MassLive recently asked readers to identify people who are leaders from the LGBTQ+ community throughout the state, working to make a difference in their own area of interest, be it politics, education, business or the arts.
Profiles of these leaders will be published through the rest of February. These are people our readers have identified as inspirational, who may be doing good acts for their communities. They are being recognized for their accomplishments, leadership and commitment to inspire change.
Nathan D. Manna is a Worcester artist creates art that recontextualizes LGBTQ+ history.Nathan D. Manna
Nathan D. Manna
Age: 26
Community: Worcester
His story: Nathan D. Manna is a queer, Worcester-based artist whose work showcases LGBTQ+ history from a novel angle. You might recognize his visual art if you visited the Jean McDonough Arts Center on Franklin Street last August while his “Acrobatics of the Divine” exhibition was displayed there.
Manna is a recent graduate of Worcester’s College of the Holy Cross, he said. It was during his time there that he discovered his passion for collage.
Originally, Manna had intended to become a costume designer, he said. But a class with Professor Leslie Schomp and his introduction to the work of queer photomontage artist John O’Reilly changed his mind.
“I realized that the art I wanted to do had a serious political undertone that I wouldn’t be able to achieve through being a designer. Instead, I needed control of the bigger picture,” he wrote. “This was a real moment of transformation for me, as I realized that all the things I couldn’t do on stage I could do with collage.”
Manna is now a Master of Fine Arts degree candidate at School of the Art Institute of Chicago. In the past, he also served as the chair of Worcester Youth Pride and as the parade director for Worcester Pride.
“Through these roles, I got to understand the importance of preserving queer history, and also the way that symbols like a parade operate as sites for hope and joy,” he wrote.
One type of symbol that feature’s prominently in Manna’s work is flowers, which he connects back to queer history through folklore and literature. For example, the Narcissus flower — commonly known as the daffodil, connects back to the Greek mythological character Narcissus, who is part of a lesser known myth featuring an unrequited homosexual romance.
“It is my goal that the incredible histories that exist are brought to light,” Manna wrote “I have experienced extensive homophobia, and I see this work as an escape, a fantasy, a refuge, or shelter.”
In addition to creating beauty and joy through a celebration of queerness, Manna said he likes that his work sparks meaningful conversations.
“Being an artist is not easy, but I believe it is some of the most rewarding work. Just like writing a paper, it is a generation and exhibition of your knowledge and ideas,” he wrote.
Manna advises that anyone hoping to break into the art industry start exploring a range of techniques and engaging with all types of art.
“It is impossible to make art in a vacuum, so understanding the wide array of reference points and traditions is essential,” he wrote.
Taking art courses and workshops and looking for opportunities to exhibit your art and solicit feedback can also help you progress, Manna said. Once you feel ready, residency programs through local cultural councils can be a great way to fund the creation of your art.
“Be bold and audacious in your work. I find that moments where I am most uncomfortable or unsure are where the greatest work really occurs,” he wrote.
You can take a look at some of Manna’s work on his website and Instagram.
In his words: “I’m an artist who is interested in the combination of signs and symbols — specifically those surrounding queer and specifically gay culture and history. I see my work as an inventorying and recontextualizing of moments of these histories.”
We’re always open to hearing about more inspiring people. If you’d like to suggest someone else who should be recognized, please fill out this form.
