer people of color,” Hunter said.
Sharkey could not single out one painting that he liked or identified with best. “All of my pieces are my children in a sense, and as the cliché goes, I don’t love any of my children more than the rest of them,” he said. “I think of my pieces as a pantheon of characters and all of their differences make up a good representation of where young people are in the world today.”
Co-head of Exeter’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) upper Elliot Diaz and many others enjoyed the variety of life on display. “The broad representation in the exhibit really struck everyone [in GSA]. It was amazing to be able to look around and see faces like myself surrounding us in the gallery, not just the ones we see represented,” Diaz said.
Lamont Gallery proctor and upper Bella Ilchenko emphasized that people that do not identify as queer could also find a way to relate with the stories of the persons portrayed in the gallery. “People who attend the exhibit and read the stories of LGBT+ people and view their photos may understand the LGBT+ community and feel like they can relate to it more,” she said. “I am proud of our school for being so inclusive and for featuring this exhibit.”
Diaz felt that the exhibit provided not only GSA but the whole Exeter community with important lessons about queer people. “The LGBT+ style that the Queer Kids exhibit highlights is a form of self-expression, celebration and revolution all in one,” Diaz said. “Queer Kids sends a powerful message that queer people don’t have one ‘look’ or one experience.”
Hunter said that he appreciated Sharkey’s willingness to bring such a campaign to Exeter. “Sharkey’s works is beginning to synthesize a closer look at our identities at Exeter, and how we can move past our initial thoughts on each other and become closer as a community,” Hunter said.
Sharkey was extremely grateful for Exeter staff and student’s receptivity of his work. “Lamont has been an extraordinary thing, because there’s been so much programming around the exhibition and so many classes that come through the exhibition—there’s really been a high degree of interest in it and it’s been fantastic,” he said.
Along with many teachers requiring their students to view the exhibition, Hunter and senior Maya Kim hosted a coffeehouse and open-mic night at Lamont Gallery on National Coming Out Day (Oct. 11) with the theme, “Who Am I?” Those in attendance read aloud slam poetry and prose pieces, performed songs or played an instrument. “Queer Kids is all about coming to terms with identity and breaking the barriers that identity sometimes introduces. And so with the coffeehouse, it was a medium through which students could express their stories to other students in order to better understand where we come from,” Hunter explained. “It turned out to be a very great turn out, and I was excited that so many students had an interest in sharing their stories with each other. I think that the idea of that connection is what Queer Kids is all about: making connections with other people on different levels that extend beyond the surface.”
As a result of this attraction to his work, Sharkey has conducted interviews with students in the LGBTQ+ community on campus, which Sharkey plans to compile in a short film with the help of his brother, Daniel.
Diaz, one subject of this project, thoroughly enjoyed working with Sharkey. “It felt very natural to be interviewed on camera,” Diaz said. “He made it feel like we were just having a conversation.” Diaz recalled the questions being of a casual nature, concerning his day at Exeter and at home, as Diaz is a day student. Diaz especially enjoyed Sharkey’s upbeat personality. “He’s such a positive person; it was lovely being around him,” he said.
Diaz felt honored to be a part of the Queer Kids legacy. “Queer Kids as a movement has important stories to tell,” he said. “I’m so glad I could be a part of it.”
Senior Aiyana Brough, another of the interviewed students, valued Sharkey’s artistic eye. “As a photographer, he’s super adaptable, which I think is important when you’re trying to capture a whole personality,” she said. “We had a lot of fun playing around with framing, location, how my hair looked, how to pose.”
Brough, describing Sharkey as “down-to-earth and professional,” noted that he gave her his undivided attention. “He really makes an effort to get to know the person he’s photographing,” she explained. “Obviously he asks questions in the interview, but even outside that he asked about clubs, college, future plans.”
Brough was grateful for the comfortable atmosphere Sharkey created. Before the interview, Sharkey did a photoshoot with Brough, allowing them to connect on a casual, personal level. “It gave me a little time to get to know Michael before divulging my hopes, dreams and fears,” Brough said.
She also liked the thoughtful questions Sharkey posed. “He asked about how I identify, when I realized I was gay, if and when I came out and to whom, and then some less typical questions like what my typical day is like, my favorite class, my least favorite class, what I do in my free time and for extracurriculars, what websites I like, who the most important person in my life is, and obviously the zinger, which is, ‘Have you ever been in love?’” Brough said.
Brough acknowledged the vulnerability she felt expressing her sexuality on camera; however, she valued the project’s emphasis on being proud of different identities. “It feels good to be celebrated for something that I’ve often been made to feel scared or ashamed or insecure about,” she said. Although slightly nervous about being publicly open about her identity, Brough hopes that when her pictures are added to the exhibit, someone will be able to identify with her look and her story. “It’s amazing to see queer people celebrated for their identity in such a way. Having my sexuality displayed so publicly is obviously a bit nerve-racking, but it’s mostly strangers on the internet and mostly people who are accepting and want to see queer people celebrated,” she said.
Sharkey appreciated the Exeter community’s hospitality during his time on campus, especially those who contributed to his upcoming documentary. “It’s been a great privilege and a great experience as a whole—it’s been so wonderful, and I feel really lucky to have the opportunity to meet all these amazing kids and hear their stories and to include them in the project!” Sharkey said.