E16: Building Inclusive Art Communities: Artitude’s Vision and Impact

Summary

Jerome Larez shares his artistic journey and the founding story of Artitude, an organization dedicated to uplifting LGBTQ+ and marginalized artists in Dallas and beyond. We explore themes of representation, community-building, and the power of reclaiming words through art. Jerome also discusses the challenges and opportunities facing queer artists today and the future of Artitude’s programming and outreach.

Keywords

• Jerome Larez
• Artitude
• Queer artists
• LGBTQ+ arts
• Dallas art community
• MariconX
• Intersectional art
• Art and activism
• Black and Latinx artists
• Inclusive art spaces

Takeaways

• Jerome’s artistic roots began in music but transitioned to photography and mixed media, especially black-and-white photography, which became a therapeutic way to explore his queer identity.
• Artitude was born from conversations among marginalized artists about representation gaps in Dallas' queer and art communities, aiming to create inclusive, cross-cultural platforms.
• The organization's flagship program, MariconX, reclaims a historically pejorative term to empower Latinx queer artists and embraces inclusivity by adding an "X" to the name.
• Artitude intentionally fosters multicultural programming, exemplified by projects that blend traditions like Día de los Muertos with diverse artistic perspectives, including Black artists.
• Jerome balances multiple civic and cultural roles to influence broader access, equity, and representation for marginalized artists in Dallas.
• Recent funding from the Ford Foundation has allowed Artitude to hire staff, expand programs, and offer scholarships, increasing their capacity and community impact.
• The organization confronts challenges such as exclusion from events like the Texas State Fair when requiring LGBTQ+ recognition, and continues advocacy for visibility and support.
• Artitude fosters community and solidarity through art, creating safe spaces where artists can be vulnerable and authentic, inspiring mentorship and connection across identity intersections.
• Jerome emphasizes the importance of dialogue, strategic alliances, and creating tables where marginalized voices can be heard rather than forcing entry.
• Looking ahead, Artitude seeks to deepen cross-cultural collaboration and expand its influence regionally, including exhibitions at NYU and continued outreach in Texas cities such as San Antonio.

Chapters

• 00:00 – Introduction and Artistic Journey of Jerome Larez
• 04:50 – Founding of Artitude: The Starbucks Meeting and Early Conversations
• 07:30 – Defining Multicultural Programming and Cross-Cultural Artistic Expression
• 10:10 – Jerome’s Civic Roles and Integration with Artitude’s Mission
• 14:30 – Artitude’s Unique Community and Representation Focus
• 18:00 – Challenges in Dallas’ LGBTQ+ Arts Landscape and Funding Issues
• 21:40 – Reclaiming “MariconX”: Name, Controversy, and Inclusivity
• 26:00 – The Evolving Themes of MariconX and Adaptation Across Cities
• 28:00 – Solidarity Through Artistic Collaboration and Safe Spaces
• 31:30 – Impact of Ford Foundation Grant on Artitude’s Growth and Programming
• 35:00 – Navigating Controversies: Texas State Fair and Advocacy
• 38:20 – Managing Artitude Across Distance with Co-Director Rafik
• 40:00 – Future Aspirations: El Pueblo Unido Exhibit and Regional Expansion
• 43:00 – Mentorship and Advice for Emerging Queer Artists of Color
• 44:40 – Hope for the Future: Artists’ Persistence and Voices
• 46:50 – Quickfire Lightning Round: Personal Artistic Insights

Guest Info

Jerome Larez

• Artitude Official Website
• Artitude Instagram

Resources and Links

• Art in the Raw Substack Newsletter
• Art in the Raw on Instagram
• Listen on Apple Podcasts
• Listen on Spotify

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