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every month is pride month around here.
but this june, i highlight my favorite digital portraits i've done of queer history /
queer moments / queer art and what they mean to me.
check out the gallery below:
J. L. Spires + M. A. Wesley + B. A. Bush
this is a portrait i did of Jannette Louise Spires, Mary Alice Wesley, and Brenda Ann Bush, photographed by Weaver Tripp. the photo was featured in an article written by Nancy Osgood for the St. Petersburg Times in December of 1970. the two women on the right (Mary Alice & Brenda) were in love and trying to get marriage licenses. Jannette was in love too but her girl Thelma Jean Harris wasn’t available that day. they knew their chances of actually getting marriage licenses were very low but they simply tried anyway. and when they were denied, they maintained that they were lesbian women in love and that they would confidently continue to live their lives together, with or without the state acknowledgement. their truth, their power, and their existence gives me freedom. freedom from expectation of the powers that be, from judgment of the world, from the secrecy they had to endure.
Kristen + Kate
this portrait by me captures a sweet moment between two of my favorite friends, a pair of lesbian lovers, kristen & kate. their love empowers me to live and love in my truth as they do in theirs.
unknown
this is an illustration by me of the women in the life vol. 2 no. 4 magazine cover for 1994 new york pride day. while this image has no visible faces, there is an immense amount of visibility within it: two black loudly lesbian women sharing community for all of us to see. i celebrate quiet moments like this because marginalization and hate takes up too much space when speaking on queer pride.
Talecia Tucker
this portrait by me celebrates black queer atlanta-based photographer Talecia Tucker. Talecia's work focuses on Blackness and queerness at once and the beauty of the individuals at that intersection. follow @stolengfsclub on Instagram to follow Talecia and their work.
stephanie + monica + audre lorde
this is a portrait i did of an image taken by sage sohier in 1987. the photo features a Black lesbian couple named stephanie & monica. i'm not sure which one is stephanie and which one is monica, but this image sticks with me, always. after illustrating this photograph, i included some of my favorite words written by audre lorde on the beauty of women. her words are, "images of women flaming like torches adorn and define the borders of my journey, stand like dykes between me and the chaos. it is the images of women, kind and cruel, that lead me home."
cheryl dunye + the watermelon woman
this is my sofahood version of the film poster for 'the watermelon woman' (1996) by cheryl dunye (featured in image). as one of very few prominent films focusing on Black lesbian identity, both cheryl and 'the watermelon woman' are beacons of light in Black lesbian history.
Yani Mo
this portrait by me celebrates black queer atlanta-based rapper and artist Yani Mo. Yani describes her sound as "countryqueersoul", a vibe the world desperately needs more of. follow @_yanimo on instagram to get into Yani Mo and her music.
dykes against racism everywhere (d.a.r.e.)
my sofahood version of the famous photograph of dykes against racism everywhere (D.A.R.E.) protesting in an anti-kkk rally held in greensboro, north carolina, usa. dykes against racism everywhere was an organization based in new york city in the 1980's. their group name is self-explanatory--and brilliant.
J. L. Spires + M. A. Wesley + B. A. Bush
this is a portrait i did of Jannette Louise Spires, Mary Alice Wesley, and Brenda Ann Bush, photographed by Weaver Tripp. the photo was featured in an article written by Nancy Osgood for the St. Petersburg Times in December of 1970. the two women on the right (Mary Alice & Brenda) were in love and trying to get marriage licenses. Jannette was in love too but her girl Thelma Jean Harris wasn’t available that day. they knew their chances of actually getting marriage licenses were very low but they simply tried anyway. and when they were denied, they maintained that they were lesbian women in love and that they would confidently continue to live their lives together, with or without the state acknowledgement. their truth, their power, and their existence gives me freedom. freedom from expectation of the powers that be, from judgment of the world, from the secrecy they had to endure.
