Collected Item: “Sister Maria and Sister Euphemia for the archives of Society of Our Lady Xeon”
Your Name
Lou McCurdy
Your Pronouns
the/them
Instagram handle, if any
@loumacphotography
Work Title
Sister Maria and Sister Euphemia for the archives of Society of Our Lady Xeon
Work Year (We are not accepting images older than 5 years)
2024
[Image Rights] Do you confirm that you hold the rights to this image?
Yes
[Eligibility] The Curve Photo Contest proudly centers and uplifts people who identify as lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer women and nonbinary people. Please share how you self-identify, using language that feels most accurate to you. Feel free to include all intersections of your identity. (Examples: lesbian, trans person of color, Latinx queer woman, radical faery, butch, etc.)
wee butch lesbian
[Artist Statement] Tell us more about your photo by sharing a brief artist statement OR answering this prompt: "This is what being ______ means to me..." (Max. 100 words)
[Shot on Instax]
Sister Maria has found peace in the habit, though not every nun or visitor to the convent sees her choice in the same light. As best as she might try, some of her Sisters cannot be convinced that the habit will bring them any good, leaving Maria and the convent behind them.
The Nun and The Lesbian feel the same pressures of patriarchy and fetishisation, as well as the inherent rejection and isolation that comes with it. Through the series the two existences become one as McCurdy reflects on their alternative life path, the one led to the convent rather than university.
Sister Maria has found peace in the habit, though not every nun or visitor to the convent sees her choice in the same light. As best as she might try, some of her Sisters cannot be convinced that the habit will bring them any good, leaving Maria and the convent behind them.
The Nun and The Lesbian feel the same pressures of patriarchy and fetishisation, as well as the inherent rejection and isolation that comes with it. Through the series the two existences become one as McCurdy reflects on their alternative life path, the one led to the convent rather than university.
[Visual Description] Describe your photo so we can provide alt-text. Example: "Two women holding hands and smiling as they walk in a pride parade, surrounded by rainbow flags."
Two nuns, one sitting while the other standing behind them. The standing nun has hand both hands on the other nun's shoulder, a rosary is draped from the hands and rests on the chest of the sitting nun. The sitting nun looks into the camera while the standing nun is caught looking at the sitting nun.
[Agreement] In the event that you win the 2026 Curve Photo Contest, do you consent to having your photograph printed for the sole purpose of displaying at The Curve Foundation's one-day event at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (San Francisco, CA) during Lesbian Visibility Week? The Curve Foundation will cover printing costs, but will not cover costs for mailing the print after the event ends.
Yes
[Agreement] Do you consent to The Curve Foundation storing, sharing, and using this image and its description as we deem appropriate, including disseminating on our social media, website, and Curve Archive and Curve Quarterly?
Yes
[Agreement] By checking 'I understand' below, I acknowledge that this contest upholds values of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and I confirm that my submission does not contain anti-LGBTQ+ or other discriminatory, hateful, or exclusionary content.
I understand