Why Visual Archives in Denver’s LGBTQ+ Community are Sacred

OFM interviewed artist/photographer MaryV about her work, which showcases documentary photography and fashion/beauty photography in her day-to-day life. For someone to capture beautiful and intimate moments, it’s imperative to have artists like MaryV showcasing the people and communities society often stigmatizes as being “other.”

But in her work and eye as a photographer, these communities are divine, captivating, and photo-journalistic. Here’s what MaryV has to say on “why visual archives in Denver’s LGBTQ+ community are scared.”

To archive is to document a legacy and history. Could you speak to the importance of archiving queer culture and what that means to you?

I 100% agree that “To archive is to document a legacy and history.” When I think about archiving queer culture, I think of the act of preserving sacred work. Preserving can look like posting on Instagram, filming on your iPhone or camcorder, writing in a diary, displaying public art that can sustain the elements, passing down a garment, making a print on archival paper.

This is important because it increases the chances for future queer generations to witness and be inspired by these works themselves. Archiving for queer culture means celebrating, showcasing, and protecting the work. I feel grateful to be able to witness and be inspired by queer work that has been preserved, such as those beautiful black and white images of Sylvia Rivera at the pier by Valerie Shaff.

Last November, while I was in NYC, I visited The Museum of Sex and saw the exhibition “Radical Perverts: Ecstasy and Activism in Queer Public Spaces 1975-2000.” Some of the photographs featured queer people cruising in San Francisco. I found these images incredibly important and tender for our community. These preserved moments not only document our history but can provide a glimpse into what connection looked like.

Also, archiving goes beyond photography! Like attending a drag/burlesque show here in Denver. For the most part, those performances don’t get replicated or reproduced. You have to be present in the sacred space, in real life, to either archive in your mind or actively archive through media to document. Preserving all work allows future generations to access, learn from, and be moved by it. It is an act of validation and recognition, ensuring that our stories and experiences are not forgotten but celebrated and remembered.

What does sacred mean to you?

An item, a person, a moment, a memory, a story, a space, a connection that is special and safe for not only your body but your soul.

In your eyes, how is Denver’s current LGBTQ scene being archived by you and other creatives?

I personally try to capture queer communities through my photography in my daily experiences and moments, in my interpersonal relationships, or when I go out into the world. There are so many different facets of queerness and the connection of creativity. I believe it is impossible for one single person to be able to document and then archive it all. It is a collective action for the entire community to archive. Queer creativity shows up in many different ways like visual art, activism, writing, spoken word, organizing, cooking, presentation, and performance. Denver’s queer community is participating in all of those forms to archive.

OFM is a perfect example of creating a physical archive of Denver queer culture. Here are some creatives in Denver that I see adding to the beautiful collection of Denver’s current queer community and a list of queer creatives that are pouring love, art, and intention into the community:

Siren Sixxkiller (@sirensixxkiller), an organizer of SlutWalk Denver, burlesque performer, and  producer for Good Slut Medicine Show.

Billie (@heavylight___), a film photographer and film processor at Not Another Film Lab.

Eboni Boneè (EB) (@eboni_bonee), a founder of Black Pride Colorado, photographer, and cinematographer.

And, @amayasgonzalez, @blue.birdlane, @corazonazteca.magazine, @d3artswestwood, @emmonails, @jakiebarry, @jaskproductions, @jstariellemakeup, @kamaji_000, @mca_denver, Nadine Bridges, @ohwowkyle, @onlydollydeluxe, @shadows.gather, @song.Tran.archive, @sonaritago, @threesticksmafia, @tripl3_._thr33, @unionhalldenver, @vicki.xochitl, @wheelchairsportscamp, @wordslouderthanbombs, and so many more

Follow them; support them; pay them; adore them.

Can you speak on the greater scope of your work and how queerness weaves its way throughout your various projects?

Queerness weaves through my projects by keeping connection, liberation, and love at the forefront.

What do you want our audience to take away from your photos?

I desire people in general to just stay curious about the art they are taking in. To the OFM viewers, take away anything from my images. Art is a personal journey.

If your photography were a genre of music, what would it be?

I don’t even know all the genres of music (laughs). Lemme do a quick genre search … R&B, soul, electronic dance, classical, pop, Cumbia, Reggaeton, rap, hip hop, hyperpop … I don’t know. If you’re looking through my photographs, play any Frank Ocean album and cry.

What style of photography do you find most meaningful to you as an artist?

As an artist, I find myself deeply drawn to both documentary photography and fashion/beauty photography. Documentary photography holds a special place in my heart because it allows me to capture and archive the world as it is. It’s a powerful medium for storytelling, offering a window into moments, cultures, and lives that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Each image in a documentary series has the potential to educate, evoke empathy, and inspire change, making it a meaningful and impactful art form. On the other hand, fashion and beauty photography offer a different kind of fulfillment. There’s a unique magic in creating images that are purely beautiful, celebrating aesthetics, style, and creativity.

In this realm, the focus is on the art of presentation—how light, color, and form come together to create something visually striking. This type of photography can be an escape into a world of glamor and fantasy, where beauty is celebrated for its own sake.

Both styles allow me to explore different facets of my artistic vision. Documentary photography challenges me to observe and engage with the world sometimes critically, while fashion and beauty photography enable me to indulge in the joy of creating visually stunning works that captivate. Together, they provide a balance that keeps my creative practice feeling whole.

You can find Maryv on instagram @maryv to check out more of her work.