Trans/Giving - an L.A. art and performance series for trans*, genderqueer, and intersex artists |
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Debra Kate is an American photographer, performance/multi-media artist and transgender activist whose work concentrates on issues surrounding self-identification, the dynamics of social or group norms and issues of gender variance. She currently lives in Berlin, where she immerses herself in the city's thriving drag culture. Using the stage name "Miss Debra Kate," she performs as a bio-queen and photographs herself and fellow performers, on stage and off, documenting the elaborate transformation process from civilian to drag queen/king and back. In addition, she takes drag into the street and documents the results. Debra Kate's photographs have been shown at the Wigstöckel Transgender United Festival (Berlin), Fresh Meat in the Gallery (San Francisco), the International Drag KingCommunity Extravaganza (Chicago, Winnipeg, Minneapolis, Austin), the Great Big International Drag King Show (Washington, DC), the Gallery of Social and Political Art (Boston), Ladyfest (Hamburg) and Slideluck Potshow. Her work has also been published in the first German language drag king book, "Drag Kings: Mit Bartkleber gegen das Patriarchat" and in Transgender Tapestry. www.DebraKate.com Wanetta Renay. Known as the "woman of a thousand voices," Miss Renay has performed as both comic and musician in Las Vegas, Reno, Northern and Southern California. Wanetta writes all her own songs and her comedy style could best be described as what would happen if Robin Williams and George Carlin had a baby with a sperm sample provided by Lenny Bruce. Miss Renay is also an actress and an internationally published horror writer, who spent 10 years as the host of her own radio drama show in Northern California. She is a lesbian, peace activist, and a lifelong liberal. Kalil Cohen is a 24 year-old transman poet, filmmaker, and performer. This is his debut as a rap artist, collaborating with DJ Nova Jade. He is a queer Jew, an idealist, an activist, and a nanny. Kalil can be reached at reelboi [at] gmail.com Maddie Deutsch is a musician who is neither enjoying major label interest nor pursuing world domination. She is a nice doctah who replaced her black bag with a bike messenger satchel. She's been known to make simple projects complex if they allow her to spend more time at local dyke-friendly coffee shops, eyeing the candy. She has a close relationship with her Subaru, which is trans as well; As an ethanol burner trapped in the body of a dinosaur drinker, she hopes to someday help it become the carbon-neutral vehicle it has always known it was. She's very happy to be playing Plummer Park and hopes you'll buy the commemorative mug and keychain. Kale is a busy Transman living in LA. He is primarily a visual artist but enjoys performance as a multisensory experience. He aims to expand the vocabulary; paradigms; tropes and concepts that form around and constrict gender, sexuality and identity in art and life. He is a gender-fucker. To contact him, email him at omynay [at] aol.com. Drian Juarez. I feel like I am an artist by circumstance... Supporting one’s self as an artist is a difficult thing, so while an art major at Otis College of Art and Design I decide to support myself by getting into the fashion industry. I worked in this field for a number of years before I decided that I hated it! My decision to leave the fashion world was a rather abrupt one so I had to decide rather quickly how I was going to support myself. I went through the right of passage that seems to be the case for so many of my Trans Latina sisters, I became a sex worker. I did this for a number of years and I can honestly say that I do not regret my time in the sex industry. This job I knew was not meant to last and I had to make a decision about my future. As I meditated on this issue the universe heard my voice and granted me my wish. On Halloween of 04 while partying in San Francisco I was shot in the face and blinded in the right eye. The funny thing was that when I was meditating my exact words were to "change the way I saw the world so that I could see a way out of my situation." This rather profound experience woke me up, ignited me if you will. I got involved, started to meet activists and eventually started working as an activist/Health Educator for a non-profit organization. This kind of job can be a very time consuming endeavor so as of late I have not had as much time for my art as I would like, but that’s the great thing about being an artist your ability and talent never go way they just get placed on the back burner until you are ready for it. And that is where I am at, busy cooking away on the front burner but never forgetting that there is desert waiting. That is why I was so excited about being a part of Trans/Giving; I get an opportunity to share my vision as a Trans person with other Trans people. I think you will see this influence in the piece I am sharing with you today. |
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