Stories of coming out aim to promote a sense of understanding

Dan Figliozzi sees himself in some of his art students. He understands on a certain level the shy, sometimes reserved children who use art as a form of escapism.

“It’s very interesting to be a teacher now and see the young and gay students blossom with art,” he says during a recent phone interview from his Brooklyn, N.Y., home. “I think to back to myself at that age and I push them to show their individuality.”

Figliozzi, a New York-based artist, is one of nine artists who will be showing at the Harwood Art Center’s new exhibit “Asking & Telling: Visual and Written Works About Coming Out of the Closet.”

	If you go WHAT: “Asking & Telling: Visual and Written Works About Coming Out of the Closet” WHEN: Opening reception 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays through Oct. 27 WHERE: Harwood Art Center, 1114 Seventh NW HOW MUCH: Free

Guruamrit Khalsa, Harwood’s administrative manager, says the center wanted to showcase this exhibit because it was the right time to highlight lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer issues.

“This past year has been full of legislation and activism around the rights of the LGBTQ community,” she says. “From the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ to the ongoing legislative and court battles for the right to marriage, to the ‘It Gets Better’ video campaign started by Dan Savage. The community has been thrust into the spotlight.”

The “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law relating to the country’s military was officially repealed on Sept. 20.

Khalsa says this is the second year that Harwood has presented an LGBTQ-themed exhibit.

“We wanted to do another exhibit and focus on the importance of storytelling,” she says. “We are providing a forum that is full of visual and written pieces that tell these stories.”

Jessie Rogers, Harwood’s director of communications, says the center did a call for artists on various websites and generated a lot of interest.

“The act of coming out is relevant, but it’s an individual process,” she says. “A lot of people can relate to the stories and they are important to hear.”

Rogers says along with each piece of art, there will be the artist’s statement.

“We wanted to help viewers get a glimpse of the artist,” she says. “It’s important to have understanding all around.”

Figliozzi says he found out about this exhibit thanks to a friend who mines art websites and encouraged him to submit his work. He says he’s grateful that there are exhibits that allow artists to let viewers know there are other people like him.

“I became really intrigued that there were going to be writers included in this exhibit,” he says.

Figliozzi’s painting – “Family Portrait” – is a self-portrait of sorts. It features him standing in a pink dress with bows in his hair standing in various flowers – and with a pink My Little Pony character.

“The pony is a big part of my childhood,” he says. “I want people to see that I’m celebrating life and happiness. I want to share my journey with them and help them understand where I am coming from. It’s about being happy with who you are.”