Mize Gallery presents: SAY GAY
Featuring art that “SPEAKS, SCREAMS, YELLS GAY!”

MIZE GALLERY
689 DR MLK JR ST N, Suite C
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
 
GALLERY HOURS:
Saturdays 10AM-5PM
Sundays 10AM-2PM

Exhibit on view June 10th - 26th, 2022.

Contact info@chadmize.com 727.251.8529 for purchase.

 

 

 

Classic monster movies are often viewed through a queer lens because they tend to be tragic parables about being shunned from “civilized” society for being different. Bride of Frankenstein in particular is seen in this context as its director James Whale was openly gay throughout his years as a filmmaker in the ‘30s and ‘40s, and his openness about his sexuality is thought to have ultimately cost him his career.

If there’s a commonality to be found in these fictional horrors and the real-world events they reflect, it’s that the monsters in these stories aren’t those who are different. The real monsters are those who would deny anyone the right to celebrate said differences and proudly exist alongside the rest of humanity.

BRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Chad Jacobs
Acrylic on Wood
17" x 18"

 

Just Gay is a piece that I created in an effort to give people some joy in a time where our rights are being threatened once again. When all else fails, Say Gay!

JUST GAY
David Kafer
Acrylic & Oil Pen on Canvas
36" x 24"

 

I created the image and concept for my painting “Teach Me Tiger” for the Say Gay Show as my commentary on the current crusade the conservative right has embarked on to stamp down, further separate and marginalize all things queer as being “other” and against their image of a society they want for the future. Our LGBTQIA+ culture has been a constant taboo and is again the focus of censorship and policing. In the past we’ve had to exist in the shadows, communicate through secret languages and display hidden signals to one another to protect ourselves as we live on our “hidden continent”. The anthropomorphic Tiger in my painting is thinking in emoji, instead of in the body parts the emoji represent. I want the viewer to get the coded message my painting is clearly conveying. Queer lives, imagery and subject matter are very uncomfortable to the designers of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. As recently as June 7th 2022 I attended a rally where I protested the city commissioners of Lake Wales FL for their recent choice to not put forth a City Proclamation declaring June as Pride month, which historically they’ve done. Recently elected Mayor Hilligoss and City Commissioner Krueger are both using their religious views to excuse themselves from being able to put forth a proclamation in support of the LGBTQIA+ community. I heard those in attendance happy with the omission of the proclamation shouting words like “groomers” and saying the LGBTQIA+ community are trying to “indoctrinate our children into their lifestyle”.

TEACH ME TIGER
Mikey Bear McGrath
Acrylic on Panel
24" x 16"

 

This year I was hired by Disney to create a mural at Disney Springs as part of the ART WALK: A Canvas of Expression. They wanted each artist to create a mural piece that would share their voice. There was no limit to what each artist could create. Pure artistic freedom.

I decided to go with my free flow style and create a piece that would stand for the LGBTQ+ community, as the mural would be in a high traffic location, with lots of eyes on it. This is my most visible mural to date.

Based on what is going on politically in Florida now with the so-called Don’t Say Gay Bill, I wanted to explore a piece that “said it without saying it.”

This art piece uses the exact same design, paints and colors that I used for the exterior mural at Disney.

SAY IT WITHOUT SAYING IT
Chad Mize
Exterior Latex on Wood Panel
24" x 24"

 

“I don't normally paint political subjects, but it seems that HATE and FEAR are the driving forces behind the Parental Rights in Education Act or the "Don't Say Gay" bill.

It is disturbing that some people believe recognizing the LGBTQ community exists is a form of indoctrination. GAY is not a choice, but HATE is! Our goal shouldn't be to ignore parts of our community, but to celebrate our diversity. All FAMILIES should feel included and safe in schools.

SAY IT LOUD!
Nelson Perez
Acrylic on Canvas
20" x 16"

 

Seeing Divine (Harris Glenn Milstead) for the first time as a child was exciting. It punctuated my introduction to drag and gay life. While most drag queens wanted to be beautiful, Divine focused on being opposite of what we consider "beautiful". Divine was defiant, dangerous and sexy. For me, she represents counter culture and mainstream American consumerism all at once. Divine underlined what most would find offensive, and in turn, became a glamorous, loveable beacon. In this piece, Divine walks away from our America; she stands tall and strong for all of those who don't fit in. She carries her worst traits like a charm, (or in this case a glittering handbag). Within this piece we see many gay icons like ruby slippers (from The Wizard of Oz) and the classic gay pink triangle symbol. Every portrait I paint is as much a self-portrait as it is depicting the subject. I see myself in her, and being gay in America we all are Divine.

