'Queer Califas' Expresses Origin, Identity, and Sexuality in Art

There is a thread that connects Latinx people. It is a strong, soulful link, which is unbreakable. Many are newcomers to this country cutting new paths. Some from centuries-long histories from both colonizer and the colonized -- with Spanish and Portuguese surnames cloaking indigenous and African heritage.

"Latino(a)" as a category encompasses many cultures, identities, origins, and histories with many subsets, in this case a queer Latinx perspective. Spanish and Portuguese are gendered languages, which means that every noun has a gender. Some members of Latin American communities claim this gendered language reinforces patriarchal and heterosexist norms.

The 20-plus (multigenerational) artists included in this exhibition, "Queer Califas," express their artistry in real time -- some with a fixed lens to the past and others with sights set to the future.

These artists hail from diverse communities across the United States and beyond, calling California home. The artists list includes: Laura Aguilar, Marcel Alcala, Maritza Amezcua, Enrique Castrejon, Rick Castro, Ben Cuevas, Gregorio Davila, Diego Eduardo, Cleonette Harris, Carolina Hicks a.k.a. SBTL CLNG, Rigo Maldonado, Roy Martinez a.k.a. Lambe Culo, Miguel Angel Reyes, Angelo Alessandro Rodarte, Manuel Rodrigues aka Sad Boy, Daniel "Chino" Rodriguez, Joey Terrill, Rommy Torrico, performance by El Sancha y Las Sirenas, and more.

See the Facebook event page for more information. Thanks to curator Ruben Esparza for his assistance in creating this preview gallery.