Venezia: New exhibit focuses on LGBT community | baxter, art, says ...

Why is Stephan Baxter, a married straight guy, putting together an art exhibit celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender (LGBT) couples?

Because marriage matters to him, he says.

Stephan Baxter, creator and co-curator of Art With An Agenda - Love. Sex. Unity. Respect.

PICASA, COURTESY STEPHAN BAXTER

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And he believes equality for the LGBT community is his generation's civil rights issue.

"I'm married to my wife Noele, and we have a wonderful life. The fact that so many same sex couples want to be married after years of commitment together, but cannot, diminishes my own marriage," says Baxter, organizer and co-curator of Art With An Agenda ? Love, Sex. Unity. Respect, which runs May 3-25 at the Magoski Arts Colony in Fullerton.

The 48-year-old Fullerton resident says Art With An Agenda exhibits are designed to give a voice to those who are bullied, discriminated against or simply abandoned.

This isn't Baxter's first controversial show.

In June 2012, Baxter made front-page news with his Art with an Agenda ? the Life and Murder of Kelly Thomas one year after Thomas's death.

For the past five months, with the help of Noele, friend Teryn Boyer and co-curator Valerie Lewis, he's been reaching out to artists and photographers, laying the groundwork for what Baxter hopes will be "One of the most substantial and meaningful private gallery exhibits in Orange County history."

His plan is to have more than 60 artists and 100 works of art filling the 5,000 square feet of the Magoski, at 223 W. Santa Fe Ave.

His hope is that straight couples will come to the May exhibition and closed minds will be opened.

"This won't be a gay pride show," he told me. "This show will elevate love and connect people with the LGBT community. We want to celebrate the ordinary lives of these couples."

As we talk, he tells me what he imagines straight couples' reactions will be as they view the exhibit.

"They look at something soft and sweet and then the man instinctively reaches for his wife's hand," he says.

Thanks to art agents Masterpiece Publishing in Laguna Beach, Baxter landed works by two renowned artists, Renzo and Fidel Garcia, for his event.

"Sculptures by Renzo have sold for up to $30,000 and we will have four on exhibit," says Baxter.

The Garcia works are limited print editions that retail for $2,800.

Among the other artists featured will be Steve Metzker, John M. Sollom, William Zdan, Ty Rose, Rene Cardona, and Chantal de Falice, just to name a few.

See Baxter's site for a full listing.

The focal point of the exhibit will be an eight-foot wedding cake sculpture created by local artist Katherine England.?

She is also the artist behind the All Arts for Kids Hearts, a campaign in which mosaic hearts were placed all around Fullerton last summer.

The cake sculpture will be wallpapered with more than 200 photos of LGBT couples.

Liberty Freeman, from Encino, and her partner are in one of the photos on the cake.

"I think it is important to remember that love comes in all shapes, colors, genders, and sizes and, in the end, regardless of our sexuality," Freeman said.

Randolph Baxter ? no relation to Stephan ? and his partner married in Orange County the first day possible in 2008. They also sent a photo for the exhibit.

He's participating in this exhibit, "so that other couples who missed the 2008 window can have the same legal benefits and protections we enjoy," he says.

An art auction will take place opening weekend of Art With An Agenda.

Proceeds will be split evenly between the artists and OC AIDS Walk.

AIDS Walk is important to Stephan Baxter, and he's even organized a walk team for the May 4 event.

Art With An Agenda will also have a special memorial dedicated to long time AIDS Walk organizer Pearl Jemison-Smith's son, Jamie Jemison, who died of the disease.

"He has an amazing energy and belief in social justice," Jemison-Smith said of Baxter. "I am very touched that he wants to include a memorial corner for my son."

Baxter says those purchasing art during this event should feel good about it.

"The buyer will know every time they look at the painting or sculpture, that on that day they took a stand, helped a great cause, and were on the right side of history," he says.

Source: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/baxter-500056-art-says.html

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