DIVINE AMERICAN
Sam Simon
Paint, Pencil & Crystal on Canvas
30" x 24"

 

Sometimes it’s just so exhausting. When is resiliency going to stop being the cornerstone of LGBTQ+ youth’s development? When can we just start letting our kids be kids?

CAN YOU STOP TESTING OUR RESILIENCY, PLEASE?
Amy Ilic-Volpe
Mixed Media on Acrylic Panel Mounted on Wood
20" x 20"

 

I wanted to do a piece that celebrates that magic of knowing and celebrating who we are.Transitional Waters is about navigating through the darkest and toughest waters of life and evolving into someone stronger and spectacular. It’s the beauty of being and living your truth.

TRANSITIONAL WATERS
Spencer Meyers
Watercolor and Gouache on Paper
22" x 17"

 

What’s a party without some cake? “Taste The Rainbow” is a sculpture created to be a loud and proud interpretation of queer love and queer joy. Even today, as laws are being passed to suppress our joy, we continue to create and gather in celebration of our pride. Queer joy is a form of active resistance and is represented in this cake sculpture through symbols of happiness and love. These symbols, including rainbows, smiley faces, flowers, and hearts, have been used by queer artists throughout history to code their own art in a way that allows them to express themselves in a cis-heteronormative world.

TASTE THE RAINBOW
Macy Eats Paint
Foam, Spackle and Glitter
12" x 6"

 

The first pride parade I attended was in my hometown, Chicago. I was in my 20s and even though I had been out since I started high school, I became aware of how powerful and confident the float of bears was. Those men personified the meaning of proud, they owned it, the float, the parade, their identity. This piece is a tribute to those men who showed me how to live in my own skin. It combines them with my love of cartoons, not to mention a nod to Tom of Finland.

I AM WHAT I AM
Andrea Pawlisz
Acrylic on Canvas
2*" x 22"

 

With the LGBTQ+ community under attack with new bills, decrees, and laws designed to marginalize, silence and discriminate, it is more important than ever for all of us to collectively stand up to these bullies and bigots. In that vein, my piece for the "Say Gay” exhibit depicts a gay man on a public beach raising his rainbow flag as high as possible, a visible symbol of his pride as well as his defiance.

THESE COLORS DON’T RUN
Marc Brechwald
Color Pencil on Bristol
20" x 16"

 

This piece is my modern interpretation of the Fates from classical mythology. The Fates were the arbiters of life and the natural order, and this was symbolized by spinning, measuring, and cutting the thread of life; and no one - not even the gods - were above them. Here, I am
reimagining them as trans people, choosing their own destinies. As a trans person myself in the current political climate, this is me thumbing my proverbial nose at the idea that we are “unnatural” or “dangerous.”

As for the aesthetics, I was heavily influenced by art nouveau designs and the gold filigree border is a direct nod to the stylistic choices of that era. John Singer Sargent’s murals in the Boston Museum of Fine Art in particular were a huge source of inspiration.

I rendered the forms primarily in watercolor, with final details added in gouache and colored pencil. The filigree border was cut by hand, embossed, and painted with two different gold paints to simulate the warm look of gold leaf.

CHOOSE YOUR OWN FATE
Rhys Meatyard
Mixed Media
24" x 24"

 

When I hear don't say gay I think of all the people who
have laid their life down on the line for equal rights.
This artwork "Say Gay Cross" references a memorial.
We are powerful beyond measure.
We were all meant to shine.
As we let our light shine,
we give people permission to shine.
As we are liberated,
our presence automatically liberates others.

SAY GAY CROSS
Wasíl
Acrylic Paint on Copper Housing Insulation Wire
29" x 24"

 

Say Gay and say it loud!

For the past hundred years. The biggest homosexual boogie men for the straight public has been the Holy Trinity of The Butch Dike, The Drag Queen, and The Leatherman.

