I first saw John Gutoskey’s work at August’s “Wish List” exhibition (presented by the Gallery Project, August 1-30, at One Lake Erie Center). In the midst of paintings, photography, and other installations, Gutoskey’s large, intricate, and peaceful Mandala Series. Making itself known for both size and concept, I stopped and stared. Found objects were woven together to create concentric circles— a notable meditation on the sanctity of its occupied space.
Shortly after, River House Arts announced that Gutoskey would again visit Toledo for his solo show, Queerly Beloved. In the show, Gutoskey, an Ann Arbor artist, designer, printmaker, collector and practitioner of queer theory, has expanded upon what “occupying space” means to him. Supplementing the theory he practices with two decades of solo work in assemblage, Queerly Beloved is an exhibition of both conceptual and material texture.
What was your goal for the Queerly Beloved exhibition?
The exhibit is [a] survey of the last two decades of my assemblage work. [It’s] allowed me to see patterns, concepts and ideas that I keep going back to, but also how I can see [how] I was applied the strategies of queer theory before I knew much about it.
How has the reception for the exhibition been so far?
It has been very positive. I spoke to a group of about 40 students from Owens Community College and the University of Toledo and was able to preview the exhibit with them. It was a great experience. I was asked a lot of interesting questions about the ideas behind the work, but also about all the found objects and materials I use. I think there are a lot of ways into the work, and the materials I use are one of the ways to draw people in and get them to take a closer look.
Are you surprised by the reaction?
I think what is amazing is that no one seems to be upset about the college presenting an openly gay married man whose body of work addresses ideas and issues around queerness and queer sexuality. From where I stand, it’s a miracle, but, the great thing is that for the students it’s no big deal. I think that’s progress.
What does "queer" mean to you?
Anything that is strange, weird, unusual. Something— a space, a place, an object, a person, an experience— that takes you out of ordinary time or space. [Queer] shakes you out of your own patterns of consciousness. Anything that defines itself against what is considered the “norm” at the time. As it pertains to sexuality and gender, queer means you are not or do not identify as heteronormative. 
What does it mean to “queer” a space?
It can mean a variety of things. Obvious [examples of queering a space] are gay bars. [But also,] carnivals, the circus, live performance (especially theater,) are queer spaces because they take you out of ordinary time and space, so that makes them liminal or queer spaces. You can queer a space through decor, drag performance, overtaking a space with a large group of people who identify as queer. I think any experience or space that takes you out of ordinary time and space, that stops you and wakes you up or shakes you up and out of your daily routine by pointing out queerness— the strange, unusual, odd, weird, kooky— could be considered a queer space.
Through November 6.
1-5pm Tuesdays, 2-6pm Wednesday, 1-5pm Thursday. Gallery also open by appointment.
Walter E. Terhune Gallery |Centre for Fine and Performing Arts at Owens Community College | 30335 Oregon Rd., Perrysburg | 567-661-7000
owens.edu/fpa/terhune.html river-house-arts.com johngutoskeystudio.com
