Heather Renée Russ

Selected works from Body Exaltations and the End of Land. In this series I make portraits in places vulnerable to environmental and economic forces, exploring what it's like to hold space for celebration while simultaneously holding the anxiety of displacement. Inspired by my history of creating places of gathering, I make connections to the loss of space my queer community faces to the loss of land we all face. I also contend with outdoor queer spaces that do not feel welcoming to women and trans people.

Photographs are archival pigment prints on cotton rag, 16 x 24 inches in editions of 3

These are some of the photographs I made of collaborations and creative endeavors in Queer San Francisco where I had my coming of age in the early 2000’s. It was a wild and special time. We could make art in the streets. If you had an idea for a project you put the word out and the next day 50 queers would show up to make it with you. This time was fleeting. The city became too expensive and many of us fled. Recently, I was feeling sad about this displacement and my friend ektor garcia cheered me up by saying “but now we are everywhere.” It’s true. Even though we are scattered those of us still living are very connected. Some of the artists pictured include Brontez Purnell, Raul de Nieves, Annie Danger, Lee Reyes, Llane Alexis, Ivy Jeanne, Xara Thustra, Rhani Remedes, Abyss Cloven, Brande Bytheway, Jesse Evans, Siobhan Aluvalot and Ciriza

I was a photographer in the days before cell phone cameras and instagram. I have A LOT of film from this era I need to scan someday.

Selected works from a collaboration with San Francisco artists including Ciriza, Raul de Nieves, Xara Thustra, Siobhan Aluvalot, Brande Bytheway. We ran around the city erecting these fake nature backdrops performing in front of them and inviting the public to participate. These works were published in Juxtapoz Magazine.

A selection of environmental portraits made from 2009-2012 of friends and creative collaborators Ciriza, ektor garcia, Sky Hall, Joy, Rachel Styer, Lorelei Lee, Sinclair, Tuck Mayo and Amos Mac.