Casa Frela Celebrates Gay Art In Harlem

Gay and Lesbian Art in Harlem

Mid-length between Lenox and 5th Avenue on historic 119th Street in Harlem, Lawrence Rodriguez ties a banner to a tree just at the base of his brownstone. The flag, reading "Casa Frela" in bold red lettering, welcomes guests into the ground level entrance of Casa Frela Gallery, an arts space owned, curated and directed by Mr. Rodriguez.

Casa Frela Gallery reinterprets and recombines art movements and styles from the past through a contemporary language, according to Rodriguez, who's personal style reflects the daring expression of his exhibits. Casa Frela serves as a cornerstone of a pulsing underground culture in Harlem that thrives on community-oriented art.

Mr. Rodriquez isn't shy about his claim of Harlem as an epicenter of art culture in New York City and the home of a thriving, yet dispersed, group of queer professionals.

"There is an overall feeling that art should be brought back into the everyday lives of people," says Rodriguez. "The Harlem neighborhood is very proud of its origins, but receptive to new influences. In Harlem it's easier for the visitor or collector to develop a personal relationship with an artist or gallery."

Rodriguez will pay homage to queer life and culture this Pride Month with the upcoming exhibition, Fairy Tales: Personal Legend, Urban Myth, Gay Exhibition, a visual narrative of gay life seen through the lens of six openly gay artists: New York City-based Brian Crede, Seth Ruggles Hiler, Joel Handorff, Tai Lin, and Branden Charles Wallace

"Fairy Tales is an exhibition that displays the essential spirit of each artist and tells individual narrative stories through visual art. The artworks recognize, illuminate and celebrate our gay culture," says Rodriguez.

The exhibit covers a range of subject matter: remembering a favorite childhood comic super hero with added erotic sexual prowess, discovering one’s personal sexual identity, coping with HIV/AIDS, recording connections to other men through portraiture, escaping from reality through art, and understanding masculinity in our current society.

Fairy Tales: Personal Legend, Urban Myth, Gay Exhibition opens on Saturday, June 13th, 2009 from 4PM to 7PM through Monday, July 13th, 2009. Casa Frela Gallery is located at 47 West 119th Street (between Lenox Avenue and Fifth Avenue) in Manhattan, New York.