Q&A with Jim Carey: Creating an LGBTQ+ Art Gallery at ISGMH

New original works by four local LGBTQ+ artists are now on display at Northwestern University’s Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing (ISGMH). The works were commissioned as part ARTGASM 2024 and unveiled at a gallery opening held on August 1. Each of the four artists in the show was paired with an ISGMH faculty member whose research served as inspiration for their pieces.

Below, ARTGASM creator Jim Carey, MPH, discusses the initiative, how art can make research more approachable, and the importance of community in his own art practice. Carey is a research project director at ISGMH.

What is ARTGASM?

ARTGASM (ART by Gender and Sexual Minorities), an innovative initiative born from our Institute’s strategic planning endeavors, is a vibrant fusion of art, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and youth talent. Designed to bridge the gap between research outcomes and community dissemination, ARTGASM challenges the status quo, aiming to shrink the 10-year timeline currently separating research findings from public awareness and practice.

By harnessing the power of art, ARTGASM transforms complex data into visually compelling narratives, making research accessible, engaging, and inclusive. Through collaborative efforts with LGBTQ+ youth artists, ARTGASM not only accelerates the dissemination of critical information but also cultivates a safe and welcoming space for community dialogue and inquiry.

What inspired you to connect artists with ISGMH researchers?

I was approached by Kathryn Macapagal after our faculty had a retreat to develop our strategic plan as an Institute for the next three years. More specifically, she asked if I was interested in helping achieve two broad goals: 1) involve youth in our programs, and 2) involve the arts in our programming. After taking some time to think it out, I approached ISGMH leadership with a new project proposal, which would involve creating “mini residencies” for young LGBTQ+ artists and pairing them with faculty members to create art based on their research. My intention was for art to be the bridge between research and the community. While conference presentations and journal manuscripts are both great ways to disseminate scientific findings with other academics, I wanted to create a faster pipeline for this information to reach the community members and practitioners who need it the most for implementing new health-based interventions.

As an artist yourself, what connections do you see between LGBTQ health research and creative pursuits?

As a multidisciplinary artist, I see multiple strong needs for potential connections and collaboration between community-based research and the arts. In my own art practice, I have successfully created conceptual art based on health topics, encouraging community dialogue while making taboo topics more approachable to viewers. I relished the challenge and opportunity of bridging the main disciplines of my life: Art, public health, and research.

As researchers, we silo ourselves into only sharing information with other academics, because pioneering ways to disseminate information can be daunting and honestly, seemingly impossible. We have worked within the confines of “research expectations” for many years, and many have resolved to simply contributing to that established system. I am here to shake things up! I say we can make research more approachable to those not within our field through the innovative use of visual arts and by utilizing our community members to make that art. Admiring a painting or sculpture is more approachable than attending a lecture or reading a journal article that requires an expensive subscription to access.

 

Can you talk about one of your favorite pieces in the show and how it speaks to a faculty member’s research?

I was most drawn in by the three paintings created by artist Teddie Bernard based on Michael Newcomb’s research. Teddie understood the assignment! Their paintings most clearly reflect the core research components in Michael’s intervention, all2GETHER, for which I am the project director. They based each painting on a module within the online intervention, with one each reflecting communication, healthy sexuality, and stress and coping. The colors are vibrant, the message is clear, and the aesthetics are beautiful.

 

 

What’s next for ARTGASM?

All art is now part of the permanent art collection at ISGMH and will remain on display. Even better news, ARTGASM has been funded for year two, so I will be expanding the program to include more artist mini-residencies and am hopeful regarding some potential community-based collaborations. I am excited and honored to continue this relevant and compelling work.

 

 

Images from top to bottom: "Let Me Tell You, Honey" by Teddie Bernard; ARTGASM gallery space at ISGMH; "Sweater Piece" by Basil Maclachlan; Gallery launch on August 1, 2024; Quilt and fabric works by Amanda Reeder. Photos by Jim Carey and Dana Kauffman.