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LGBT Art Showcase: Beyond the Bar event
June 6, 2013·By BLAC Editorial
Detroit gay and lesbian art showcased at Start Gallery for Motor City Pride
June 6, 2013
f a picture is worth a thousand words, then the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender art show will be worth so much more. LGBT individuals will showcase their work at the third annual Beyond the Bar: An LGBT Art and Design Showcase to make a statement about LGBT art and artists. The showcase will be held 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. June 6 at Start Gallery, 206 E. Grand River Ave., Detroit during national LGBT Pride month.
Alexander Harvilla, the show runner for the showcase, says the showcase was created to break stereotypes and show rather than tell people "that LGBT people are different than what they thought."
"A lot of people think, ‘Oh, LGBT art show, it’s going to be lots of rainbows and naked men,’" says Harvilla. "That’s not it at all. It’s really art that happens to have involvement from LGBT individuals."
This year the showcase will feature a mix of fine and applied art. Guests can expect to see paintings, sculptures, fashion pieces, photos and more by LGBT artists and designers. B.L.A.C. Detroit magazine covers designed by B.L.A.C. Creative Director Jose Zamudio will also be featured. There will be food, beer, wine and music. Guests will have the opportunity to participate in a silent auction. All proceeds will benefit the Ruth Ellis Center, an organization that serves runaway and homeless LGBTQ youth.
The event will kick off the Motor City Pride event.
"Our mantra is art first, LGBT second. By art first, LGBT second we mean that you wouldn’t look at a piece and know it was done by an LGBT artist," says Harvilla. "The point of that is to really show the contributions of LGBT individuals to this really amazing art scene that Detroit has."
For more information on this weekends Motor City Pride events, visit the BLAC Detroit calendar.
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