In an exhibition at Hera Gallery called “A Social Situation” ( September 7-October 5, 2024), I presented a new series called “Transformations in Gender Identity.” This topic is very close to my heart because I have a dear friend, who as a nonbinary person has suffered emotionally and physically for most of their life. So, I really, really want to get this right!
My goal is to put a human face on an issue that can be controversial and has produced so much public discourse and political policy making. The news media has sensationalized some of the divisive topics, such as gender-affirming care, transgender athletes, drag shows, and even rest rooms. What isn’t covered as much are the challenges facing gender non-conforming people: the lack of legal protection against discrimination, 29% of transgender adults live in poverty, 54% have been victims of domestic violence, 22% have no healthcare, and unmeasurable amounts of bullying, harassment, and other types of exclusion and marginalization.
With these artworks, I seek to quiet the noise and chatter by shining a spotlight on three humans who could be our neighbors, families, and friends. Like all human beings, they have basic human needs, such as safety and security, and love and belonging. They have aspirations and dreams, joys and sorrows, hopes and fears. What makes them different from many of us is that they have rejected the constraints of gender identity based on the physical bodies in which they were born. Instead, they are living their lives as the people they know themselves to be, and have released the societal and cultural socialization around gender constructs (norms and roles) that were placed upon them since birth.
I would like to profoundly thank my three models for being vulnerable and allowing me to portray them in this series: Jess is a transgender man, who lived as a woman for over 30 years and describes his transition as a happy experience with acceptance from his family, friends, and colleagues. Mia is nonbinary and doesn’t see themself as male or female. And Rickey is a drag artist, an entertainer with epic talent, beauty, and the most amazingly athletic splits while wearing a dress that you’ll ever see!
This series is dedicated to Terry, who is finally free and able to be their authentic self!
My goal is to put a human face on an issue that can be controversial and has produced so much public discourse and political policy making. The news media has sensationalized some of the divisive topics, such as gender-affirming care, transgender athletes, drag shows, and even rest rooms. What isn’t covered as much are the challenges facing gender non-conforming people: the lack of legal protection against discrimination, 29% of transgender adults live in poverty, 54% have been victims of domestic violence, 22% have no healthcare, and unmeasurable amounts of bullying, harassment, and other types of exclusion and marginalization.
With these artworks, I seek to quiet the noise and chatter by shining a spotlight on three humans who could be our neighbors, families, and friends. Like all human beings, they have basic human needs, such as safety and security, and love and belonging. They have aspirations and dreams, joys and sorrows, hopes and fears. What makes them different from many of us is that they have rejected the constraints of gender identity based on the physical bodies in which they were born. Instead, they are living their lives as the people they know themselves to be, and have released the societal and cultural socialization around gender constructs (norms and roles) that were placed upon them since birth.
I would like to profoundly thank my three models for being vulnerable and allowing me to portray them in this series: Jess is a transgender man, who lived as a woman for over 30 years and describes his transition as a happy experience with acceptance from his family, friends, and colleagues. Mia is nonbinary and doesn’t see themself as male or female. And Rickey is a drag artist, an entertainer with epic talent, beauty, and the most amazingly athletic splits while wearing a dress that you’ll ever see!
This series is dedicated to Terry, who is finally free and able to be their authentic self!
|
|
|
The Unfolding: A Triptych (3 panels)
Charcoal and Pan Pastel on Arches Paper
72 X 38 inches (3 panels at 24 X 38 each)
October 2023
Charcoal and Pan Pastel on Arches Paper
72 X 38 inches (3 panels at 24 X 38 each)
October 2023
The Shedding: A Diptych (2 panels)
Charcoal and Pan Pastel on Stonehenge Paper 52 X 30 inches (panel 1 is 30 X 30, panel 2 is 22 X 30) August 2024 |
|
|
|
The Coronation: A Diptych (2 panels)
Charcoal and Pan Pastel (panel 1), Charcoal, glitter paint, and rhinestones (panel 2)
44 X 30 inches (2 panels at 22 X 30 each)
July 2024
Charcoal and Pan Pastel (panel 1), Charcoal, glitter paint, and rhinestones (panel 2)
44 X 30 inches (2 panels at 22 X 30 each)
July 2024
|
|
|
Videos from my artist talk at the Hera Gallery, during the closing reception of the member exhibition called, "A Social Situation" on October 5, 2024.