Kristen + Kate
this portrait by me captures a sweet moment between two of my favorite friends, a pair of lesbian lovers, kristen & kate. their love empowers me to live and love in my truth as they do in theirs.
unknown
this is an illustration by me of the women in the life vol. 2 no. 4 magazine cover for 1994 new york pride day. while this image has no visible faces, there is an immense amount of visibility within it: two black loudly lesbian women sharing community for all of us to see. i celebrate quiet moments like this because marginalization and hate takes up too much space when speaking on queer pride.
Talecia Tucker
this portrait by me celebrates black queer atlanta-based photographer Talecia Tucker. Talecia's work focuses on Blackness and queerness at once and the beauty of the individuals at that intersection. follow @stolengfsclub on Instagram to follow Talecia and their work.
stephanie + monica + audre lorde
this is a portrait i did of an image taken by sage sohier in 1987. the photo features a Black lesbian couple named stephanie & monica. i'm not sure which one is stephanie and which one is monica, but this image sticks with me, always. after illustrating this photograph, i included some of my favorite words written by audre lorde on the beauty of women. her words are, "images of women flaming like torches adorn and define the borders of my journey, stand like dykes between me and the chaos. it is the images of women, kind and cruel, that lead me home."
cheryl dunye + the watermelon woman
this is my sofahood version of the film poster for 'the watermelon woman' (1996) by cheryl dunye (featured in image). as one of very few prominent films focusing on Black lesbian identity, both cheryl and 'the watermelon woman' are beacons of light in Black lesbian history.
Yani Mo
this portrait by me celebrates black queer atlanta-based rapper and artist Yani Mo. Yani describes her sound as "countryqueersoul", a vibe the world desperately needs more of. follow @_yanimo on instagram to get into Yani Mo and her music.
dykes against racism everywhere (d.a.r.e.)
my sofahood version of the famous photograph of dykes against racism everywhere (D.A.R.E.) protesting in an anti-kkk rally held in greensboro, north carolina, usa. dykes against racism everywhere was an organization based in new york city in the 1980's. their group name is self-explanatory--and brilliant.
J. L. Spires + M. A. Wesley + B. A. Bush
this is a portrait i did of Jannette Louise Spires, Mary Alice Wesley, and Brenda Ann Bush, photographed by Weaver Tripp. the photo was featured in an article written by Nancy Osgood for the St. Petersburg Times in December of 1970. the two women on the right (Mary Alice & Brenda) were in love and trying to get marriage licenses. Jannette was in love too but her girl Thelma Jean Harris wasn’t available that day. they knew their chances of actually getting marriage licenses were very low but they simply tried anyway. and when they were denied, they maintained that they were lesbian women in love and that they would confidently continue to live their lives together, with or without the state acknowledgement. their truth, their power, and their existence gives me freedom. freedom from expectation of the powers that be, from judgment of the world, from the secrecy they had to endure.
Kristen + Kate
this portrait by me captures a sweet moment between two of my favorite friends, a pair of lesbian lovers, kristen & kate. their love empowers me to live and love in my truth as they do in theirs.
unknown
this is an illustration by me of the women in the life vol. 2 no. 4 magazine cover for 1994 new york pride day. while this image has no visible faces, there is an immense amount of visibility within it: two black loudly lesbian women sharing community for all of us to see. i celebrate quiet moments like this because marginalization and hate takes up too much space when speaking on queer pride.
Talecia Tucker
this portrait by me celebrates black queer atlanta-based photographer Talecia Tucker. Talecia's work focuses on Blackness and queerness at once and the beauty of the individuals at that intersection. follow @stolengfsclub on Instagram to follow Talecia and their work.
stephanie + monica + audre lorde
this is a portrait i did of an image taken by sage sohier in 1987. the photo features a Black lesbian couple named stephanie & monica. i'm not sure which one is stephanie and which one is monica, but this image sticks with me, always. after illustrating this photograph, i included some of my favorite words written by audre lorde on the beauty of women. her words are, "images of women flaming like torches adorn and define the borders of my journey, stand like dykes between me and the chaos. it is the images of women, kind and cruel, that lead me home."
cheryl dunye + the watermelon woman
this is my sofahood version of the film poster for 'the watermelon woman' (1996) by cheryl dunye (featured in image). as one of very few prominent films focusing on Black lesbian identity, both cheryl and 'the watermelon woman' are beacons of light in Black lesbian history.
