"Trigger Warning" by LA Hope Dealer Corie Mattie
College Park Gallery is proud to present "Trigger Warning," a powerful solo exhibition by acclaimed artist Corie Mattie, also known as the LA Hope Dealer. The exhibition opens on October 12th from 6-9 pm, coinciding with Pride Week in Orlando, and will run through November 17, 2024.
"Trigger Warning" is a bold and unapologetic exploration of the intersecting tensions between freedom, identity, and the growing threats to individual rights in America. Through her provocative and thought-provoking work, Mattie confronts the paradoxes within a society that publicly promotes freedom while simultaneously undermining it through restrictive laws and policies.
Using the same stencils she deployed across Florida during the height of book bans and queer rights restrictions, Mattie reclaims and recontextualizes these symbols of resistance. The "gay guns" featured in this collection are not merely provocative images but serve as biting social commentary. They underscore the irony of a culture that fears a rainbow more than an assault rifle, challenging viewers to reflect on what is deemed dangerous and what is not.