PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — St. Pete artist Wasil is a lifelong creator. He works off sketches he makes on scraps of paper, envelopes and long CVS receipts.
It’s inspiration that cannot wait for a notebook. His current medium is recycled building materials.
Some of his latest work will be on display at The Werk Gallery in St. Pete in their Pride exhibition “Joy: Be Yourself and Be Proud.”
Though he enjoys his private life, Wasil could not forego this public pride show.
“Well, I’m a queer person, it’s part of who I am. It’s not my total identity. I’m about community, way, way way about community, because what else do we got?” said Wasil.
His work is a sign to others that you are not alone. And the work itself is its own form of resistance to bigotry.
And so the answer is to stay in the joy.
“There is momentum behind joy that is an active tool in creating the society that we want,” he said. “And hopefully it assists people on giving them permission to discover themselves.”
The Werk Gallery owners say the annual pride show is their privilege put up—giving a voice to marginalized people.
The Werk Gallery
2210 First Ave. South
Friday, June 5: Opening reception 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
The works will be on display through June 28.