Over the centuries, homophobia has been entrenched in sports across fields and ice. Gallery 1C03 presents a multi-media exhibition by artist Lucas Morneau that aims to deconstruct homophobia in sports.
Queer Newfoundland Hockey League, critiques existing toxic masculinity in sports culture by creating a new, positive and accepting masculinity for sports enthusiasts.
Queer Newfoundland Hockey League (QHNL) is a fictional hockey league made up of 14 teams, named with pejoratives used against 2SLGBTQUIA+ community members. QNHL uses these pejoratives to reclaim words often used against queer individuals both on and off the ice as well as against people who do not conform to hegemonic masculine standards often assigned to sports.
Morneau employs the aesthetic of camp, long regarded as a hallmark of 2SLGBTQIA+ culture, to challenge the heteronormative performance of masculinity in hockey.
Jennifer Gibson
“Morneau employs the aesthetic of camp, long regarded as a hallmark of 2SLGBTQIA+ culture, to challenge the heteronormative performance of masculinity in hockey,” shared Jennifer Gibson, Director/Curator Gallery 1C03. “As a committed craftivist, their work affirms and celebrates queerness in sport.”
Morneau uses traditional craft practices of rug hooking and crochet, associated with Newfoundland and often delegated as “women’s work”, to create hockey jerseys for each team.
Some jerseys reference historical teams from senior hockey leagues that existed in Newfoundland, and others use “queer” colours no longer found on current NHL jerseys.
The jerseys are paired with crocheted goalie masks, signaling the introduction of masks to the game which was originally ridiculed by hockey players and fans alike. A series of hockey cards featuring fictional players, comprising men, women and gender-nonconforming characters, completes the exhibition.
The exhibition will include a Conversation with artists Barb Hunt and Lucas Morneau on Thursday, November 13, 1:00 to 2:15 p.m. in Room 2M70 (second floor of Manitoba Hall), University of Winnipeg followed by an Opening reception, Thursday, November 13, 4:00 – 6:30 p.m. at Gallery 1C03.
The exhibit will run until January 28, 2026.
