hot dreams
July 5th-August 2nd
Opening Reception Friday, July 5th from 7-9pm with YouTube Karaoke in the studio!
Exhibition Description:
hot dreams brings together the work of Ardyn Gibbs and Eli Nolet, two emerging trans and non
binary artists exploring queer affect through new media and materiality. Queer desire, safety,
memory, joy, and visibility exist as throughlines in these works that reach for physical spaces of
queer belonging/gathering that have for some only existed as a fantasy or imagining. Employing
both physical and digital material references to objects such as chains, metal piercings, and the
reflective sheen reminiscent of that cast by leather or latex, the works in hot dreams refer to
the queer body – or rather the absence of queer bodies.
Eli Nolet (they/them) is a queer trans settler-Indigenous artist and arts worker from the
occupied territories of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee, and Mississaugas
(otherwise known as hamilton, ontario). Eli’s practice explores identity and selfhood through
new media activations of static image and text work. Across their practice, Eli is interested in
investigating the many layered histories of queer culture and desire, and questioning the
binaries of visible/invisible, normative/transgressive.
Ardyn Gibbs (they/them) is a queer and trans, settler-Indigenous (Mohawk) artist and arts
worker located on the territories of the Haudenosaunee, Anishnaabe, and Mississaugas of the
Credit First Nation otherwise known as Hamilton, ON. Using digital new media technologies
Ardyn’s work explores themes of queer futurism, digital dreaming, and visibility/legibility of
queer bodies in public spaces. Ardyn is passionate about collective dreaming, placekeeping, and
fostering meaningful connections.
Adrien Crossman (they/them) is a queer and non-binary white settler artist, educator, and
curator currently residing on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe in
so called Hamilton, Ontario. They hold an MFA in Visual Art from the University of Windsor
(2018), and a BFA in Integrated Media with a Minor in Digital and Media Studies from OCAD
University (2012). Crossman is interested in the affective qualities of queerness, investigating
how queerness can be felt through specific aesthetics and sensibilities. Adrien co-founded and
co-runs the online arts publication off centre and is an Assistant Professor in the School of the
Arts at McMaster University.