Chloe Colvard Talks Pleasure & Shame with Harsh Collective

New York-based Gallery Harsh Collective unveils “Unprotected,” a sex-positive exhibition and Women’s History Month event, featuring works by Chloe Colvard and Kelly Tapìa-Chuning. In collaboration with the sex education platform Beyond the Beez.

Attendees of "Unprotected" gaze at Colvard’s “Latex” Collection. As photographed by Cortnee Daley @cortnee.photography

Harsh Collective attendees occupy an apartment-styled showroom in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where gallery-goers feel at home amongst selected works by featured artists. Created by Etta Harshaw, and Co-Founded by Juliette Eberle, Harsh Collective is an artist-first gallery, aiming to showcase BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and female artists. From March 30th-31st of 2023, the space was shared with Chloe Colvard and Kelly Tapìa-Chuning; artists whose work plays with empowerment and is informed by sexuality. For this event, Harsh Collective worked tirelessly with artist Chloe Colvard to create an exhibit that is as unapologetic as it is spunky. Colvard and Chuning’s installation, “Unprotected,” confronts societal pressures that surround the sex lives of female-identifying people. On display are digitally-altered images, unique works of art, and carefully chosen objects. These are complimented in the event through open dialogue about sex and shame, in a slumber party-style conversation with those who attended.

“Don’t Be a Dick” and “Eat Your Words” as Photographed by Cortnee Daley @cortnee.photography

As you enter Harsh Collective’s lively showroom, four large format prints greet you. What first catches the eye are the color choices. All four of the pieces in the food-based series are submerged in pastel shades of blue, pink, and green. Next, you may notice identifiable objects, the subjects of these oversized printed editions. Popping from the paper are a banana, a Fortune Cookie, a New York-style coffee cup, and finally, alphabet soup. Look closely, and you’ll soon realize that these images are provocative and unapologetic in nature. A condom wrapper that reads “Your partner can easily use a condom if you want them to use one. Don’t be a dick.” is paired with a banana wrapped in a shiny blue condom. To the left, you’ll see a Fortune Cookie floating in a pink background, the paper emerging from the cookie reads “Your lucky number is 69.” The icey blue background of the third piece surrounds a famous symbol of New York, the navy blue coffee cup with Grecian-style lettering. It looks like something you’d get from your local bodega, but something has changed. The text has been altered to announce “It is not my job to pleasure or serve you.” Lastly, an almost-empty bowl of alphabet soup spells out the phrase “EAT YOUR WORDS.” in noodles, and it dares the viewer to confront their own language, similarly to Colvard’s next collection of work.

Chloe Colvard’s “Latex” Collection on view, as photographed by Cortnee Daley @cortnee.photography

Inspired by her own dating history, Colvard’s “Latex” Collection repurposes the modern day love letter: the text message. Real screenshots of these texts are from Chloe’s personal life, and include selections that have been submitted to her from around the world. All of the texts are displayed over various colorful condoms, which Colvard photographed. The messages are intended to signify the weakness in arguments that many men make to defend themselves for their harmful language and behaviors, as well as the power that words hold. Many of which are familiar and contradictory. Viewers can be seen huddling closely in front of the series as they gasp and point at the messages. The collection shows a wide range of experiences; some abusive, others belittling, and finally, a select few are almost humorous in their ignorance and absurdity. But no matter what reactions they induce, all selections come from a similar place: a place of misogyny. The “Latex” collection, while messy in topic, is neatly displayed in clean white frames, all of which are in rows, totaling to 16 variations. Colvard puts toxic language at the forefront of each piece, demanding recognition and investigation of toxicity.

Kelly Tapìa-Chuning’s piece “Familiar Expectations” on view.

As you move further into the space, this conversation continues, and it is hard to miss. Kelly Tapìa-Chuning's larger-than-life needle-felted piece titled “Familiar Expectations” fills a bright white wall. “WHY CAN’T YOU BE LIKE HER.” is sprawled in pink capital letters amidst a cream-colored wool background. It commands the viewers attention, while also bringing a sense of authority to the space, that at one time, might have felt far away for the artist. Kelly, who is currently based out of Michigan, has a similar background to Colvard. Both women create art as an act of rebellion and emergence from a conservative environment, both artists were discouraged from openly discussing sex and sexuality since childhood, and both artists have experienced past lives. Having both grown up in rural parts of North America, (Colvard, Ohio & Tapìa-Chuning, Utah) where they were both homeschooled, they have decided to openly discuss what at one time felt unspeakable. The history that both artists share creates a subtle sense of fluidity between the works, and the show has been curated by Harsh Collective with such precision, that some viewers are surprised and intrigued to learn that the two artists have yet to meet.

