As stated in the 20th Century novel Maurice by E.M Forster, ‘such…can vanish’ into the woodlands. Those such, the LGBTQIA+ community, can escape from the world with its prejudices, judgements and threat; a retreat to nature for ecological, political and romantic stances. Forster also created the woodland Piney Copse, a safe space for him, his friends and lovers.
Furthermore, literature like A Shropshire Lad, the tale of Robin Hood as well as texts about the Arcadian utopias of Ancient Greece and Rome, queer the pastoral.
Taking inspiration from the term, “take to the greenwood“, artists are invited to create works about the LGBTQIA+ community’s history and ever-evolving relationship with nature culminating in a group exhibition in the Liverpool Art Space at Cass Art from Monday 3rd August to 15th August.