First Kiss / 2010, vintage children's book, library pockets, borrower's name cards, pencils, 24" x 18"

I’m interested in childhood experiences of attraction and how those experiences shape (or are ignored) in sexuality development. Many children engage in same-sex "play," yet I believe this play is actually simple sexuality play and is more accurate in illustrating the continuum of sexuality. This piece breaks down the straight/gay binary by asking participants to write about the first kiss they experienced on the library cards in the pocket chart. Viewers can then read others' vignettes and add their own.

This piece was created for the exhibition at The Utah Pride Center in Salt Lake City entitled, The Kiss Heard 'Round the World. The exhibition was a response to the detention of a same-sex couple for showing affection on LDS property in 2009.