Monday, December 9, 10:00am – 1:30pm, Owen Hall 203 and via Zoom
Owen Baloga
Dr. Megan Wolfe, Dr. Carrie Tomberlin, Dr. Louise Deroualle, Dr. Jackson Martin, Dr. Brent Skidmore
Does growing up queer in a faith-based Christian community have an affect on a person’s outlook on society? The choice of whether or not to attend worship services is rarely granted to children growing up in religious households and the beliefs of many of these children do not align with these faiths. Imagine how stressful it can be when these children discover their own sexuality, come out of the closet, and feel like they have to blend in with the other kids in an environment that would otherwise not be accepting of their identity. This research and body of work focuses on these environments that harbor a significant amount of trauma for LGBTQ people. In a society where safe spaces for queer individuals are sparse, it would be an opportunity for healing if the community reclaimed these religious structures to deal with religious trauma. This research and ceramic body of work explores religious Gothic architecture by stripping away Christian symbols and iconography so the viewer can view these structures objectively. These sacred spaces don’t have to be a remembrance of unpleasant memories of having to hide oneself. By appreciating the beauty of architectural ceramic sculpture, one can hope to reconcile with a part of themselves that has been hidden for far too long and take the first steps in fully expressing their identity and self-acceptance.