Megan McKinlay, one of the models featured in the Queers of Kamloops series that will be displayed at Grizzli Winery in September.

(JESS BEAUDIN / iNFOnews.ca)

The Queers of Kamloops photography series will be on the walls of the Grizzli Winery tasting room in West Kelowna in September.

The project that started at the beginning of the year, is composed of photographs of people from the LGBTQ2S+ community and has expanded to include over ten regular models. Jess Beaudin is the creative artist and photographer behind the project.

“I was really excited when Grizzli Winery reached out to me to invite me to be in their Pride exhibit in September,” Beaudin said. “Their tasting room is so large they can put up around 70 art pieces. People will be able to sip wine and look at the art and purchase pieces if they want.”

Beaudin will be exhibiting seven pieces. She says her photographs celebrate diversity and show queer people in regular moments of daily life.

“I don’t think one would look at my photos and immediately think ‘queer’,” she explained. “They are more about telling a story through poses, colours and beauty. I hope viewers see the subject’s experience in the moment captured rather than their sexual identity.”

There are two pieces that Beaudin says she is particularly excited to showcase.

“My favourite is one of my fiancée and me with the milky way in the background,” she said. “It shows us very much in love with the universe moving around us and it doesn’t matter that we are two women. My second favourite features a model who has really inspired me taking a very powerful pose."

Breanna Nathorst, spokesperson for Grizzli Winery, said she is looking forward to the event.

"Every season we feature different artists," Nathorst said. "This upcoming season we are hosting a Pride exhibition and featuring three artists from the LGTBQ2S+ community who each use a different medium. The gallery launches on September 23 at 5 p.m. We will have a meet and greet with guests and artists with wine and music."

Beaudin says she has put a lot of time into her series and she has many friends and family members who are looking forward to seeing the exhibit.

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