"Unprotected " attendees stand in front of 4 works from Kelly Tapìa-Chuning’s cyanotype series titled "Pretty Little Things." As photographed by Cortnee Daley @cortnee.photography

Also perfectly accompanying Colvard’s pieces, are a selection of 4 cyanotypes from Kelly's series “Pretty Little Things”, which display various panties. These medium-sized pieces were created using underwear by the brand Victoria’s Secret PINK, and are cleverly dyed with a pink-toned makeup pigment. These cheeky lace-adorned panties are objects that trigger vivid memories for Chuning, as her conservative family bewildered her by gifting the same style and brand to her as a teen. These entered her wardrobe, all while her family remained incredibly closed off to discussing sex, with a heavy emphasis on modesty. This sense of confusion and contradiction pairs nicely with Colvard’s pieces in “Unprotected” as it discusses sexuality, further addressing the many contradictions that come along with womanhood and coming-of-age. The series boldly makes nods to the idea of purity as perceived and defined by society and religion.

Chloe Colvard’s mirror installation (½ of “Object Permanence”) on view, as photographed by Cortnee Daley, @cortnee.photography

Hanging beside Kelly's felted work, and across from her cyanotype collection, are 15 bras in various sizes and colors. They proudly dangle from a makeshift clothesline, all secured in place by clothespins. Adjacent to the lingerie, vintage hand mirrors in various shapes and sizes are placed against a wall, their reflective sides facing outward. Both of these object-based installations were created by Colvard in order to signify the symbolism and associations often made with everyday objects, as well as to make a statement towards objectification and consumerism. By putting the “private” in the public eye, Colvard hopes to invite the viewer to think more deeply about their associations with bras, the decision that many make to wear (or not wear) one, the ongoing debate about them being “unsightly,” and the familiar purchases that many young girls make as they enter puberty. The reflective nature of the hand mirror allows those attending to see themselves, to reflect on themselves. Hand mirrors, which are often used by women of all kinds to access and view parts of themselves that they may be unable to see clearly, serve as a reminder. In a display of eight, Chloe aims to produce a inquisitive and memorable effect for the attendee through this array of vanity objects.

However, the artwork is not the only part of the event that could be considered highly memorable. As the night progresses, the sounds of chairs and benches can be heard moving across the floor, and others sit themselves cross-legged upon the hardwood panels that make up the ground of the gallery. The all female-identifying collection of people collect in an imperfect circle, and laughter sounds echo like teenagers would giggle at a sleepover, their parents (or neighbors) probably hearing them from the hall. Elizabeth Ashford, Chloe Colvard, Etta Harshaw, and Julette Eberle sit side by side, they have all worked diligently on preparing the show, and all have heavily contributed to “Unprotected” in valuable ways.

To open the casual and honest discussion, Elizabeth Ashford introduces herself and her sexual education platform. Elizabeth, who has a background in Psychology, graduated from Harvard in 2019, which was the same year she founded Beyond the Beez. She is also certified in sex education, and has been a long time advocate of progressive, fun, and informed sex education. Ashford smiles at the crowd, and then she prompts them with a question:

“How do you identify shame?”

Attendees of “Unprotected” gather around the space in discussion. As photographed by Cortnee Daley @cortnee.photography

As attendees chime in with their thoughts, they start to realize how different each person’s experience has been with sexual education, and the diversity of outside influences that drive each person’s sense of shame. As the discussion continues, the reverse effect also takes place; with many people nodding and agreeing with each other about their emotions and experiences surrounding misogyny and their gender identity. The conversation prompts not only honesty, but solidarity and laughter. As the conversation closes, wine is poured into bodega-esque coffee cups which resemble Chloe Colvard’s aforementioned artwork titled “Pleasure.”

Even as the circle of people gradually dissipates, the feelings of community, validation, and fun continue into the night. For some, the artwork purchased serves as a reminder of that empowering feeling, soon to be in their own homes. Because shame so often feels unspeakable, “Unprotected” unabashedly initiates dialogue on sex and shame as an act of rebellion, an act of self care, and notably, an act of freedom from society's toxic expectations of you.

Goodie bags available for attendees of "Unprotected" which house free condoms, lube, and chocolates. As photographed by Cortnee Daley @cortnee.photography

“Unprotected”

ON VIEW: March 30th-31st, 2023

All women team, as follows:

Chloe Colvard - Event Artist, Event Writer

Kelly Tapìa-Chuning - Featured Event Artist

Cortnee Daley - Event Photographer - @courtnee.photography

Elizabeth Ashford - Beyond the Beez - sexual education platform

Etta Harshaw - Owner, Co-founder - Harsh Collective, gallery

Juliette Eberle - Co-founder - Harsh Collective, gallery