EG Crichton’s “OUT/LOOK and the Birth of the Queer” Opens October 6

Artist E.G. Crichton has collaborated with the GLBT Historical Society and other artists to create a multidisciplinary exhibit celebrating the contributions of the groundbreaking queer journal OUT/LOOK. “OUT/LOOK and the Birth of the Queer” opens October 6, 7-9 p.m. at the GLBT History Museum explores the story of this national queer quarterly published in San Francisco from 1988 to 1992. Embracing gender and racial diversity and bridging academic and community perspectives, the magazine inspired an avid readership. The show and its associated programs, publication and website are designed to spark intergenerational conversations about the legacy of OUT/LOOK and its era.

Curated by E.G. Crichton, “OUT/LOOK and the Birth of the Queer” features new work by 38 culture-makers, each asked to find inspiration in one of the 17 issues of the magazine. This diverse group includes writers, visual artists, performers, curators, activists and representatives of two organizations, all belonging to the two generations of queers who have grown up since the five-year lifespan of the magazine.

“The last issue of OUT/LOOK was published 25 years ago, yet people still tell me they miss it,” Crichton says. “Members of younger generations I speak to — including the participants in this project — express surprise that we were already wrangling back then with intersectional identities, marriage equality, the politics of respectability, who decides our tactics for resistance, and other contemporary concerns. Walking through the gallery, listening to the audio tour, visitors will be introduced to OUT/LOOK through historical materials and through artists’ and writers’ provocative new responses to the original magazine,” Crichton adds. “They’ll get a taste of innovative queer thinking and the sharp debates in and about the LGBTQ community at a pivotal time.”