With its name alone, the Queer Iowa Showcase 2009 certainly grabs attention.

And that’s exactly what the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Allied Union is attempting with its kickoff at 7 p.m. today at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center. The Queer Iowa Showcase 2009 will be unveiled and displayed for public viewing until the end of September. Admission is free.

“The Queer Iowa artist exhibit is a space for folks to come in and see a whole variety of work, submitted by artists who identify as either gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender,” resource center manager Elizabeth Krause said.

This year’s exhibit will feature work from Cheryl Hetherington, Laurie Haag, Sammy Pottebaum, Sara Tokheim, and Sharon Beck. In the spirit of diversity, the exhibit will play host to a wide variety of media, such as shadowboxes, sculptures, and photography.

In addition to the longstanding exhibit, tonight’s event will be jam-packed with activities, including live music from local musician David Zollo and plenty of games and refreshments.

“I was up all last night making cookie dough, so we should have a pretty impressive food spread,” Krause said.

The kickoff is part of a larger block party event tonight, the Cultural Center Open House, in which other cultural centers will celebrate and welcome new UI students.

The Queer Iowa artist showcase is the first in many new events taking place this year at the resource center. Krause said she’s been busy creating monthly gatherings, including a Social Justice potluck dinner, a prom, and a big barbecue for National Coming Out Day, on Oct. 7.

Smaller groups will also meet monthly at the resource center, including groups for transgenders and sexually fluid individuals .

Christal Weisenstein, a student worker at the center and four other cultural centers, said she’s excited about the Queer Iowa artist exhibit’s material, and she noted that the artwork is available for purchase. She thinks the art will appeal to a wide audience.

“Although the art is by artists who identify as LGBT, the art itself is not LGBT theme,” she said.