2 days ago
Gallery on Gazebo opens 'Shoe Your Pride' exhibition
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – This stylish collection is celebrating Pride Month in artistic fashion.
The 'Shoe Your Pride' exhibition opened Saturday at Gallery on Gazebo, 140 Gazebo Park, downtown Johnstown, and it showcases artist-designed shoes that are symbols of self-expression, identity and inclusion.
'This is an opportunity for artists to celebrate Pride by decorating, personalizing or embellishing a pair of shoes to exhibit and share with the community,' said Laura Huchel, exhibit coordinator.
On display are 13 pieces of customized footwear ranging from high heels to boots to children's shoes to roller skates.
'There's a bit of a play on words with 'shoe' and 'show,' so it's about showing your Pride with your pair of shoes,' Huchel said. 'There's definitely a lot of sculpture, and there are some things that I would be delighted to wear myself.
'There's a lot of messaging and beauty to this.'
Exhibiting artist Janean Wheeler's 'Cute as a Button' is dedicated to transgender youths. The children's shoes are adorned with varying styles of buttons with the words 'Happy Kiddo' written on them.
'I think that trans is sometimes overlooked in Pride and I think they are at risk for harm, so I wanted to focus on them,' she said.
Wheeler said the show can serve as way to bring the community together.
'It can be preaching to the choir a little bit, so I think the challenge is more about how do we bring other people into the conversation; and maybe art can do that,' she said. 'The shoes is a fun part because it's not so in-your-face. I think it adds a little bit of interest and wonder.'
The exhibition will be open during the Johnstown Pride event June 21 in Central Park, and there will be handouts for children to color shoes.
'I want people to feel inspired and hopeful and just delighted by the efforts of people, and really recognized and seen,' Huchel said. 'This truly is a celebration of Pride. I hope this makes people feel welcome at the gallery and we can celebrate everyone's identity.'
The exhibition will run through June 28. Many of the pieces in the show are available for purchase.
The exhibit sponsor is Lambcakes.
There is no fee to attend. Gallery on Gazebo hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.
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