Two organizations on opposite sides of the Delaware River are uniting to honor LGBTQ+ icons, part of their annual cohosted PrideFest celebration. The Greater Lambertville Chamber of Commerce and New Hope Celebrates History are behind the art installation of “Queer Icons: Pioneers,” reports NJ.com.
Artist Silky Shoemaker created the life-sized plywood portraits of LGBTQ+ icons. She will oversee their placement in storefront windows throughout both communities.
COVID-19 cancelled the communal 2021 parade, but smaller events — like this one and the annual cocktail contest — are still on.
“The Icons I picked out are from a nearly endless lineage of incredible contenders,” Shoemaker said. “[They] stand out to me for their contributions to society and culture as artists, activists, writers and visionaries.
“They were pioneers in their respective fields: civil rights activists, drag performers, dancers, arbiters of rock and roll, baseball players, floral designers, writers, film directors and producers.”
Each portrait is accompanied by a biography in English and Spanish.
A map of locations is online.
More on this art display is available at NJ.com.
