Not a Freak Show, 2009-2013, acrylic on found canvas tent.
Artist Spencer J. Harrison was Canada’s first academic to paint his PhD, earned in 2014 at OISE, University of Toronto. His “Not a Freak Show, Growing up Gay in Rural Ontario” opens at the Art Gallery of Peterborough April 29, 2017.
Photo Credit: Above and Below, QMI Agency
Harrison’s canvas is a tent. The exterior displays images based on circus freak shows, while the interior shows images from Harrison’s younger years. Gay people are still victimized by misconceptions, he says.
In an interview with the Peterborough Examiner, Harrison says “it’s not easy growing up gay in rural Ontario. It’s not easy growing up gay anywhere. There are a lot of people who discriminate, who paint pictures of us that are just not true. And I think we get shoved into secrecy and silence, and my work hopefully prompts people to tell their own stories and stop being put in those imaginary places.”
Summary of Spencer J Harrison Doctoral Thesis, here.
Spencer J Harrison’s website, here.
Categories: Painting-Canadian
Canadian Art Junkie 
Bravo! The tent is a super idea for “Not a Freak Show”. Step right up, and get some education!
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100% agree. He also works with LGBTQ youth, at camps and workshops.
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I am happy about that, although not surprised. He is a leader.
On a personal note, I don’t understand the big kerfuffle about sexuality. Nature is doing her job, and we should accept and respect that.
This is a wonderful addition to your curated catalogue.
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I am so with you on that. It’s long past the day where it should be an issue, and yet it remains one.
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A chain is as strong as its weakest link.
It follows then that society is as peaceful as its most warlike, as accepting as its most non-accepting, as honest as its most dishonest and as loving as its most hateful.
Like you, I thought, think and hope better for mankind.
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That is so well put!
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