Freedom to Be: Trans in Kansas and Missouri is a collaborative event that highlights the ways in which art can be used as a tool for self-discovery, communication, and self-expression of the transgender and gender non-conforming experience, especially in the face of discriminatory legislation and a hostile political climate.
When: Saturday, October 5th from 3-8pm. Market & art project open at 3pm, performances starting around 6pm.
Where: Goofball Sk8boards in Waldo
What: This all-ages event will feature a collaborative art project, a market of trans art & craft vendors, and a show featuring trans performing artists.
"Freedom to Be" Collaborative Art Project: Transgender attendees and their loved ones can contribute to a 6ft x 6ft panel that represents the transgender community of Kansas City and answers the prompt, "What does the freedom to be me look like?" Art supplies and guidance on the piece concept will be provided. More information about the ACLU's Freedom to Be Campaign below.
Food & Beverage: Food and beverages will be provided. Allergen-friendly catering provided by the Cauldron Collective.
Safety & Accessibility Information: Masks are required indoors and recommended at all times. Masks provided by 816 COVID Crew. Food & beverage area located outside for improved ventilation. Event security provided by Goofball Sk8. All spaces are wheelchair accessible. Earplugs will be provided for those with noise sensitivity during the performances. This is an all-ages event, families are welcome. Performances and visual art may contain adult content. Art supplies will be provided.
If you plan on attending and require language interpretation services, please contact us at [email protected] as soon as possible so we can secure accommodations.
Who: This event was planned in collaboration with the Trans Lawrence Coalition and the ACLU of Missouri and Kansas. Concept design for the Kansas City art panel completed by the Nafasi Trans Care Collective and Markie Ridgway. Catering provided by Cauldron Collective.
Show Lineup:
TBD
Trans Artists Market Vendor List:
- Airic Fenn
- The Fairywren Curiosity Shoppe
- Linnea Nierman
- Fiddlin' Weasel
- alligatoridae
- Hopeisolive
- Triange Head Universe
- YouGoKink
- Odd Crowe
- GENES1SX
- Mx of Bizzare
- 7 Hobbies
- Art of Pill
- KeeliSculptures
- Eddie Fern
- otherbombdotcom
- Snuggles Leather Co
- Refined Macaroni Art
About the ACLU's Freedom to Be Campaign
Across the country, we are seeing trans people and their families under attack by extremists who want to take control of their bodies, their movements, and their lives. The Freedom to Be campaign is an ACLU led initiative that seeks to center the voices and experiences of trans people in America through storytelling and the creation of a monument to be installed on the National Mall next year. This art installation will be composed of hundreds of individual panels that are decorated by trans people, their families, and their loved ones from across the country as they answer the question, “What does the freedom to be me look like?” This monument — which takes inspiration from the AIDS Memorial quilt and the FORCE Monument Quilt — is a storytelling for in courts and communities across the country and showcase the hope and possibility that can exist when people have the freedom to be themselves. Working with affiliates and our coalition partners across the country, we are going to create a large, 258-panel monument that spells out “Freedom To Be” on the mall in Washington, D.C. Each panel (6 ft x 6 ft) will be decorated by trans folks who receive the prompt “What does the freedom to be me look like?” The panels will be decorated throughout the summer, with kick-offs in many states during June’s Pride month activities. The monument will be displayed in Washington, D.C. on the mall next March for Trans Day of Visibility."
