Two SUNY Oswego art students, Malia Minckler and Caryn Nabrizny, are being recognized for their artistic talent, as their pieces are being featured in SUNY’s “Pride in Bloom’’ exhibition that opened over the summer. 

Minckler’s piece is titled “Reflection” and Nabrizy’s artwork is titled “Lanterns.” Both pieces were created digitally. 

“Their works express the joy of self-discovery, finding acceptance, friendship and love in the LGBTQIA communities on SUNY campuses,” said Jennifer Laursen, senior fellow for Arts and Humanities in SUNY Rockefeller Institute of Government. 

The artwork hits home for both students because they are part of the LGBTQIA community. 

“The piece illustrates the conflict between my younger self and the [at the time terrifying] realization that I was gay,” Minkler said. “People will always have their opinion to share but it is important to reflect on the past as a reminder to love yourself for who you are.”

Laursen described Minckler’s piece as “thoughtful and elegant in its carefully edited lines.”

“Lanterns” was influenced by the first date with her girlfriend, according to Nabrizny. After going to a Catholic high school,  she said she could not fully express herself and only let her close friends know about her “queerself.”

“I was inspired by my girlfriend because we had been together for almost two years and I hadn’t made artwork for her before,” Nabrizny said. “I wanted to pay respect to her because she gives me a lot of motivation, she inspires me… she helps me through everything whether it’s artwork or real life.”

Nabrizny continued, explaining how the shapes in her piece relate back to her life. 

“In the piece there are three rings, the furthest blue ring represents when I was coming to facts with myself that I was a lesbian and a part of the LGBTQIA community,” Nabrizny said. “Next, the red rings represent the point in my life when I had to hide myself and be more reserved, and the blue ring in the front is how I am presently: Free to be myself and loving my girlfriend.”

Nabrizny went on to say how she hopes to inspire others to be proud of who they are. 

“There is a silhouette representing me and my girlfriend [and] I wanted those who are afraid to be themselves to be able to put themselves where me and my girlfriend are and feel the love and safety in the piece,” she said.   

Laursen noted Nabrizny’s piece “bursts with color and joy.”

Nabrizny explained how being in this exhibition made her feel like “an actual artist.” 

“The people holding the exhibition have told me that they loved the bright colors and the many different layers of symbolism in the piece,” Nabrizny said. 

The “Pride in Bloom” exhibition will remain on display in the first floor gallery of the H. Carl McCall SUNY Building in Albany, NY. through November.

Photo from oswego.edu