Last June 15, this is what happened: the walls were painted, the display system installed and the art hung, all in a matter of hours.
By 7 p.m., The LGBT Center Gallery was open, ready for hundreds of visitors, who streamed in for hours to check out Harrisburg’s newest art space during 3rd in The Burg.
Seeing the art, the crowds, the whole put-togetherness of the event, one never would have known it all had happened so quickly.
And, for that, you can thank David Kern, curator of the gallery, located in the new LGBT Center of Central PA, next to Midtown Scholar Bookstore.
“It’s all come together so quickly,” he said, as small groups gathered around him, complimenting him, while others perused the artwork of Kristin Kest, the gallery’s first exhibitor.
The idea for a gallery in The LGBT Center came about only in late May.
Louie Marven, the center’s executive director, ran into Kern at a social function at the Paper Lion Gallery in Lemoyne, which Kern also curates.
He proposed a gallery for the center’s new space, one that would feature the works of LGBT artists. Kern jumped at the idea even though he knew he’d have just weeks to plan a gallery, find an artists, curate the space and mount an opening exhibition that would make a powerful statement.
Making the situation more frantic—The LGBT Center itself was under interior construction, having just moved from office space on Front Street. Therefore, Kern could not even work in the space until the Friday the exhibit was open. Nonetheless, he felt the effort would be worth it.
“For me, this gallery is not just dream fulfilled,” said Kern, who lives in Harrisburg. “It’s also a labor of love and a way for me to give back to the community.”
The space was last used by Mantis Gallery Collective, but the LGBT Center Gallery’s exhibit area is a bit smaller. It also is dual-function, as the Center will use it for meetings, with art making the space even more welcoming.
The gallery will focus on showing a diversity of exhibits, Kern said.
For instance, in July, the gallery will open an exhibit called, “Colors of Pride,” in which six different artists will submit six works apiece, each based upon a color in the rainbow flag. The works then will be arranged in the order of the flag’s colors.
In August, “Art is a Drag” will feature avant-garde photos of local drag performers, who also will attend the opening. September’s exhibit will highlight talented area artists who have never shown their work before.
In the end, the gallery is meant to complement the LGBT Center’s mission for its new, highly visible location—serving the LGBT community while making Midtown and the Harrisburg area in general stronger and more integrated.
That’s why Kern wanted to ensure that the LGBT Center Gallery joined 3rd in The Burg and why he’s working to add new life and energy to the emerging Midtown arts district.
“The gallery lets me take an idea that’s in my head and bring it to life,” he said. “It also allows me to support the arts community just like they’ve supported me.”
The LGBT Center Gallery is located at 1306 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. 717-920-9534. www.centralpalgbtcenter.org