Yani Mo
this portrait by me celebrates black queer atlanta-based rapper and artist Yani Mo. Yani describes her sound as "countryqueersoul", a vibe the world desperately needs more of. follow @_yanimo on instagram to get into Yani Mo and her music.
dykes against racism everywhere (d.a.r.e.)
my sofahood version of the famous photograph of dykes against racism everywhere (D.A.R.E.) protesting in an anti-kkk rally held in greensboro, north carolina, usa. dykes against racism everywhere was an organization based in new york city in the 1980's. their group name is self-explanatory--and brilliant.
J. L. Spires + M. A. Wesley + B. A. Bush
this is a portrait i did of Jannette Louise Spires, Mary Alice Wesley, and Brenda Ann Bush, photographed by Weaver Tripp. the photo was featured in an article written by Nancy Osgood for the St. Petersburg Times in December of 1970. the two women on the right (Mary Alice & Brenda) were in love and trying to get marriage licenses. Jannette was in love too but her girl Thelma Jean Harris wasn’t available that day. they knew their chances of actually getting marriage licenses were very low but they simply tried anyway. and when they were denied, they maintained that they were lesbian women in love and that they would confidently continue to live their lives together, with or without the state acknowledgement. their truth, their power, and their existence gives me freedom. freedom from expectation of the powers that be, from judgment of the world, from the secrecy they had to endure.
Kristen + Kate
this portrait by me captures a sweet moment between two of my favorite friends, a pair of lesbian lovers, kristen & kate. their love empowers me to live and love in my truth as they do in theirs.
unknown
this is an illustration by me of the women in the life vol. 2 no. 4 magazine cover for 1994 new york pride day. while this image has no visible faces, there is an immense amount of visibility within it: two black loudly lesbian women sharing community for all of us to see. i celebrate quiet moments like this because marginalization and hate takes up too much space when speaking on queer pride.
Talecia Tucker
this portrait by me celebrates black queer atlanta-based photographer Talecia Tucker. Talecia's work focuses on Blackness and queerness at once and the beauty of the individuals at that intersection. follow @stolengfsclub on Instagram to follow Talecia and their work.
stephanie + monica + audre lorde
this is a portrait i did of an image taken by sage sohier in 1987. the photo features a Black lesbian couple named stephanie & monica. i'm not sure which one is stephanie and which one is monica, but this image sticks with me, always. after illustrating this photograph, i included some of my favorite words written by audre lorde on the beauty of women. her words are, "images of women flaming like torches adorn and define the borders of my journey, stand like dykes between me and the chaos. it is the images of women, kind and cruel, that lead me home."
cheryl dunye + the watermelon woman
this is my sofahood version of the film poster for 'the watermelon woman' (1996) by cheryl dunye (featured in image). as one of very few prominent films focusing on Black lesbian identity, both cheryl and 'the watermelon woman' are beacons of light in Black lesbian history.
Yani Mo
this portrait by me celebrates black queer atlanta-based rapper and artist Yani Mo. Yani describes her sound as "countryqueersoul", a vibe the world desperately needs more of. follow @_yanimo on instagram to get into Yani Mo and her music.
dykes against racism everywhere (d.a.r.e.)
my sofahood version of the famous photograph of dykes against racism everywhere (D.A.R.E.) protesting in an anti-kkk rally held in greensboro, north carolina, usa. dykes against racism everywhere was an organization based in new york city in the 1980's. their group name is self-explanatory--and brilliant.
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