This week in class we had a lecture from the two founders of Queer Van Kult. Above all else I found myself surprised by how grass roots this art collective is. When I think about running an art gallery in the city I picture millionaires and billionaires renting gallery space in Chelsea as a fun side project. However, Zoë and Nicie prove that with enough dedication anyone can do it. It was really interesting to be able to learn how they are able to come up with funding to organize these events. I had never heard of the NYC art council and after learning that they are a source of many art grants, I found them to be an amazing program. One question that I, and a few others, had was how being based in Staten Island has impacted their collective. When I think of Staten Island I picture a conservative enclave of the city that may not be receptive to a LGBTQ+ organization so I was interested in their experiences. What I heard from Zoë and Nicie is that, for the most part, there have not been too many issues (outside of one controversy where a person complained that their art work is demonic, even going as far as to make up the use of pig’s blood). Fortunately, the vast majority of people are only supportive and they are able to pull big crowds to their events. I think Queer Van Kult is an amazing organization that helps make art more accessible while also serving as a space for LGBTQ+ people in a region that would otherwise be lacking. In the city, I find that the art scene has become too commodified so it is very refreshing that collectives like this still exist.