These stereotypes have always been at the forefront of fascinating and frightening them. So I chose the Leatherman to get up in their faces and show them how Pride works.

Sexy, Confident, Fun and a little intimidating.

After all, nothing strikes fear into a straight man like a Gay Leather Bar scene in a movie.

GENTLEMAN CALLER
Cake Marques
Oil on Panel
29" x 24"

 

Ron DeSantis is a fucking idiot.

HEY, RON!
Jay Hoff
Lego on Lego
10" x 4"

 

Built from a popular expression that preaches to be in good mind, speech and action and not to dwell on evil thoughts – this piece represents every aspect to seeing, hearing and saying GAY and living the best life. “We’re here (SEE IT), we’re queer (HEAR IT!), get used to it – SAY GAY!”

SEE IT, HEAR IT - SAY GAY!
Mark Williams
Acrylic and Mixed Media on Canvas
12" x 24"

 

I chose to paint the Gayest thing I know, myself.

PRETTY MAN
John Gascot
Acrylic on Canvas
27" x 22"

 

My piece is just a reminder for our delusional Congressmen, Why Fear what you don't understand? and hate what you will never conquer.

FLORIDA GAYZEN
Brittany “Noavfro” Freemon
Mixed Media on Canvas
16" x 16"

 

In the age of the internet, I find myself still attracted to physical media. Not only have VHS tapes been the subject for the last few pieces I’ve created, they’ve been a huge staple of my life since I was a child.

I have always been intrigued by analyzing the mechanics of how things operate. As humans, we all break down or analyze things differently. Lately, I’ve been dissembling objects to explore the inner workings.

THE DECONSTRUCTION OF PORNOGRAPHY
Scott Wayne
Mixed Media
10.5" x 7.5" x 4"

 

As a welcome addition to the Cartomancy series, "Fab Fortunes (Fuschia)" is an interactive papercut assemblage. Viewers are asked to find the symbol they find most appealing and read the rhyming fortune in the accompanying pamphlet. This version specifically has reclaimed slurs and new additions from my own queer mind where language is "slanguage"!

FAB FORTUNES (FUSCHIA)
Peter E. Roberts
Papercut Assemblage
20" x 20"

 

This painting is a political statement to all of you who think you can control queer and trans bodies. We are here, we have been here since the beginning of time and we aren’t going fucking anywhere.

This painting I created depicts the queer Latines hardcore punk band Limp Wrist performing to a diverse crowd. In the image “Fags Hate God” is wheat pasted throughout. This was Limp Wrists political response to “God Hates Fags” which is not far off ideologically from the “Don’t Say Gay” vs. “Say Gay” argument.

WATCH AS THIS LIMP WRIST TURNS INTO A FIST
Caelan Jeffery
Acrylic, Watercolor and Marker on Paper
18" x 24"

 

We say Gay by tracing Tom of Finland in Andy Warhol's Blotted Line with Gold Leaf

TOM OF FINLAND TRACED WITH ANDY WARHOL’S BLOTTED LINE
Leroy More Hole
Ink and Gold Leaf
18" x 24"

 

Growing up gay was difficult for me - between being bullied and called slurs, I had to find a ray of sunshine within me to keep going, by focusing on my skills, my hope and love that was within. This piece is an ode to that self love, glowing spirit inside all of us that shines through. As queer people, we are constantly being erased for who we are and affirming our own affection is a radical act that we all must participate in.

GAY GLOW (SELF LOVE)
Saumitra Chandratreya
Photographs on Canvas
24" x 24"

 

We all know and love Linda Belcher from "Bob's Burgers," voiced by the out and proud actor John Roberts. But Linda's origins began as a "New Jersey Mom" character he created over a decade ago. In a video titled "My Son is Gay?," we witness New Jersey Mom go through the five stages of grief in 90 seconds, having learned her son is gay. At the end, she is proud and ready to defend her son. My creation is of her acceptance, ready to celebrate by feeding the people around her. Two ways to show love and support are words of affirmation and acts of service, and I wanted to capture those in this image.

“HEY! WATCH IT, MY SON IS GAY.” (WHO’S HUNGRY??)
Charley Soderbergh
Marker on Paper
14" x 14"