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Botanical Symbols

Brief Descriptions

The flowers blooming across the mural were carefully chosen for their significance in queer symbolism and ecology. This curated selection is not exhaustive and is shaped by the mural's spatial constraints. These botanical symbols are intended to engage viewers as active participants in crafting and expressing our individual and collective queer narratives. We invite you to explore the embedded links for a deeper understanding, and to seek additional information about these flowers and other queer symbols. The descriptions, presented in alphabetical order, were collaboratively authored by A. Bush and the artist. The tiles, which vary in size, are crafted from porcelain clay, adorned with Stroke 'N Coat glazes and Designer-Liner detailing, and fired to cone 5.

Dandelion

The dandelion flower has been embraced as a symbol of resilience and resilience within LGBTQ+ communities. Its ability to thrive in diverse environments mirrors the strength and resilience of LGBTQ+ individuals in the face of adversity and discrimination. The dandelion's yellow color has been associated with warmth, happiness, and positivity, reflecting the joy and pride found within LGBTQ+ identities.

Forget-Me-Nots

Forget-me-nots are imbued with significance in LGBTQ+ culture, representing remembrance, solidarity, and resilience. These flowers symbolize enduring love and faithful remembrance, serving as poignant reminders of those lost to discrimination, violence, and the AIDS epidemic. Forget-Me-Nots embody unity and collective strength within the LGBTQ+ community, reflecting the bonds of friendship and shared experiences that unite individuals worldwide.

Green Carnation

The green carnation symbolized LGBTQ+ identity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, gaining prominence through its association with the Uranian literary circle and its mention in Robert Hichens' novel "The Green Carnation." Worn as a subtle sign of queerness, particularly by figures like Oscar Wilde, the green carnation represented defiance and solidarity within LGBTQ+ communities, persisting as a symbol of resilience and pride despite its declining popularity over time. Today, it serves as a reminder of LGBTQ+ history and the ongoing struggle for equality and acceptance.

Lavender

Lavender carries historical and symbolic significance within LGBTQ+ culture, originating as a discreet code for sexual orientation and gender identity in the early 20th century and later emerging as a color associated with LGBTQ+ pride and community in the mid-20th century. Gilbert Baker's lavender rhinoceros became an iconic symbol of LGBTQ+ resilience in the 1970s. Today, lavender remains a symbol of LGBTQ+ identity and pride, representing resilience, diversity, and solidarity within the community, while also serving as a reminder of the ongoing fight for equality and acceptance.

Pansies

Pansies historically served as a derogatory term to disparage effeminate or homosexual men, reinforcing gender norms and ridiculing non-conformity. However, LGBTQ+ individuals have reclaimed pansies, transforming it into a symbol of pride, empowerment, and defiance against stigma, particularly within drag and queer communities. Through reclamation, pansies' now represent strength, resilience, and authenticity, celebrated affectionately among LGBTQ+ individuals and embraced in art, literature, and activism as a means of challenging societal norms and celebrating queer identity.

Roses

Roses symbolize love and beauty across cultures, but within LGBTQ+ culture, they represent love and desire irrespective of gender, highlighting the universal nature of love. LGBTQ+ communities reclaim roses as symbols of resilience and resistance against discrimination, asserting visibility and demanding equality. Roses play a significant role in queer aesthetics, serving as powerful symbols of self-expression, creativity, and empowerment within LGBTQ+ culture.

Trillium

Trillium plants, known for their distinctive three-petaled flowers, exhibit reproductive organs with characteristics reminiscent of both male and female structures, making them hermaphroditic. Trillium's biological complexity serves as a reminder of the diversity and fluidity of sexual expression in nature, aligning with broader themes of diversity and acceptance within the LGBTQ community.

Violets

Violets carry deep cultural symbolism, representing love, loyalty, and remembrance across various cultures. In LGBTQ+ contexts, violets historically symbolize same-sex love, especially among women, serving as subtle tokens of affection when overt expressions of desire were taboo. This symbolism underscores the resilience of LGBTQ+ communities and their use of symbolism for love, desire, and solidarity amidst social challenges.

White Lilies

White lilies hold diverse cultural symbolism, representing beauty, purity, and female-female romance across different traditions. In Japanese literature, they evoke ideals of feminine grace and aesthetics, while in Western art, they've been reclaimed as symbols of lesbian desire, notably in Georgia O'Keeffe's work. Additionally, borrowed from Japanese usage, terms like "baekhap" in Korean and "bǎihé" in Chinese denote female-female romance genres, showcasing the allure of lilies as symbols of love and beauty while embracing LGBTQ+ themes.

Additional Reading and Resources

LGBTQ+ Pride Flags Resource by the Human Rights Campaign (https://www.hrc.org/resources/lgbtq-pride-flags)

Pride Page-A-Day Calendar 2024: A Celebration of LGBTQIA+ History and Community by Sarah Prager (https://sarahprager.com/pride-calendar/)

Queer X Design by Andy Campbell (https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/andy-campbell/queer-x-design/9780762467853/?lens=black-dog-leventhal)

The LGBTQ+ History Book by DK (https://www.dk.com/us/book/9780744070736-the-lgbtq-history-book/)

365 Gays of the Year (Plus 1 for a Leap Year): Discover LGBTQ+ history one day at a time by Lewis Laney and Charlotte MacMillan-Scott (https://www.quarto.com/books/9780711273702/365-gays-of-the-year-plus-1-for-a-leap-year)

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