Food & Culture

Henry Art Gallery Welcomes an Account of Transgender History

'Trans Hirstory in 99 Objects' explores the presence of local gender non-conforming communities

By Carley Schmidt August 11, 2016

transfused-performancecolor-2

The Henry Art Gallery will host the second iteration of Trans Hirstory in 99 Objects beginning Saturday, August 13. (The first exhibit took place at the ONE Archives at the USC Libraries in the spring of 2015.) The upcoming show, which explores the challenges of discovering and researching an under-historicized culture, is part of an ongoing series of exhibitions organized by Chris Vargas, executive director of the Museum of Transgender History & Art, an organization that creates autonomous events throughout the country.

The exhibition will focus on the lives and experiences of transgender people and communities in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. It will highlight archival materials, and the work of contemporary trans artists who engage with history in their work. The term “trans” should not be viewed entirely literally, Vargas says. Rather, the pool of artists simply falls under the category of gender transgressive, or non-conforming.

This type of language, along with cultural changes, plays a role in the difficulty of digging up a narrative from the past that has not always been documented, he notes.

“There are many challenges in pulling out history for marginalized communities. A lot of road blocks occur in trying to tell history from this perspective. It’s not straightforward – there are always multiple histories going on at the same time.”

Museum-goers can expect to see archival work from the 2000 rock opera “The Transfused,” material from Seattle’s Ingersoll Gender Center, work related to Spokane jazz musician Billy Tipton and much more. With this broad collection of art and artifacts, Vargas says he hopes to educate viewers on the presence of conventional gender-defying people throughout history – and now, the existence of the many trans artists within our communities.

The exhibit will run August 13, 2016 through June 4, 2017 at the Henry Art Gallery.

Join The Must List

Sign up and get Seattle's best events delivered to your inbox every week.

Follow Us

Arts: Picture Perfect

Arts: Picture Perfect

Robin Layton is nothing short of a Seattle treasure

Much like capturing the perfect moment on film, photographer Robin Layton’s life is a series of moments that are almost hard to believe. Some would call them coincidences, and others, instances of fate. Remember that iconic photo of a grinning Ken Griffey sliding across home plate (“The Smile at the Bottom of the Pile”) to…

Datebook: Fall Arts Finds

Datebook: Fall Arts Finds

A look at some of the upcoming season’s hottest works

As the long, hot days of summer melt away into cooler temps and earlier evenings, Seattleites are about to make the seasonal shift toward indoor activities. While monthly art walks and occasional museum visits are popular year-round, for those in the know, back-to-school sales also signal the start of Fall Arts: the time of year…

A City by Design

A City by Design

Seattle Design Festival seeks to create equitable, thriving communities

THE LARGEST DESIGN FESTIVAL in the Pacific Northwest is right around the corner, and organizers are asking residents to weigh in on Seattle’s future self. The Seattle Design Festival, which began in 2011, runs from Aug. 19-24. It features interactive cultural events across the city with an overarching theme of “Curiosity.” Festival organizers anticipate that…

Blender Bender

Blender Bender

Seattle's experience research lab tells stories through artwork, installations and architecture

Back in March 2021 — just as the drab Seattle winter started to give way to lighter days and slightly higher temperatures — a storefront niche on the always-thronged corner of Capitol Hill’s Pike and Broadway intersection underwent a transformation. Formerly an easy-to-miss entryway sandwiched between a coffee shop and Neighbours Nightclub, the small, windowed…