Faith In The Middle | A . K . D E S I G N

FAITH IN THE MIDDLE.

My 2023 UVU BFA Project, "Faith in the Middle," was inspired by my loved ones' experiences as queer members of the LDS church. My LDS faith's culture excludes LGBTQAI+ individuals from religious worship because of its current policies and practices. This project challenges that culture by telling the stories of active members of the LDS church who are also queer. I argue for the inherent belonging of LGBTQAI+ individuals through the physical properties of light.

I connected with local LDS support groups for LGBTQAI+ members in the Orem, UT area. Then, I emailed the individuals who expressed interest in my project, a survey with questions about their experience.

I compiled these responses into a zine.

I designed stickers and an installation that complimented my project's concept.

It took fifteen minutes to uninstall and remove my exhibition from the 6th floor gallery. I reflected on this experience as I drove north on I-80 towards home. My thoughts concluded that building is harder than destruction. The members of my faith are reluctant to build faith in the middle because it is time-consuming and difficult. Excluding queer saints from one’s church community is easier than building a space that welcomes them into one’s congregation. Faith in the middle contradicts a simplistic interpretation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe that my faith tradition has the capability to build faith in the middle. I pray that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints will practice patience and empathy so that the technicolor faith that exists can be maintained and expanded.

Outstanding Thesis Project Award

Utah Valley University Honors Program | May '23

AIGA 100 Show 2023

Select Recipient | Experiential Design

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