Queer Art Takes Center Stage at Luminosity's Slam Fest
On the evening of February 17, Irazu Coffee was transformed into a buzzing hub of creativity as students gathered to witness Slam Fest.
Slam Fest was part of a lineup of events making up Luminosity: A Queer Arts Festival. The festival showcased queer art and artists in a wide variety of art forms over the course of a weekend. The other eight festival events included photo exhibits, plays, short films and a drag show.
Luminosity was conceived by senior Jack Morrill as their Lumen Prize research project. Their two-year research project explores how a queer values lens changes the way theatrical organizations operate. More information on the project can be found on the Instagram page @queering.the.stage.
Over a year ago, Jack approached Carenna Slotkoff about helping put on a poetry slam. A writer herself, Slotkoff was excited to work with Jack and support other authors.
“When Jack and I studied in London together, we were in a devised theater class. And, we used a lot of queer poetry in those pieces,” said Slotkoff.
This experience inspired her conception of Slam Fest. Slotkoff wanted to create a space to showcase queer writing and songs and celebrate the beauty and creativity of the queer community.
Slotkoff explained she wanted to focus on “not just the queer experience, but queer people doing artistry. And I just felt like poetry is such a good expression of that.”
Morrill began the night by reading a piece from Ocean Vuong’s “On Earth, We’re Briefly Gorgeous.” From there, students got up to recite poems or sing. Each performance was met with resounding applause. There was a true sense of love in the room. Towards the end of the night, Slotkoff opened the stage to audience members, who gladly came up to share their own work.
After the event ended, students stayed behind to congratulate one another.
“I feel like it was a really safe space for people to share their art which can be really scary. So, I am over the moon,” said Slotkoff.
Elon has not always been a safe or welcoming place for the queer community. To have a festival dedicated to not just queer survival, but queer light and artistry is truly something magnificent.
Carenna Slotkoff, BFA ’23 performs a piece of poetry at Irazu Coffee on February 17, 2023.
The weekend also made Slotkoff hopeful for the future. Slam Fest and Morrill’s Luminosity festival as a whole had given queer students a space to celebrate queer joy. Slotkoff hopes this is just the beginning.
“I didn't expect it to be this big of a turnout. So, I am really happy, and I’m excited because I think that people plan will continue this stuff into the next years after I graduate.”