Queering Rural Spaces, a photography exhibition by Sarah Stellino, will be on display at Arts + Literature Laboratory from Friday, January 13 to Saturday, March 4, 2023. This exhibition was curated by Andy Adams in collaboration with FlakPhoto Projects. A closing reception will be held on Saturday, February 25 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.
Artist statement:
This series began as an internal exploration when I contemplated my family's future with my wife. We were considering whether to return to living on a farm or stay in the relative "safety" of a city. In thinking about who was genuinely welcome in rural spaces, I wanted to learn from the queer people who called these places home. Has rurality supported and honored their identity? Do they feel safe and fulfilled? How do they find a sense of community?
Society's love affair with small-town life led me to speculate how gender and sexuality intersect with the love of rural living. I have traveled to different states for this project to interview and photograph queer farmers. I wanted this underrecognized community to be free to speak their truth and show the nuances of their experiences, so each person's interview is as important as their portrait.
I continue to revisit farmers to go beyond creating a representative picture of them. To achieve this, I have been collaborating with them to visually represent their perspectives and experiences by exploring movement, the cycle of life and death, or the creation of safe home spaces. This ongoing project continues to evolve as the people in the series grow and build community.
About the artist:
Sarah Stellino (b. 1992) is an American photographer who explores queer identity and legacy. Her practice involves large format black and white film that helps to create a formal yet intimate feel in her photographs. Sarah makes all of hersilver gelatin prints by hand in her home darkroom. She lives with her wife in Madison, Wisconsin.