I used to feel like Peter Pan, who watched Wendy Darling play with her family. "There could not have been a lovelier sight; but there was none to see it except a little boy who was staring in at the window. He had ecstasies innumerable that other children can never know; but he was looking through the window at the one joy from which he must be forever barred" (J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan).

I felt barred from the happiness that comes from family simply because I was gay because that's what I learned growing up as a Mormon. I have since come to know that I am not barred from this happiness, and that I can have all the joys associated with family.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Make a New Beginning

I am many things--husband, son, brother, barista, writer, artist, humanist, former Mormon, homosexual--It's funny how something like a blog can pinpoint two of those many labels and make it seem to define my existence. For so long to the people who read this blog I am the gay man who grew up Mormon. The problem is as I get further and further away from Mormonism I have less and less to say about what it means to be a gay Mormon. So this blog gets updated more sporadically and gets fewer readers. It may be soon time to cut the cord!

I do have other blogs. AlwaysHoldingHands.blogspot.com is my blog as a husband, friend, and relative. I use it for occasional personal updates and pictures, and you are welcome to follow me there. I also have been using blog.dembree.com more and more. Blog.dembree.com is my blog as an artist, and I use it post images and announce events and make goals. I will be updating it more frequently with thoughts about the things that influence my art (many of which are relevant to you fellow gay Mormons/former Mormons), other artists, work in progress, and new artwork. I invite you follow me over there as well!
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Saturday, February 12, 2011

Make it Better



13 Forest Gallery in Arlington, MA presents It Gets Better / Make it Better, a group show juried by Paula Tognarelli, Executive Director of the Griffin Museum in Winchester. The show presents work by nine artists from across the country. Initially intended to highlight issues of bullying and homophobia - both internal and external - the work in It Gets Better/Make It Better also deals with racial and gender identity as well as environmentalism.

I am honored to have four pieces in the show dealing with overcoming internal homophobia from my suit vs. tuxedo series. The work will be on display February 17 - April 1, 2011, with an opening reception this Thursday, February 17 from 7 to 9 and an Artist Talk March 17 from 7 to 9 pm. The work is for sale and a portion of the proceeds benefits P-FLAG.
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