QC PRIDE PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANDY ABEYTA

"I hope for viewers these images reflect the significance of the LGBTQ+ community not only in the Quad-Cities but throughout society. It is the greatest pleasure of my career to showcase and share the lives of those around me. I would encourage any viewer to seek a new experience in community wherever they may find it."  -Andy Abeyta

ParadePeople gather in celebration with friends and strangers alike on the streets of downtown Davenport while rainbow banners wave behind them. Taken during the 2019 Pridefest, these images by photojournalist Andy Abeyta (American, b. 1993) document one of the many events planned by Quad Cities Unity Pride during their annual QC Unity Pride Week.


President of QC Pride Tee LeShoure states that the organization is "dedicated to promoting awareness and visibility of the LGBTQ+ community in the Quad Cities region. Since 2017, our organization has put a spotlight on the LGBTQ+ community, showcasing their talents, stories, and lives."  Of the array of events that QC Pride organizes, including a parade, Vice-President Michelle Royal states that “We are celebrating our history, where we are and where we are going….” 


GalleryThe first pride parades commemorated the 1969 Stonewall riots, an uprising of Stonewall Inn patrons and community members in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan. The community joined in solidarity against pervasive harassment and violence by the New York Police Department. Since then, the pride movement has grown and evolved, remaining rooted in ideals of cultural equality, self-expression, and the continuing struggle for equal rights and representation for the LGBTQ+ community.


Photography is a powerful medium for spreading awareness. Rather than words on a page or a computer monitor, we see people gathered in struggle or celebration—humanizing issues that concern us all. Photography also gives these events a life that lasts long after the crowds disperse. Whether pride parades, women’s suffrage marches, civil rights demonstrations, or events like QC Unity Pride Week, these images speak to our common history and the society in which we live.


AndyThese joyous and vibrant photographs by Andy Abeyta are powerful portraits of pride in our community. Abeyta received his BA degree in Journalism from the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication. He was previously on staff at the Quad-City Times and currently works for The Gazette in Cedar Rapids. As a photojournalist, Abeyta is invested in documenting and sharing the stories of others through his work.

Companion Program
July 23, 2020
Artist Talk: Andy Abeyta - VIRTUAL
Andy Abeyta will present on his work as a photojournalist. Details TBA.




View the installation in the Lewis Gallery



On Togetherness 

As of late communities, families, and friends have been kept apart while countless events have been cancelled due to a force we cannot see. So what happens if we are unable to gather in celebration or in protest due to challenges like a pandemic? Perhaps we can look at images like these and consider how our shared humanity brings us together whatever distance parts us. Check QC Pride's website for updates on QC Pride Unity Week (new dates TBA) and stay tuned for online engagement opportunities for the month of June.


Additional Resources
Learn more about QC Pride, the history of the LGBTQ+ rights movement, and photographer Andy Abeyta.  


Music accompanying the exhibition videos: Camille Saint-Saëns - Tarantella Op. 6

VIEW IMAGE GALLERY OF WHAT PRIDE MEANS TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS






Fun Facts. fpo

LEARN MORE

The Figge Art Museum is home to one of the nation's largest collections of Haitian Art.

ART & MORE
Orientation Gallery
Img 5005 1
Img 4901 2
LOCATION
FIGGE ART MUSEUM

225 West Second Street
Davenport, Iowa

 

PHONE

Museum | 563.326.7804

Events Office | 563.345.6657

 

MUSEUM HOURS

Monday | Closed

Tuesday - Wednesday | 10am - 5pm

Thursday | 10am - 8pm

Friday - Saturday | 10am - 5pm

Sunday | 12pm - 5pm

*Closing procedures will begin 15 minutes before closing time

 

FIGGE BAR HOURS

Monday - Wednesday Closed

Thursday 5pm - 8pm

Friday - Sunday Closed

*The Figge Bar is open every Thursday evening 5-8 p.m. and every Second Saturday of the month from 1-3 p.m.

*See calendar for holiday exceptions