On June 17^th laughter, joy, and art bubbled up all around me at the Art+Pride 2023: Soft Defiance opening at the Harvey Milk Photo Center Gallery. I wandered around the space taking in the diverse array of pieces. Luck was with me as I spotted a sound piece by Criibaby. It was as thoughtful and interesting as the artist themselves. Large woven blankets featuring some of San Francisco’s most beloved Drag Performers dominated the back wall. Meanwhile, other Drag performers were trickling in and out as they prepared for a show that was to be performed in the theater above.

The show was all that I love about this city and more.

Heklina lives on in this piece by Joseph Abbati.

A soft white sculpture floated on the wall. The words on it stated “More Than Enough”. I was absolutely intrigued and as a result, went seeking the artist. Vin Seaman is both the artist and one of the curators of the show. The art’s description read, “More Than Enough is a soft sculpture reminding the viewer of their inherent value. It was originally created for a frame but its crumpled presentation is intended to reflect our own winding journeys toward truly embodying its message.”

Vin Seaman modeling their art.

Jason Wyman, an artist in the show came over to speak with me. Their piece It’s Queer Pride 2019 stared boldly out from amongst the works. However, it was their oufit that drew my attention. Delightfully, it turned out to be their fashion line Queerly Complex Queer Comfortwear. Jason told me “We Queerdos deserve to feel comfortable and confident in our skin no matter our gender, sexuality, body size, disability, place of birth, family, race, or class. Queer Comfortwear is here to help us feel just that. With colorful designs that hold radical political messages, it is our armor as we go out into a world hostile towards Queerdos.”

Jason Wyman sporting their outfit “Police Training Kills”.

A secret message of protest lives in each piece of clothing. This particular outfit was in reaction to the San Francisco police killing of Michael MacFhionghain, 57, and Rafael Mendoza, 49 on May 19, 2022. The outfit Jason was wearing was titled Police Training Kills as a response to this incident.

Photographer Fiona Jane F. Orolfo and her muse Phoenix.

Soft Defiance lifted my spirits and nourished me. It was on par with their curatorial statement which said, “We uplift softness in defiance of hatred, bigotry and oppression. To remind ourselves that, by centering our own mental health, we are supporting our collective wellness; that softness isn’t a fault to be erased but an asset to be celebrated.”

Luckily for us, Soft Defiance will have events all month long. On June 30 there will be an artist and curator talk. Vin Seaman will hold a Healing Masculinities workshop and a Queer Wellness Symposium will round out the events on July 15th. This show is put on by Harvey Milk Center for the Arts and Photo Center, queer arts organization Diamond Wave, and LGBTQIA+ mental health service provider Queer LifeSpace, with support from Rosen Creative House. It is also supported by the Kenneth Rainin Foundation and the San Francisco Arts Commission.

To learn more bout the show: diamond-wave.org/soft-defiance 

@diamondwavearts on Instagram