Inspired by the work of Lorelei a’Andriole, I created “Qu(ear)” to experiment with new mediums to communicate a queer experience. This immersive installation used field recorded soundscapes and video from Waterville and Fairfield, Maine to illustrate how difficult it is for me to define and communicate what it is like to be queer in rural America. After much ontrospection and experimentation with audio and video editing tools, I determined that the ideal way to represent what it means to be queer is by showing honestly how queer voices exist in a space. To be QUEER is to be NATURAL, REAL, and HONEST.

Each of the four walls had a video and audio composition that represented a classic Maine scene, drawn from my personal experience and recorded in my hometown. The audio clips being played from the corners of the space were heavily edited to depict what might be expected from each location, but they are not the true audio that was recorded at the spaces. The audio that actually was recorded with the video was compiled unedited and placed in a pedestal in the center of the room. It is difficult to decipher what sounds are within the pedestal, but it is the honest representation of queer voices in rural Maine. The text on the sides of the pedestal hint to the viewer that the audio tied to the walls is dishonest and the true voice of queer rural Maine is within the box.