Zoe Moffatt
LGBTQIA+ and gender-diverse artists from the Macedon Ranges and other regional or rural areas are encouraged to apply for the upcoming Queerthentic exhibition.
In celebration of authentic stories from regional artists in the LGBTQIA+ community, Queerthentic hopes to exhibit between 50 to 100 artworks from artists living in or hailing from rural or regional Victoria.
Macedon Ranges Accessible Arts (MRAAI) is presenting the exhibit as part of the Midsumma Regional Activation Program, with $2000 in cash prizes and the opportunity to present a solo exhibition in 2025.
Artist Christos Linou took home first prize in the 2022 That’s So Gay exhibit for his work ‘A Stitch in Queer Time,’ presenting a humorous take on an optometrist’s eye chart using beading and quilting using reclaimed materials.
When talking about his artwork, Linou said he felt like he was an unexpected winner and was thrilled to even be considered.
“I started doing paintings in the COVID period, reminiscing on places I couldn’t go anymore,” he said.
“When I was in the prongs of lockdown you’re just grabbing things at the neck. When That’s So Gay came up I thought I’m going to do an embroidery on how we see the acronym LGBTQIA+.
“Fundamentally we [shouldn’t] be stigmatized or boxed into a letter.”
As part of his prize Linou will put on a solo exhibition, which will be running until January 22, at The Old Auction House, Kyneton.
Each painting in the exhibition is accompanied by a fact or fictional short story to establish the context behind each painting. This exhibition is dedicated to his late partner Bruce.
Linou encourages anyone to enter the Queerthentic exhibition.
“Anyone can be an artist… creativity is just based on how you reflect yourself,” he said.
“The more you say to yourself yes I do have a creative voice is important because the world can be almost claustrophobic with the amount of information thrown at us.”
Details: www.mraai.org.au/queerthentic
