What does it mean to be masculine? The word has been politicized in conversations about gender expression and identity. Now, local artists are using their work to spark conversations of their own.
Positive masculinity is the focus — and title — of a new arts exhibition at Muck Duck Studio, 595 Blossom Road. Paintings, music performances and workshops from artists of all gender expressions aim to spark conversations around healthy depictions of masculinity.
Abby Lupi, a resident artist at Muck Duck Studio, said “Positive Masculinity” should help to combat a persistent narrative.
“When you think of the term masculinity, the first thing that comes to mind is usually something negative. It’s usually a manifestation of toxic masculinity,” they said. “I feel very strongly that we as a society do reinforce that a lot.”
Lupi is keen on starting a different conversation.
Enter “Positive Masculinity” and its multi-disciplinary approach, featuring events like a dating etiquette seminar, a “gender-bendy birthday” celebration and a night of so-called Dude Music. The exhibition kicked off on March 2 at the studio inside the Blossom Business Center.
Visually, 15 local artists have their work shown, spotlighting healthy and positive expressions of masculinity. The call for art was open to those of all gender expressions.
Amid headlines of a male loneliness epidemic and an ongoing discussion around the nature of masculinity, the work may help begin difficult and nuanced conversations. That’s the hope of Muck Duck founder Casey Arthur.
“It would be a real vision come true for Rochester to see men who feel disempowered by not knowing where they belong in life find a place where they really feel that feeling of being needed and being of service,” Arthur said.
Lupi says the exhibition includes valuable perspectives, including from men who may feel alienated by language calling masculinity “toxic.” And, they noted, masculinity affects everyone.
“Starting the conversation from a place of compassion, joy, radiance and healthy masculinity is really the only way to move forward,” Lupi said, “because you can’t condemn a whole gender if you want them to be part of the conversation.”
Patrick Hosken is CITY’s arts reporter. He can be reached at patrick@rochester-citynews.com.
This article appears in Dec 1-31, 2024.
