Artist-archivist Nasir Anthony Montalvo launches five-location exhibit across Kansas City sharing untold Black queer history

Nasir Anthony Montalvo pictured alongside a preview of their curated exhibit for Volume_2 of {B/qKC}, hosted at BlaqOut’s “The BlaqBox” on March 4th, 2024. (Jade S. Williams) KANSAS CITY, MO –& Local artist-activist Nasir Anthony Montalvo is launching one of the world’s first and only Black queer archives—right in the heart of Kansas City. Co-produced with Zach Frazier and in partnership with The Kansas City Defender, {B/qKC} is a Black queer archive that is actively centering local community members and their stories over institutional ownership. And now, after months of research, fundraising, digitization, and infrastructure-building, Montalvo is launching a city-wide exhibit experience to view the archive’s inaugural collections provided by three Black queer Kansas City legends: Gary Carrington, Tisha Taylor and Starla Carr.& Dubbed “{B/qKC}: The Volume_2 Exhibit,” the experience will bring together five (5) low-barrier-to-entry locations who will host material from {B/qKC}’s second volume of research–which tell the story of Soakie’s, a former Black gay bar in Downtown Kansas City from 1993 – 2004.& An interactive, low-barrier-to-entry experience “{B/qKC}: The Volume_2 Exhibit” map, created by Nasir Anthony Montalvo and Zach Frazier. Printed map is available for viewing at all locations. Date: April 1st – 30th Locations + hosted collections/installs:...