Jannet Ortega, senior art major, created an image of the Virgin Mary with a contemporary twist, which shows the partial body of two women pasted on either side of the Virgin Mary, which today hangs in the Multi-Cultural Center in honor of PRIDE week.

The image is located in the exhibit titled “Vibrant Expressions: Queer People of Color.”

Ortega’s interpretation of the Virgin Mary, titled “Duality,” makes the viewer believe her personality is accepting of all humans, much like the Virgin Mary.

A reception will be held for the exhibit at 3 p.m. today in the Multi-Cultural Center.

Through this exhibit and PRIDE Week, the PRIDE Center hopes to make more people aware of the queer community, which includes the bisexual, gay, intersex, lesbian, queer, transgender, questioning and ally community.

The Multi-Cultural Center intended to share the many artistic expressions of the queer community through the exhibit, although all members of society were welcome to participate.

Sac State students, staff, faculty and alumni were invited by the Multi-Cultural Center, regardless of their artistic talent or sexual orientation, to participate in creating art or bring in previous artwork for the exhibit.

The participants’ artwork is meant to expose their inspirations or empowerment in life.

Jessica Castellon, senior ethnic studies and sociology major and intern at the Multi-Cultural Center, is the coordinator of the “Vibrant Expressions” exhibit .

Castellon said she is hoping to the exhibit will help the queer community at Sac State build a connection with the campus.

“By allowing people who self-identify as a queer person of color to display their art, we are giving space to begin dialogue and critical conversations about social justice issues,” she said. “The art exhibit allows for the queer community to reach out and support each other.”There will be various art forms, which include paintings, drawings, literary pieces and photographs, said Lisa Vargas, graduate peer mentor and intern at the Multi-Cultural Center.

“It is important for the Multi-Cultural Center to create a positive opportunity for people to express themselves regardless of orientation, religion or identity,” Vargas said.

Castellon said art as communication can be powerful in showing a person’s self.

“Art is a very important avenue for self-expression and identity building because it is helping people represent where they stand and where they come from,” she said.

Francisco Hernandez, junior environmental studies major and participant in the exhibit, said it is important for the queer community to take part because it helps them expose their identity freely.

“There’s always going to be oppression in society, but “Vibrant Expressions’ is helping to take that away by providing an extra opportunity for people to express who they are or how they feel without oppression,” he said.

Hernandez said expressing himself through art has been beneficial for him because he feels less restricted.

“There’s no limit on what you can do with art,” he said.

John Saelee can be reached at [email protected]