Cleary University is proud to collaborate with local artist Lora Garcelon on a powerful and heartfelt art project in support of the LGBTQ+ community. This initiative, known as the “Together Art Project,” invited both members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies to contribute to a quilt-like collage composed of 7-inch squares.
Lora, an experienced muralist and advocate, was driven to create the project after the November presidential election, an event that left her feeling overwhelmed with frustration and despair as two of her children are part of the LGBTQ+ community.
“I needed an outlet for these feelings, so I went outside and aggressively threw paint, rocks, alcohol, and sticks at watercolor paper,” Lora says.
Realizing she couldn’t remain in a state of anxiety, Lora decided to transform these initial chaotic pieces—what she now calls her “angry art starts”—into something hopeful. She painted images of hope over the raw energy of her watercolor creations and invited the community to do the same. She cut the watercolor piece into squares, offering participants the choice to paint over her abstract expressions or start fresh on the blank side. Cleary University played a key role in distributing these squares, with students and professors contributing artwork to the cause. Lora received contributions from artists aged 8 to 91 from across the country.
“I’ve been overwhelmed with the response,” she says.
Each square has been mounted on cradled wood panels crafted by Lora’s husband, and covered with meaningful materials such as Lady Gaga’s Born This Way sheet music and excerpts from the Obergefell v. Hodges and Lawrence v. Texas Supreme Court decisions. These elements underscore the message of love, equality, and resilience embedded within the project.
“We recognize and hope that our art can help people feel a greater sense of connection and belonging,” Lora says.
The resulting piece consists of four 4’x4’ panels. The first stop for this powerful artwork is Cleary University in Howell, Mich., before it embarks on a larger tour. The public is welcome to view the artwork in the Cleary Commons during business hours throughout the month of February.