Jene Thomas – 
A painter recreated the rainbow to showcase a comparison between Christianity and homosexuality. To Crown The Rainbow, new works by Lauren Britton, has the rainbow has the subject in her 20 painting series, painted a new and more abstract as the paintings are explored.
The order of the paintings are as followed: Again & Again, At Night, Corn Mother, Flip, Hood, I Am Here Now, Knitting, Mask, Monday Night at the Glam Rock Show, Open Wide, Pinch My Cheek, Rainbow Skin, Reach, Really Really, Rocky, Saint, Smile, Teeth Study, Three Saints and Whistle Through My Teeth.
The exhibit will be displayed from Aug. 28 through Oct. 19 within the John Lyman Center for the Performing Arts Lobby Gallery at Southern Connecticut State University. There will be a reception for the art display on Sunday, Sept. 14 from 2-5pm.
The rainbow has been a symbol of the gay community since the 1970’s. San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker took eight different colored stripes, each color having a different signifier such as love, healing, art, nature, sunlight and human spirit. With the blue, violet, red, green, yellow and orange stripes, he stitched them together, creating a rainbow flag that was used in protest of the assassination of gay city supervisor, Harvey Milk.
Since then, the rainbow has been a symbol for homosexuals, bi-sexuals and those who are transgender. In modern culture, it is what the rainbow is most associated with. Sexuality and Gender Equality (SAGE) club member, Lauren Todd feels a sense of identity when thinking of the rainbow. “When I see the rainbow, I think of the [Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender] community”, says Todd. “It’s a calling to LGBT.”
To the gay and straight alliance, the rainbow is a universal symbol that unity. When people wear or hold a rainbow flag, it serves as a weapon in the fight for equal rights. When they think of the rainbow, they think of everyone coming together.
“It’s just awesome”, Todd adds.
Jonathan Ruiz, graduate intern in counseling services and supporter of the LGBT has a similar response. “The rainbow is a symbolic way to capture diversity.” Outside at the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning, asexual and ally (LGBTIQQAA) ice cream social, Southern students surrounded the stand talking to club members and eating sweet, decorated ice cream. “It’s really great to see all of the supporters”, Ruiz says.
Britton’s artwork takes that concept of unity and intertwines it with symbolism from Christianity. Although she was unable to give a statement about her showcase, her brochure explains that the rainbow has a negative connotation in modern day society. It would be problematic for those who do not support the LGBT community or its allies. She claims that the rainbow is a shifter, in the sense that it has different meanings for different cultures.
In Christian biblical texts, the rainbow symbolizes God’s faithfulness and promise not to flood the world again, as he did with Noah. Perhaps, that is why a bow of colors comes out after the rain, hence the name rainbow.
Britton intertwines both the modern day interpretation with the biblical story. In her exhibit, she paints the rainbow with vivid colors and rays of sunshine to combine the two aspects. In her 19th painting, Three Saints, three rainbows are painted along a stream, but they can be personified as heavenly saints.
Photo Credit: Jene Thomas
