Queer hotelier, art lover, and philanthropist Alex Guerra is always such a joy to be around as he is so passionate about all his projects which always end up making a significant contribution to the LGBTQ+ community. A few years back he and partner Stephen Ginez decided to support queer artists and their work by mounting a satellite show in their Miami Hotel when the major (and very straight) ART BASEL arrived every December.
ART Gaysel didn’t just provide a space for these artists to promote and sell their art, but also a much-needed platform for queer artists to communicate, and even collaborate, with each other.
Then when Guerra and GInez fell in love with Provincetown a couple of years ago they ended up buying a house here. And it wasn’t too long after that Guerra wanted to start a Provincetown edition of Art Gaysel. There has always been a wonderful art colony in PTown but there is still a significant shortage of edgy queer art ….. the genre that Guerra is such a passionate specialist in.
So this Pride Week in Ptown….. still a relatively new event, Guerra put his money where his mouth is and filled the Crews Quarters with 13 highly individual queer artists. from across the glove for the first Edition of ART GAYSEL Ptown
We caught up with Guerra on the opening day and talked with him and a few of the artists, We had to keep it brief as the crowds were already beginning to come in
NB This is an interview with a remarkable queer artist that makes art for queer adults.
Daniel Ortiz is a Brooklyn-born queer Artist of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent who is about to participate in ART GAYSEL Miami’s Queerest Art Fair that is making its PROVINCETOWN Debut. He has really been able to hone in on a style of art that truly represents him as a gay Latino. It has not been an easy road of acceptance, but he has managed to actively pursue an art career and has now introduced “Art by Dan” my very first own online shop and brand.
On the eve of the new Fair he talked with QUEERGURU about how he hopes his work will inspire and impact people, especially members of the LGBTQ community
E. Lesh aka Eric Lesh is a queer portrait and figurative artist and is about to follow his dream and open his very own ART GALLERY in PROVINCETOWN. His artwork depicts queer subjects, capturing form and expression in as few lines as possible. Lesh is also a lawyer who worked for Lambda Legal and was recognized as one of the 40 Best LGBTQ+ Lawyers Under 40 by the National LGBT Bar. He talked with Queerguru about the line connecting his legal and artistic work which is a passion for justice and a desire to celebrate queer bodies and lives.