How deep is your love?
How deep is your love?
I really need to learn.
Cause we’re living in a world of fools
Breaking us down
When they all should let us be
We belong to you and me.
– How Deep Is Your Love, The Bee Gees

This exhibition title derives from the 1977 Bee Gees’ song of the same name. While traditionally it is used as a heterosexual love song, The Bee Gees are iconic amongst members of the queer community, in part due to their contributions to disco, as well as songwriting for many queer icons such as Dolly Parton and Barbara Streisand. When the lyrics are removed from their original context and interpreted through a queer lens, “How Deep is Your Love?” can become a question we ask about ourselves and the people around us.

The William Way LGBT Community Center’s 17th Annual Juried Art Exhibition brings together and celebrates local queer artists from the Philadelphia area. Love is a common theme throughout the artworks presented, whether it be self love, love for others, or a feeling of longing and yearning. Even when the artwork isn’t specifically about love, the artists’ love for their artistic process is clearly represented.

Making art is a testament to life, documenting our existence. When we feel that itch to start a piece, we feel that there is something missing in the world; something that we can share or provide through our art. We do not need to justify ourselves to politicians and people who are filled with hate. We need only love ourselves and to spread our love, and creating art can be an expression of self love. The artworks in this exhibition are evidence that the fifty one artists have an abiding sense of love for themselves, their artistic process and our queer cultural community. We are truly grateful for their submissions. It has been an honor and privilege to curate their amazing, diverse and powerful artworks selected by the juror, Sharon Hayes, MFA. We wish each of the artists every success.

Prior Reinhardt & Janus Ourma
Curators