An exhibit exploring queer stories and resilience in the South, "Intertwined Archives: Stories of Nourishment and Resilience," opened Friday, Sept. 4, in Wey Hall at Appalachian State University. The collection features the "Invasive Queer Kudzu" project by cross-disciplinary artist Aaron McIntosh, an associate professor at Concordia University and a fourth-generation quiltmaker from Kingsport, TN.
The exhibit, which McIntosh describes as "a beautiful unruly mass of queer stories," visually represents kudzu vines. Upon closer inspection, these vines are hundreds of quilted leaves, each bearing a handwritten story. McIntosh connects queer people to the kudzu plant, noting that both have been demonized in Southern culture. He points out that kudzu, often seen as invasive, was initially planted by the U.S. government for erosion control. McIntosh stated that the project offers "a supportive platform for queer and LGBTQ people" to share stories of living, thriving, and confronting challenges in the queer South, aiming to destigmatize both kudzu and queer and trans stories.
The project, on tour since 2023 and now in its fifth destination, integrates photos from 11 different archives depicting pride marches and various queer histories. McIntosh also incorporated individual stories from queer youth groups and queer Christian communities. The exhibit was largely a collaboration with Jennie Carlisle, the curator and director of the Art Department Gallery Program at Appstate. Carlisle sought to bring work to campus that would highlight and support queer students, leading her to invite McIntosh to the High Country after showing interest in his "Invasive Queer Kudzu" project. The collection of work is being shown in collaboration with The Queer Compost project, also created by McIntosh.
McIntosh's inspiration for the project stemmed from a personal revelation while pulling weeds in his family garden. He felt like a "weed" himself, with parts of him accepted and parts not. This idea blossomed into numerous creative endeavors. McIntosh also observes that structural, political, and religious factors in the South have suppressed regional solidarity-building among queer communities. Unlike areas on the West Coast and parts of the Northeast with broad LGBTQ+ support networks, McIntosh describes the South's networks as fragmented, operating "city by city" without a broader structure. Though the artist is just one individual, McIntosh considers himself a steward of all the stories he has gathered.
Community members have opportunities to engage further with the artist and the project. McIntosh is scheduled to hold an Artist Talk Thursday at 7 p.m., where he will discuss the Invasive Queer Kudzu project and his use of quilting as a medium for storytelling and highlighting the queer experience in the South. Additionally, a workshop will be held Friday from 1-5 p.m., allowing participants to create their own kudzu vine to contribute to the exhibit. The "Intertwined Archives" exhibit will remain open at the Walling Gallery in Wey Hall until Oct. 16.
