Aédan Charest watches with delight as a family checks out his photo exhibit in the sunwalk at Science North.
Named the We Are Project, the exhibit features photos of and quotes from Sudbury citizens, all with the message that members of the queer community and allies make up a major part of our community.
It's fantastic an exhibit with an LGBT theme is being displayed in a mainstream, high-traffic building such as Science North, Charest said.
Among those in the photos are Greater Sudbury Police Chief Paul Pederson and Deputy Chief Allan Kekun. Charest said local police have shown leadership when it comes to protecting the rights of transgender people.
You can check out the We Are Project at Science North until June. The exhibit was previously on display at Kuppajo Espresso Bar in downtown Sudbury.
“Unfortunately what we are seeing a lot today is a lot of steps backwards with our neighbours to the south in the U.S.,” said Charest, a 21-year-old transgender man who enters Laurentian University's gender studies program in the fall.
“Our little northern city is showing that we don't agree with that. We are pushing back, and we're not going to sensor queer subjects.”
It's thanks to Artists on Elgin's emerging artist program that Charest is exhibiting at Science North. The program aims to provide a space for emerging artists of any age to display their work in a professional setting.
“I'm really grateful to Artists on Elgin,” he said. “They reached out to me and gave me this chance. It's not every day that projects like these get this type of platform.”
Artists on Elgin business promotions co-ordinator Candice Morel said she loves Charest's exhibit. “I love that it promotes a message of acceptance, she said.
Science North staff scientist Amy Henson said the science centre is happy to display the work of emerging artists such as Charest. “It really is a powerful message that Aédan has created here,” she said.
