Why i choose to be colorful in a dreary world.

i’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but i really like color.

i have always been drawn to the bright and the vibrant: from elementary school studies of Mondrian’s primary color palettes; to the vivid Van Goughs we discussed and playfully copied in high school art classes; to the fancy still lifes of Maria van Oosterwyck, the blobulous forms and compositions of Thomas Benton, the grotesque portraits of Ivan Albright, and of course the plain richness of Vermeer i’ve loved into adulthood.

Color is communication. It is symbol. It is meaning.

Of all the elements of art, color is probably my favorite because it is deceptively complex: layered, evocative, and, sometimes, manipulative.

And color has an important place in LGBTQ+ history, too.

There’s the pink triangles worn by LGBTQ+ prisoners sent to Nazi concentration camps.

There’s the hankie codes dating back to maybe the 1800s (did you know Gold Rush miners used them to divvy up who would dance the male side and female sides of dances because there was a lack of women in those areas at the time?).

There’s the Lavender Scare.

There’s the rise of the mid-century color gendering — blue for boys; pink for girls — and the modern gender reveal debacles born from that social construct.

There’s the original rainbow Pride flag, which was developed by gay Army veteran Gilbert Baker of Kansas after Harvey Milk challenged him to come up with a symbol of LGBTQ+ pride in 1974. And now there’s a whole array of color flags representing the various parts of the LGBTQ+ family.

And now, those on the Christian Right so threatened by our community have been fighting to “reclaim” the rainbow — as if anyone can “own” a rainbow?

Who knew color could spark such passionate responses in people?

Well, artists did — and do! That’s why it holds such an important place in our work.

Color is meaningful in my work because i generally want to spark joy in people who come across it; and i love the connection to the rainbow Pride flag that highlights how we’re all just different colors of the same rainbow. i want to use it to communicate deep feelings in others and challenge assumptions and norms.

The world is a bit dark and scary these days. i want to bring as much color to the fight as i can.

Color is joy; Joy is resistance. We will not go quietly into the black and white!

my goal is always to make others think. In order to think, you must consider. In order to consider, you must feel. And color is the easiest way to connect with your feelings.

So no matter how dreary the world becomes, it will always be a large aspect of my work.