"Art is the voice, spirit and conscience of every community, and is a vital tool for community reflection, dialogue, and pride. Through the arts, we are able to engage in the discussion of issues and ideas in meaningful, thoughtful, and heartfelt ways without the burden of logic and reason. It was in the spirit of this that Gay City embarked upon its first official season of Gay City Arts: UpClose Personal. This sixth volume of the Gay City Anthologies series captures that journey in a retrospective on a year of queer arts in the Calamus Auditorium at Gay City. We present you with a collection of visual and literary art that explores identity, spirituality, sexuality, relationships, and recovery from a uniquely queer perspective."--