The human experience is a unique narrative that all individuals possess. Sharing this narrative has the ability to evoke an abundance of possibilities within yourself and others. We see the recognition and celebration of the human experience within the art exhibition “Raise Every Voice,” located at the Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center at 300 Wall St. in Uptown Kingston.

This exhibition showcases a wide range of work from artists Jan Donley, Ben Eichert and Tracy Bouvette. These artists represent a vast diversity of independent voices in our community, through contrasting artistic media that create a unique and inviting space for all.

Jan Donley’s work within Raise Every Voice are pieces from her “Train — Inside Story, Inside Song” series. Donley's work within this series is multimedia; specifically, drawing and painting layered on top of excerpts from literature and song. These pieces depict train riders of diverse color, class and culture, paired with backgrounds of texts and musical notes. These works symbolize not only the physical nature of the daily commute, but also the mental and spiritual journey of individuals as they transcend through their reading or listening into the realm of imagination.

Also taking part in the exhibition is Ben Eichert, a photographer and artist residing in Kingston. His work depicts his emotions as a child growing up in an abusive, dysfunctional and adoptive household. Highlighted in the exhibition is Eichert’s photograph series, “Mothers I have Lost,” which alludes to a child’s yearning for parental validation and how that feeling translates into adulthood. Some of his other works within the exhibition provoke an eerie sensation of being under constant observation and judgment, which is achieved through surrealistic photography manipulation.

Tracy Bouvette’s works in the exhibition are expressionist paintings that represent relatable and elemental human emotions. The titles of the paintings allude to the original inspiration of the work. For example, the painting “Trust Eroded” conveys the feeling of betrayal through the visual deconstruction of the word “trust.” In another work, “Pandemic III,” the painting visually represents the emotional static weight Covid-19 imposed on the world when the pandemic was at its peak.

The Raise Every Voice exhibition showcases artworks from three vastly different mediums and styles. The exhibition provides a well-rounded and diverse body of work. The fresh subject matter and visuals of the diverse group of artists excites the audience as they move through the exhibition. The work of each artist masterfully expresses their distinct human experience, encouraging uniqueness, celebrating individuality and provoking thought.