As the sun set in the backdrop of an evening last year in Ulster Park, a string of lights led visitors through a grassy path toward an old, brown wood barn.

The sky was dim but the windows, doorways and space between the beams shined with a multicolored spectrum. Within its worn frame laid an array of artwork celebrating “nude and lewd” depictions of the male form and the queer artists behind them.

We’re talking about Barnwood: the Hudson Valley’s exhibition of homoerotic drawings, paintings, ceramics and other art forms made by creatives in the region, New York City and beyond. Barnwood is back again, with a spring show scheduled for Friday, April 30 to Sunday, May 2. The event is brought to you by Stephan Hengst and Patrick Decker: the dynamic duo that spawned Big Gay Hudson Valley (BGHV) back in 2008.

“There are so few places where [erotic artists] can actually show their works because either people consider them to be obscene or maybe they just haven't found an audience that is interested in their work,” Hengst said. “By bringing so many of these artists that have created erotic pieces together under one roof, it's a great opportunity to see a wider range of works that are all unique and original.”

Hengst and Decker have lived in the region since 2005 and tied the knot in 2009 all the way in Hengst’s home country of Holland. They have always been dedicated to spreading love, community and awareness of the queer community with their work with BGHV and beyond. When the two first bought their home in Ulster Park, several years ago, they fell in love with the old barn and its hand-hewn beams that were crafted in the 1850s. By this time, they’d already spent nearly a decade hosting and organizing events meant to give platforms and exposure to artists in the queer community. As 2020 began to wind down, Hengst and Decker looked to their barn to host the first Barnwood gallery show in October.

“It worked out perfectly,” Hengst said. “It let us do something that gives people a chance to check out some art to see something new and get out of the house and have a semi-normal experience amidst the pandemic.”

At the debut Barnwood show, 25 artists produced 200 works of art to be shown and many were sold to collectors who attended. The featured artists paid no admission fee and the organizers collected a low (25 percent) commission fee for the art sold. This year, Hengst said there will be opportunities to talk with the artists and create special times where art will be created on site from live models. Here are a few of the 30 artists who will be showcased in the upcoming exhibit.

“I think that once you're in the barn, and you fully can understand and appreciate the effort that these artists were put into their works, it really gives you a completely new appreciation for gay erotic art,” Hengst said.

Nathan Gwirtz, Kingston

Gwirtz was born and raised in Cleveland Heights, Ohio and received a Bachelor of Arts from Hampshire College. He began creating pottery in 2001 and moved to Catskill in 2013. Gwirtz currently works as a ceramics instructor at the Kingston Ceramics Studio at 77 Cornell St., Studio 309, in Kingston.

He primarily produces handmade, ornate and decorative ceramic objects. Gwirtz’s work makes references to “narrative ceramics,” where he explores past and present iconography that tell a story as well as look appealing. He also incorporates arts and crafts homeware, souvenir plates, graphic art and more to turn everyday objects into unique treasures. His subject matter includes florals, animals and urban landscapes and his work takes inspiration from fables and his normal life.

“I enjoy the way that decoration of handmade tableware introduces narrative in the intimacy of lives lived at home,” Gwirtz wrote on his website.

Kurt Walters, Brooklyn

Walters currently lives in Brooklyn Heights in New York City and runs two major galleries: the Simie Maryles Gallery in Provincetown, Mass. and The Kunstbehandlung Gallery in Munich, Germany. He was trained at the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, Calif.

“I’ve coined the term “Tongue-in-Cheek Classicism” to best describe my work,” Walters said. “A favorite compliment of my work, which I’ve now heard a few times is: ‘I want to be there!’ A reaction, based on, perhaps, the harmony they see, the colors I choose, or just the general happiness of the figures I paint.”

He described his work as a “whimsical illustrative style” with meticulous attention to the background as well as the subjects. Walters takes inspiration from classic artists like Van Eyck and Maxfield Parrish by incorporating multi layered paints and glazes into his work.

Colton Ackerman, Queens

Ackerman was born and raised in the quaint town of Mansfield, Ohio, before he went on to study at the Columbus College of Art and Design. He is currently a resident of New York City.

Much of his work is inspired by the vibrant characters in myths, legend and folklore found in children’s literature. He is inspired by the artistic styles of the late 19th and 20th centuries along with stylistic art movements such as Art Deco, Art Nouveau and the Victorian Period. Ackerman’s preferred mediums to work with include ink, watercolor, paper collage and colored pencil.

“The pages of my sketchbooks are packed with whimsical characters in elaborate costumes and scenes,” he wrote on his website. “Anyone who flips through these books will immediately notice that I live by a “more is more” philosophy … a mantra that is becoming less commonplace these days.”

Masks will be required for all those who attend and the slits through the barn beams allow natural breezes to ventilate the space. Those interested in attending must pre-register at Pinkstallionevents.com; you can do so by clicking here.

“We like to think of Barnwood as the place for queer art creators and makers to be introduced to collectors so that they can support one another and hopefully drive demand for more of their work in the future,” Hengst said.