Artistic Expression Proposal Project

Description

Throughout history, and even today, the LBGTQ+ community is repeatedly dehumanized. Often, the community is referred to as a collective group, rather than an individual or a fellow human being. Thus, the project we are proposing deals that with this matter of dehumanization is titled “More Than My Sexuality.” This art piece will encourage collaboration from the public, and raise awareness of the faces behind the LGBTQ+ community. People will send in submissions of pictures of themselves, either with family, friends, or pets. Underneath will be a handwritten message, anywhere from a sentence to a short paragraph, stating the person’s LGBTQ+ identity but also another aspect of their identity. For example, one submission could say something along the lines of, “I am bisexual, but I also started my own flower shop.” Or “I am gay, but I am also your brother, or your doctor, etc.” 

Global Significance

This art piece can help bring people together and empower members of the LGBTQ+ community by being able to show the different parts of them. In a world where so many members of the LGBTQ+ community are discriminated against because of their sexuality and/or gender identity, it is important to remember that they are more than that. This discrimination can be seen worldwide, especially in the workplace where 20% of LGBTQ+ individuals have experienced discrimination because of their sexuality and/or gender identity (Catalyst). This art piece will allow people who are LGBTQ+ to share things about themselves that many people might not see or know and that they are more than just the “labels'' that society puts on them. 

Use of Art

Public Engagement

Our proposal engages the public through the concept of sending in submissions. The public will be able to create their own photos and text, thus adding that personal touch that we’re looking to exemplify in this project. An inspiration for this project is the National AIDS Memorial, which had a similarly collaborative element in the form of having members of the public submit quilt panels. (National AIDS Memorial, n.d.) “More than My Sexuality” may not be a memorial, but the ability to allow members of the public to get involved with a simpler process (seeing as everyone has a smartphone to take photographs with) will allow for more community engagement. Especially within the age of social media, where spreading awareness and instructions on how to participate is easier than ever. 

The community uses the public for a less interesting budget, such as youth engagement for displaying relationships for social networking. The visual for social networking can be used within any community that offers factors for studies, such as marginalization and power relations within the group of people who identify as LGBTQ+. The public engagement uses a history of research results that help the economy, whether the aim of the study identifies the future social media strategies. The LGBTQ+ offer the community a theory to use for the next level of being involved this can help increase businesses that aren’t business related towards gaining profit. The public engagement strategy could be the creative vision from a new technical service that increases you gain through knowledge training such as marketing, which social media prices are in the LGBTQ+ community budget for effectively in their efforts to facilitate good mental health and wellbeing.