"hold me in the embers of our love" Art Opening for Kegan Marling

Name: "hold me in the embers of our love" Art Opening for Kegan Marling
Start: 2025-09-05T20:00:00-07:00
End: 2025-09-05T22:00:00-07:00
Location: Strut

Schedule

Fri Sep 05 2025 at 08:00 pm to 10:00 pm

UTC-07:00

Location

Strut | San Francisco, CA

For the month of August we are exhibiting the art of Kegan Marling.
Join us Friday, September 5 at 8PM for the art opening reception!
Light snacks, wine, and non alcoholic drinks will be provided! Come for the free wine, stay for the incredible queer art!
ARTIST STATEMENT
The family photo wall is a central focal point in many homes: a curated constellation of holiday gatherings, graduations, and baby’s first step. But it’s more than just a record of events sitting above the fireplace - it also tells a story about the history and values of a family - where well-behaved children in matching outfits and glowing brides and grooms quietly set the norm for what family is supposed to look like. For many of us, the photos on the family wall reinforce only certain versions of our identity - the parts that look respectable and “safe.” But what does it mean if only our palatable selves are worthy of being hung above the family hearth, while our creative, expansive, and unapologetic explorations of love and self-identity are hidden away?
The photographs here are the beginnings of a different kind of family photo wall – one that centers a wider spectrum of connection: intimacy between friends, mentorship bonds, open relationships, covens and creative collectives - the beauty of chosen kin. It’s a portrait of a kink family (ONYX Northwest) that is forged by choice and care.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Kegan Marling is a documentarian and arts programmer from the San Francisco Bay Area. Their work focuses on queer community and play – gaymers, kinksters, drag artists, dancers, wrestlers and faeries. Their work has appeared in venues & publications including the de Young Museum, Frameline Film Festival, CounterPulse, SF Chronicle, SF Weekly, National Queer Arts Festival, Mascular, Drummer Magazine, and is part of the permanent collection at SF General Hospital.
If you have any questions about Strut’s Art openings, or this event, please feel free to contact Cantwell Muckenfuss at [email protected].
For questions about Strut our services of San Francisco AIDS Foundation visit sfaf.org
Accessibility: There are no stairs to enter the lobby level at Strut from the street level. The building has three floors, and there is a stairwell with handrails and a wheelchair-accessible elevator. There are 26 steps from the lobby to the 2nd floor and 48 steps from the lobby to the 3rd floor. All our bathrooms are gender neutral and we have restrooms that are accessible to people who use wheelchairs.