The moment you enter Chad Mize’s gallery, you’re greeted by a rather bold textile in all colors of the rainbow. “What the hell do you have to lose?” it asks. The answer, for many in the LGBTQ+ community, is “a lot.” If history has taught us anything, it’s that you can still lose your job, your housing, and even your life, even though gay activists and allies have worked hard to address these issues over the years.
But when the first gay pride demonstrations hit New York City, L.A., Chicago, and San Francisco in 1970, the gay liberation movement was just beginning. Back then, Pride was more of a protest than a celebration. It wasn’t until the 1980s that states started outlawing discrimination based on sexual orientation, and only half of the states do this now. The right to marry came even later, when the Supreme Court ruled that states can no longer ban same-sex marriages, in 2015. Remember when people reversed same-sex marriage rights in California with Proposition 8 in 2008? Prop 8 was proof that gay civil rights in the U.S. still aren’t exactly the most stable thing in the world. That’s why it’s important to consider where our political candidates stand when it comes to gay rights issues… because there is something to lose.
Perhaps this is why Saumitra Chandratreya called his Pride & Joy work “Gays for Trump are stupid.” (Hey, he said it, not me). It’s certainly the most bold, and controversial, statement made in Pride & Joy.
Other than that, the show is mostly a celebration of diversity, painted in rainbows, bright colors, and glitter. (Seriously, if you like rainbows, bright colors, and glitter, regardless of your sexual orientation or gender identity, then you are going to love this show.) I enjoyed seeing artwork depicting same-sex couples and celebrating our diversity as human beings. “People are People,” by Katie Niewodowski, does a stellar job of visually portraying this diversity in a way that is both unique and beautiful. This mixed-media masterpiece features about 70 portraits, shrunk down to the size of dimes in the oven like a bunch of Shrinky Dinks, then affixed to a cluster of nails via magnets. The portraits include faces of every color, gender and identity, as well as portraits of all the artists whose work is displayed in Pride & Joy.
Twenty-five artists participated in Pride & Joy, and even more applied via Mize’s call to artists. They came from Tampa, St. Pete, Miami and Orlando. Katie Niewodoski is living in Jersey now. Altogether, the work of these 25 artists shows you just how creative one can be with mixed media. There are works of art here made with plastic wrap, cardboard, and legos, among other things. One of my favorite pieces in the show, “It’s a Gold Branch, Babe,” by Juliana Vilamil, is literally a tree branch, spray-painted gold and covered in tiny origami cranes.
These works of art will be displayed at MIZE Gallery through the end of June. At the time this article was written, the posted gallery hours were Saturdays, 11 a.m. through 7 p.m., but you should really call ahead to make an appointment.
Meanwhile, Latin Pop artist John Gascot is hosting another Pride art show, Pride Without Prejudice, at The Cider Press Café and Emerald Bar on Central Avenue. Both shows opened to the public on the second weekend in June and run through the end of this month. Check out our review of that show here.
Pride & Joy | MIZE Gallery, 689 Dr. MLK Jr. St. N., St. Petersburg. | Through June 30. | 727-251-8529, chadmize.com.
This article appears in Jun 14-21, 2018.