Mercury and The Hyacinth: A Collective Expression of Queer Artistry

ARTSPLACE Gallery

Lucas Morneau, Bae Fae, 2024, ACP mounted latex print, 24″ x 28″ each

Mercury and The Hyacinth
Brandt Eisner, Claudia Legg, Lucas Morneau, Drew Quon, Cyd Sparrow
Curated by Lee Cripps

May 31 – July 19, 2025
Opening Reception: Saturday, May 31, 2025, 12pm AT
Artist Talk: Saturday, May 31, 2025, 1pm AT
ARTSPLACE Gallery, Annapolis Royal, NS
www.arcac.ca

ARTSPLACE is pleased to present Mercury and The Hyacinth, an exhibition that brings together the voices of five queer artists, each expressing their unique experiences through diverse artistic practices. This collective, framed within the context of queer identity, offers a rich exploration of the challenges and triumphs faced by those who navigate a world often defined by its binaries and conventions.

Drawing on Greek mythology, the exhibition’s title evokes the fluidity and transformation that resonate within queer experiences.

“In these ancient narratives, figures like Hyacinth and Mercury symbolize the complex interplay of love, loss, and metamorphosis—themes that remain deeply relevant to contemporary queer life,” curator Lee Cripps explains.

Featuring a dynamic range of artists, the exhibition explores identity, resilience, and self-expression through the diverse voices of five queer creators. Brandt Eisner’s bold visual narratives use drag and costuming to challenge gender norms, celebrating the multiplicity of identity while pushing back against conventional binaries. Claudia Legg, a sculptor and conceptual artist, transforms industrial materials into thought-provoking pieces that address isolation, community, and the well-being of queer and gender-nonconforming individuals. Interdisciplinary artist Lucas Morneau uses textiles, photography, and video to queer Newfoundland and Canadian cultural traditions, employing drag as a medium for both critique and exploration of gender norms. Drew Quon’s multidisciplinary practice blends ecological awareness with queer identity, creating personal works that delve into connection, memory, and the fluid nature of the self. Meanwhile, Cyd Sparrow’s ceramic sculptures draw inspiration from natural forms, reflecting the resilience and adaptability of queer lives as they navigate external challenges.

ARTSPLACE Board Member Ted Lind adds, “The artists in this exhibition push against societal norms, creating works that map their personal journeys of masking, revealing, and thriving.”

“Mercury and The Hyacinth” opening reception Saturday, May 31, 2025, 12 – 2pm. Artist Talk 1pm. Light refreshments served, all welcome. Exhibition continues through July 19.

Drew Quon, The Oracles of Tài Shān: Hòutǔ consults with Língzhī Immortals from the Sacred Bodies / Fruitful Encounters series, 2023, digital photo composite, fabric sublimation print, aluminum frame, 72″ x 48″

ARTSPLACE is a public art gallery that is operated by the Annapolis Region Community Arts Council (ARCAC). ARCAC is a registered charity, dedicated to encouraging and promoting the arts. Supported through the Province of Nova Scotia and the Canada Council for the Arts.

ARTSPLACE Gallery
396 St. George Street, Annapolis Royal, NS
www.arcac.ca
admin@arcac.ca
902-532-7069

Facebook @ARTSPLACEGallery
Instagram @arcac.artsplace

Accessibility:
ARTSPLACE is accessible via an outdoor ramp to the main floor galleries. There is an accessible, gender neutral washroom on the main floor. For more information, contact 902.532.7069, admin@arcac.ca.