ARTIST'S STATEMENT

Central Question

How did graphic design factor into the LGBT+ rights movement throughout time? I seek to answer this by creating three hand embroidered buttons inspired by different eras in queer history. 

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Literature

In Art and Homosexuality: A History of Ideas, Christopher Reed says that the connection between art and homosexuality is often ignored because of bigotry in the teaching and keeping of history. He argues that history too often relegates art to purely aesthetic work, as opposed to one that holds power and identity within culture and society (Reed 5). My project seeks to highlight that by combating it. My pins represent LGBT+ history and how art is intertwined in the fight for LGBT+ rights. Other examples of this include works that directly inspired this project. The Aids Quilt, or The Names Project, was very inspirational. The massive quilt, with each section made by a different person dying of Aids, conveys a deeply saddening yet important message about the government’s lack of action during the HIV/AIDS epidemic ("The History of the Quilt"). The Quilt is an amazing example of using artwork to convey a message and enact change. I was also influenced heavily by buttons from early pride parades of the 1970s and 80s, another historical example of using art to further the LGBT+ rights movement. Finally, I was inspired by the current-day subtle pride designs that have become popular. They serve as a way of celebrating your identity in areas or environments where it may not be safe to be out.  

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Methods

My main forms of research were literature review and archival research. To understand the actual themes of my project, I studied Art and Homosexuality: A History of Idea by Christopher Reed. To understand the history, I went through digital archives and museum exhibits of buttons and other items from LGBT+ history. Together they gave me an understanding of how art is intertwined in the LGBT+ community, and how this connection is clear through the political art from the community (Reed 3). 

My medium for this project is embroidery. I am hand stitching my takes on buttons from LGBT+ history. I used Embroidery: a Step-by-Step Guide to More than 200 Stitches by Lucinda Ganderton as a reference but primarily used stitches I already knew such as satin stitch and backstitch. 

Audience & Impact

My audience is my peers, but especially my LGBT+ peers. In traditional schooling in the United States, we are not taught much if all about the vast history of LGBT+ people. This is an injustice. It perpetuates ideas that LGBT+ people are new, abnormal, inappropriate, and/or not worthy of learning about. It can also amplify feelings of isolation common in LGBT+ youth. It’s also inaccurate, ignoring large and important chunks of history in the United States and the world, because of bigotry (Reed 72). By spanning 50 decades, my project illustrates how queer people do have a rich, powerful, and inspirational history.

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References

Ganderton, Lucinda. Embroidery: a Step-by-Step Guide to More than 200 Stitches. DK

Publishing, 2015

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“The History of The Quilt.” National AIDS Memorial, National AIDS Memorial, www.aidsmemorial.org/quilt-history.

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Reed, Christopher. Art and Homosexuality: a History of Ideas. Oxford University Press, 2011.

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Acknowledgements

First and foremost, I'd like to thank my advisor, Heather, for all of the support, input, and encouragement she provided throughout this project. I'd also like to thank all of my peers who provided valuable feedback and critiques that helped this project grow.