Juneteenth is a crucial day of remembrance, acknowledgment, and reverence for the hard-fought battle against the institution of slavery. It commemorates both the end of the Civil War and the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, which abolished slavery in all states. Though these historical events were major steps forward, the fight for justice and equality continues for the Black community. Juneteenth not only represents the battle won against slavery but also the Black community’s continued perseverance and grit. Yet, it was only in 2017 that the day was first recognized as a federal holiday. It is incredibly important to remember the American history that shapes our environment today, in order to combat the ignorance, hatred, and marginalization still prevalent all these years later. Join us in celebrating this sacred and profound holiday and continue the fight for equality and justice.
June also represents a month of courage and pride for the LGBTQ+ community. As an African American-run organization, Canfield Consortium prioritizes the support and upliftment of the Black and LGBTQ+ community. With the celebration of Juneteenth along with Pride Month, we pledge to recognize the talent within these communities and provide them with a platform for their voices and expressions to be heard. We want to take time to highlight the artistic excellence of these community members.
Starting off with V. V is an extremely multifaceted artist working out of both Detroit and New York. She is a painter, musician, and model who draws inspiration from revolutionary rock stars like David Bowie and Jimi Hendrix. Their artistry inspires her to be bold with her works and find power in abstraction. As a queer artist, she often feels that the message behind her work is overlooked because it is deemed inappropriate or uncomfortable without recognizing the depth behind each piece. She expresses frustration with pressures to make her art more palatable to the average viewer. Her experiences shape her work, though being queer is only one aspect of her identity. V is calling for more opportunities for queer artists to express themselves in an authentic manner. Her work can be found on Instagram @V_Rome.
Tristan Slade (known professionally as Fox) is a fine artist, furniture maker, and model based in Detroit. Fox finds the future of queer artists in Detroit hopeful as long as they continue to receive the exposure they deserve. He feels that the public needs to be exposed to all different types of queer artists with unique styles, pointing out that overly sexualized art pieces are not the only type of queer artwork. Sexuality does not solely dictate each artist’s style. Queer art has inherent complexity and individuality. Fox believes a major aspect of supporting queer art is giving the artists places and opportunities to sell their work, as many queer artists struggle to fund their projects. Fox is actively working on two projects that will be announced soon. His work can be found on Instagram @the_madfox.
Maya Mereaux is a multimedia artist and singer-songwriter from Detroit who finds pride in being a Black queer woman. She proudly describes her journey towards self-discovery as beautiful. Maya expresses herself through her art, which represents her experiences and identity. She believes the Detroit art scene holds promise for queer people and recommends greater community outreach to foster genuine connections within the community, which will enhance its impact. Maya’s work is showcased on Instagram @MayaMereaux, on YouTube @MayaMereaux, and on the Detroit Riverfront, where she often sells her art pieces.
Blight Hernandez is a painter, screen printer, and seamstress. His clothing brand “Be the Light” creates sustainably-printed streetwear, along with one-of-a-kind clothing pieces and art prints. Being an artist with many different mediums, Blight draws inspiration from a diverse set of artists, ranging from Salvador Dali to Basquiat to Andy Warhol, as well as the creatives he meets daily running his business. Blight describes the queer art scene in Detroit as gaining momentum, attributing this to nonprofits that highlight their work by providing them a platform. He would love to see this momentum sustained with events, newsletters, and shows to create an active and vibrant community. His clothing brand, “Be the Light”, can be found at www.bethelight222.com, and his Instagram is @stay_within, where he frequently posts information about pop-up events.
REDD is a multimedia artist, curator, and co-founder of the artist collective “The Redd Chapter” in Detroit. REDD believes their queerness is a major factor in their constant creation. Their identity not only inspires their work but also serves as an escape from the loneliness they experience due to their outward queer identity. REDD advocates for greater acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community within Detroit, calling for deep moral and ideological reflection by the straight community to foster better understanding and acceptance. REDD emphasizes that the histories and standings of communities like LGBTQ+ and the Black community should not be condensed into one holiday or month but integrated directly into traditional learning and everyday life. REDD recently concluded a gallery show at the Congregation titled REDD SPECTACLE. More of their art can be found on Instagram and TikTok @redd.q.
Following REDD’s final point, both Juneteenth and Pride Month are times that call for celebrating hard work, resilience, and progress. However, these conversations should not be confined to just one day or month. These holidays offer crucial opportunities to encourage difficult yet necessary conversations. The battles against the marginalization of Black and Queer People must be fought every single day to create space for healing and to uplift the spirits within these communities for years to come.