PATRICIA DUONG-
SYRACUSE, A CITY DEEPLY ROOTED WITH RICH HISTORY, THERE IS ONE WOMAN AT THE EVERSON MUSEUM WHO IS REWRITING THE NARRATIVE AND CHAMPIONING GREATER REPRESENTATION FOR THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY. FOR HER, IT’S NOT ABOUT CHANGING THE ARTISTIC LANDSCAPE, IT’S ABOUT PROVIDING A SPACE WHERE MEMBERS OF THE QUEER COMMUNITY CAN SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED, CELEBRATED, AND EMBRACED.
SHERI MERTEN-
I FIRST MOVED TO SYRACUSE ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND I REALIZED THERE WASN’T A LOT OF QUEER PROGRAMMING HAPPENING AT THE MUSEUM, SO I WANTED TO CHANGE THAT. SO, WE HAVE OUR FIRST PROGRAM, IT’S VERY EXCITING. WE’RE DOING DRAG DOCENT TOURS OF PEPE MAR’S EXHIBITION. PEPE MAR IS A QUEER ARTIST FROM MIAMI. HIS EXHIBITION DEALS A LOT WITH LOOKING AT ALTER EGOS. VERY INTERESTING WORK THAT HE HAS UP THERE AND CHARACTER CREATION. REALLY IN ESSENCE, I THINK DRAG PERFORMANCES ARE ABOUT CAPTURING AN ALTER EGO THAT YOU HAVE. A LOT OF TIMES TOO JUST WITHIN QUEER CULTURE, YOU HAVE DIFFERENT PERSONAS YOU ARE PRESENTING TO PEOPLE.
PATRICIA DUONG-
PICTURE THIS- THE OLDER AND YOUNGER LGBTQ FOLKS SHARING STORIES, BREAKING BREAD, AND CELEBRATING DIVERSITY. THE EVERSON MUSEUM IS HOLDING A QUEER NIGHT WHERE THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY CAN GO TO BE THEMSELVES; CAPTURING ALL THE LAUGHTER AND CONNECTION HERE AT THE EVERSON MUSEUM. IT’S ALL ABOUT CELEBRATING THE RAINBOW.
PATRICIA DUONG-
SHERRI MERTEN EXPRESSED THAT PEOPLE OF ALL DIFFERENT AGES ARE COMING HERE TO TELL THEIR STORIES WHERE ART IS THEIR COMFORT AND THEIR DIFFERENCES ARE EMBRACED.
SHERRI MERTEN-
EVERYONE IS CREATING SOME THING I THINK EVERY DAY WHETHER OR NOT YOU REAKIZE IT. USING ART JUST YIELDS SO WELL; YOU CAN LOOK AT IT THROUGH SO MANY DIFFERENT LENSES WHETHER THAT’S TALKING ABOUT BLACK HISTORY, QUEER HISTORY, OR WOMEN’S HISTORY. THERE’S SO MANY DIFFERENT LENSES THAT YOU CAN VIEW ART SO USING IT TO FACILITATE CONVERSATIONS IS SO IMPORTANT.
PATRICIA DUONG-
THE MUSEUM SHOWS THAT DIVERSITY ISN’T JUST COLORFUL, IT’S THE MASTERPIECE THAT LIFE CAN BE. REPORTING IN SYRACUSE, I’M PATRICIA DUONG, N-C-C NEWS.
SYRACUSE, NY (NCC News)– When it comes to culture and art, Syracuse is no stranger to history. But there is a fresh brushstroke on the canvas of the Everson Museum- one that is painting a picture of inclusivity for the LGBTQ+ community. They are working to rewrite the narrative to create an inclusive space in a city that is entrenched in history.
Sheri Merten, the learning and engagement coordinator at the Everson Museum, moved to Syracuse just a year ago. When she arrived, she realized that there was a lack of LGBTQ+ programming in the local art scene. Her response to this has been nothing short of impressive.
For their inaugural program, they are doing Drag Docent Tours to shines a light on the artistic creations of Pepe Mar, a queer artist from Miami. Mar’s exhibition dives into the world of character creation and alter egos, themes that are closely tied with the queer community. Merten explained that drag art captures the very essence of queer culture. The exhibition highlights the celebration of diverse personas.
The museum’s commitment goes beyond the canvas. They hosted “Queer Night,” where they gathered members of the community that went past generational gaps. LGBTQ+ individuals came together to share a meal, their personal stories and celebrate each other’s differences. This night captured laughter and the essence of acceptance and unity within the museum’s walls.
“Using art just yields so well. You can look at it through so many different lenses whether that is talking about black history, queer history, women’s history. There are so many different lenses that you can view art so using it to facilitate conversations is so important,” Merten explained.
The Everson Museum proved to not only be a place filled with vibrant creations, but it is also a testament that diversity is the masterpiece that life can be. A place where the community can see themselves reflected, celebrated and embraced. Diversity is not just a feature at the museum, it is the heart of the story.
