Expressing pride doesnB次元官网网址檛 necessarily mean gay pride.

The Victoria Pride Society and Madrona Gallery are hosting an art walk and exhibition in Trounce Alley during this yearB次元官网网址檚 Pride Week and are hoping to draw a broader crowd to the annual event.

In celebration of PrideB次元官网网址檚 three-year-long theme of Proud, the art show aims to represent more than just gay pride.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an opportunity for individuals to express their version of pride, or in having pride, and thatB次元官网网址檚 not necessarily gay pride or trans-pride, it could just be any type of pride,B次元官网网址� said Laurissa Chapple, a spokesperson from the society.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 the beauty of art, is that itB次元官网网址檚 malleable in what itB次元官网网址檚 representing or communicating.B次元官网网址�

The Pride Art Walk and Exhibition is a first for the society, but the goal is to make it an annual event, Chapple said.

An annual art show was formerly held at the Martin Batchelor Gallery during Pride Week but it was never a part of the Pride events.

Michael Warren, owner and director of Madrona Gallery, approached Victoria Pride Society with the idea for the show after hearing that the Martin Batchelor Gallery would not be hosting its show this year.

The arts and Pride match together so well, Warren said, because they are both forms of expression.

B次元官网网址淚 just hope that it allows people to engage in Pride Week in a broader way, (and) allows people to not only express themselves in context of pride through artwork but also for the general public to come and engage in Pride in a different way,B次元官网网址� he said.

For Chapple, the art show is about breaking barriers.

B次元官网网址淲hat IB次元官网网址檓 looking forward to the most is just (seeing) the dynamic and the diversity of our community,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淎rt is one of those things that speaks to every race, every age, every religion B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 something that really transcends demographic.B次元官网网址�

People are invited to browse art in the alley, visit merchants, and talk to the artists on the exhibitB次元官网网址檚 opening night (June 30) from 7 to 10 p.m.

The art will continue to be displayed at Madrona Gallery (606 View St.) throughout Pride Week (July 1-8).

Emerging, professional, and community artists are welcome to submit original works displaying a theme of Proud until Wednesday (June 20). All work must be available for sale.

B次元官网网址�(The art) doesnB次元官网网址檛 have to be any direct reference to sexuality or anything like that,B次元官网网址� Warren said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 more of a personal exploration (of pride).

B次元官网网址淗owever, if people do want to do a direct expression in terms of sexuality, we encourage that, too.B次元官网网址�

For more information about Pride Week, or for submission guidelines, see victoriapridesociety.org/eventlist.html.