Artist Rachelle Lee Smith Giving Talk on Speaking OUT Tonight at Free Library

Rachelle Lee Smith at the Annual Reminders block party on July 5th.

Artist and author Rachelle Lee Smith, known for her popular work Speaking OUT: Queer Youth in Focus, will be giving a free talk this evening at the Independence Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia.

Many Philadelphians know Smith’s work and don’t even realize it: Photographs from her book were featured in the windows at what is now becoming the huge flagship Wawa store on the corner of Broad and Walnut. Smith, who has toured the country with her book and photographs, will present a slide talk featuring work from her collection. Additionally, subjects from her photography work will be on hand, and guests will have a chance to get a signed copy of Speaking OUT at the end of the evening.

When I interviewed Smith back in November of 2014, she had this to say about how art, specifically that in her collection, can help bridge the gap with LGBTQ youth and the public:

“I think art…creates a cathartic experience. It allows for creative expression and a personal outlet as if exposing a diary entry to the world. Of course, all subjects in my work were asked to write anything they wanted and that did not mean solely addressing their sexuality. However, I believe a lot chose to write about that because they wanted to come out, to free themselves of something and to show the world that they are not ashamed or that they have something valid to share. I think art, in general, is a great means for information sharing and photography is always a terrific tool for story telling. In this case the subjects tell the story instead of letting their environment do so, as photographs often do. Art can be easily taken in and the message absorbed without forcefully pushing an issue. In the case of photographs and short handwritten words I think it is easily digestible, humanizing, and my hopes are that it will create dialogue.”

The event starts tonight, Monday, July 6th, at 6 pm at 18 South 7th Street. For more information on the Independence Branch of the Free Library, visit their website.