Cruising in the Shadows: Uncovering Secret LGBTQ+ Culture in New York City

By Apexart

Jun 6 - Jul 26  |  Culture

Exhibition “Cruising in the Shadows” Featuring work by: Arthur Tress – Robert Sherer – Bob Damron – The AIDS Memorial Quilt at Apexart NYC

“Cruising in the Shadows” uncovers a vital but often overlooked aspect of LGBTQ+ history–the culture of “cruising” in New York City from the 1960s to today. Cruising involves seeking sexual partners in public spaces, often using secret visual codes to express queer desire. It began as an act of defiance, a search for authentic connections, and a celebration of LGBTQ+ identity in an otherwise unfriendly time for queerness.

The history of cruising will be presented via maps, news articles, and historic documents from the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project. This installation will tell the story of the destruction of Forrest Hills park in Queens in 1969. A week before Stonewall happened, a group of ax-wielding vigilantes cut down dozens of trees in this public park which was known to be a gay cruising area. This story, along with an examination of cruising sites over the decades will demonstrate the long history of cruising happening in plain sight.

The exhibition will feature a section dedicated to the Hanky Code, a complex system of colored handkerchiefs worn by queer people to signify their sexual desires. The first published lesbian hanky code was in 1979 two individuals in ‘Drummer’ Magazine. This exhibition will feature their printed work with the Samois Collective, a lesbian-feminist BDSM organization. Their take on cruising will be both artifact and art when their published work is combined with a wall size display of colored hankies and their corresponding meanings.

On view at
291 Church St: June 6 – July 26, 2025
Tues – Sat, 11am – 6pm
Opening: Fri, Jun 6, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm with curator present

Online:
starting June 6, 2025