Our Sat. April 14 Gay & Lesbian gallery tour in Chelsea will include 6 queer artist exhibits and just one straight artist show, the highest percentage of queer artists we’ve shown on a gallery tour in 3 years.   Usually on our LGBT tours the exhibits are about half gay/ half straight, because there are generally 3 or 4 gay artist shows exceptional enough that are worth showing.  But on this tour there are an unusually high 6 gay artist exhibits that are outstanding.  Let’s face it: straight artists outnumber gay artists around 9-to-1, so of course it’s easier to find extraordinary straight artist shows.  This time it’s different, and it may be another 3 years before we include as many queer artists as we’ll be showing this Saturday, so take advantage.

Highlights will include: (1) a breath-taking all-glass sculpture show by an African-American gay male artist who once represented the U.S. in the prestigious Venice Biennale, (2) a photography show by the world’s most famous and important lesbian artist, and (3) Scottish gay artist Rory Donaldson, who will speak to our group when we visit his show of cutting edge digital art.  (Truth be told, I can’t wait to hear his sexy brogue when he talks us through his show.)  Plus we’ll visit 4 additional extraordinary shows that day, most of whose artists are gay, lesbian and bi.

When you’re a gay art enthusiast, as I am, it’s extremely gratifying to see our people achieving such greatness.  My very first gallery tour 10 years ago was an LGBT tour, to showcase exactly that kind of achievement.  AND to give a chance for queers to socialize in a setting that’s so different than the usual bar and club scene.  Why not?

There’s going to come a time (I hope), maybe even in our lifetimes, when an LGBT cultural event won’t ring any bells, because gays and straights will be more or less equal.  But that time isn’t now, not just yet.  Relatively speaking, queers are still on the fringes of society, so there’s still that extra “zing” when openly queer artists break through to the mainstream.

This Saturday, live the moment, in the company of people who are going through what you’ve been going through.

Rafael Risemberg, Ph.D.
Founder and Director
New York GalleryTours