Jeff Sheng’s “Fearless” exhibition is not only photography displayed in an unlikely venue, it touches on deeper issues for student athletes in a new and unique way. Displayed in the Warwick Center until Oct. 31, Sheng’s photos feature various athletes dressed in their sporting equipment or clothing.

Those who stop to view these prominent photos find themselves relating to the person featured, whether it is because they look like someone they know or because they play the same sport. However, it is not until passersby reach the end of the display do they realize what the exhibit highlights. Sheng’s “Fearless” exhibition is about “out” lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) student athletes and the challenges they’ve overcome playing sports as an openly “out” student.

“The magic of Sheng’s exhibition is that the people featured look like your peers,” said Interim Director of Arts and Programs Shane Fernando.

“The student athletes are shown as they are on the field or on the court – determined and focused. They do not look any different than their heterosexual counterparts. As far as their sport is concerned, they are no different at all,” said UNCW PRIDE President Kelley Brown.

Because of how the text of each athlete’s story is displayed, no viewer is looking at the exhibition with the mindset “These people are gay.” The exhibition seeks to bring attention to the issue of homophobia in sports.

“The apprehension of coming out as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered to your teammates or coach, whose trust they can rely on you to succeed, is enormous pressure,” said Brown.

“Part of the reason the work is so powerful is that most LGBT students are placed in a certain type of category,” said Sheng. “People are likely to forget that there are LGBT athletes because the stereotypes of athletes and LGBT can be so conflicting.”

“This exhibition opens the door to yes, there are gay athletes but it breaks stereotypes,” said Fernando.

However, acknowledging these stereotypes in an educational setting can get a variety of reactions. Students like Katrina Whittier feel that the exhibit is a great idea. “It’s touching on something that is so prominent in society today. It also shows that UNCW is a school that is accepting and open to [different types of] people, regardless of their sexual orientation,” Whittier said

“Whether negative or positive, you can’t be sure how this will affect viewers,” said Fernando. “There may be an athlete experiencing problems in their sport and these photographs will provide them with a source of strength. The message that they are not alone is a powerful and positive one. “

Reactions have been largely positive concerning “Fearless” so far, and Sheng said the impact his exhibit has made on college campuses has made him feel inspired.

“The supportive feedback speaks well of the positive direction campus is moving towards,” said Fernando.

“Fearless” was brought to campus with funding from the UNCW PRIDE group, the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion and the LGBTQIA Resource Center.

“We wanted to bring an exhibit to campus that examined the sensitive topic of identifying as LGBT in sports,” said Brown. “We are interested in not only celebrating the LGBT community, but highlighting what unites us all with the greater human spirit.”

 Sheng will be delivering a lecture about the exhibition Sept. 15 at 5p.m. in the Warwick Center. There will be a reception held after Sheng’s lecture from 6 to 7:30 p.m. where attendees will be given the opportunity to chat with Sheng in an informal setting.

“I am excited and I encourage students to talk with me about questions they might have [about the exhibition],” said Sheng.

Fernando expects that Sheng’s lecture will “breathe a lot of life into the individual stories featured in the photographs.”

Sidenote: Jeff Sheng has also done an exhibit entitled “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” which featured LGBT soldiers with their features obscured. To view the online version of this exhibit, please go to his website: http://www.jeffsheng.com/