Project Overview
Led research and development for two key components of the "Nothing New: Archives of Affection" exhibition: the "Color in Context" historical wall and poetry integration. My work focused on addressing representation gaps within the exhibition's collection of vintage tin type photographs, which predominantly featured white male couples.
Color in Context Wall Development
Intention and Purpose
Recognizing the absence of queer people of color in the exhibition's photographic collection, I proposed and developed the "Color in Context" wall to give voice to historically underrepresented queer individuals. This installation served as a crucial counterpoint to the main exhibition, acknowledging both the systemic barriers that limited photographic documentation and the rich history of resistance and community building among queer people of color.
Research Process
Conducted extensive historical research focusing on six key figures spanning from the 1830s to 1990s:
- Mary Jones (1830s) - Black transgender community leader
- Frances Thompson (1866) - Black transgender activist
- We'wha (1880s) - Zuni two-spirit cultural ambassador
- William Dorsey Swann (1880s-90s) - Pioneer of drag ball culture
- Pat Parker (1960s-80s) - Black lesbian poet and feminist
- Marsha P. Johnson (1960s-90s) - Transgender rights activist
Legal Context Research
Developed comprehensive research into discriminatory laws affecting queer people of color, including:
- Cross-dressing bans (1845-1863)
- Vagrancy laws targeting gender expression (1855-1875)
- Black Codes establishing racial segregation (1865-1866)
- Anti-Native American citizenship laws (1879)
Due to spatial constraints, synthesized this extensive legal research into two focused timeline sections:
- 1830s-1880s: ERA OF SEGREGATION
- 1890s-1980s: RESISTANCE & REVOLUTION
Poetry Integration for "Nothing New"
Concept Development
Recognizing that the tin type photographs lacked personal narratives or historical context, I proposed incorporating period-appropriate queer poetry as a way to create emotional resonance and historical context. This approach provided a voice to the unnamed individuals in the photographs while maintaining historical authenticity.
Design Innovation
Developed unique floor-based vinyl installations featuring poetry quotes, creating an immersive experience that:
- Guided visitor flow through the exhibition
- Connected the physical space with historical narrative
- Provided context without overwhelming the intimate nature of the photographs
Poetry Research and Selection
Curated a collection of historical queer poetry that reflected themes present in the photographs:
- Walt Whitman
- Emily Dickinson
- Michael Field (Katherine Bradley and Edith Cooper)
- Charles Warren Stoddard
- Edward Carpenter
- Amy Levy
- John Addington Symonds
Impact and Innovation
- Successfully addressed representation gaps by highlighting historically excluded voices
- Created dialogue between photographic collection and broader historical context
- Developed innovative solution for providing context to anonymous historical photographs
- Integrated historical research with spatial design