The Transformation Residency Program, created in partnership with TransPonder, is an opportunity for Transgender and Gender Nonconforming artists who reside in the state of Oregon. This residency program aims to lessen the social, political, and economic barriers to artistic creation. To that end, this residency offers financial sponsorship.
In 2020 we hosted three residents who received artist-guided support from Tropical and had 24/7 access to work in Tropical Contemporary’s gallery and studio space, a 1,000 sq ft converted warehouse located in the industrial area of West Eugene, Oregon. During this year the financial sponsorship was provided based on individual project needs.
In 2021 we are hosting seven residents remotely. We shifted our programming to an online residency format due to losing our warehouse to a drastic rent increase as well as recognizing the difficulties of asking artists to relocate during a pandemic. Residents are asked to share their practice through Tropical’s Instagram as well as develop COVID-safe public programming while being provided artist-guided support from Tropical. During 2021, residents are given a $2,000 stipend.
Tropical Contemporary is an artist collective, exhibition space, and cultural content producer residing in Eugene, Oregon. Since launching in 2015, their primary goal has been to provide the Eugene Community access to viewing, participating, and creating contemporary art with an emphasis on providing a platform for marginalized and emerging artists. Over half of our members and organizers are LGBTQIA+ and are excited to partner with Trans*Ponder to continue their work in supporting queer artists.
TransPonderis a small grassroots, completely transgender founded and led nonprofit based in Eugene, Oregon providing support, resources, and education for and about the trans/gender-diverse community and its allies. TransPonder exists so that no trans/gender-diverse Oregonian has to feel alone or isolated from others like them, providing them with support and resources needed to thrive. TransPonder’s vision and commitment is to: address root causes of discrimination in the trans/gender-diverse community through an intersectional social justice lens; acknowledge the existence and harm caused by systemic racism and dismantle white supremacy within and outside of TransPonder; increase allyship and accomplices in the broader community through relationship building and education; foster leadership and skill building opportunities within the trans/gender-diverse community across generations; promote access to health by fostering expertise in mental, physical, and spiritual healing communities; network with legal counsel knowledgeable about the trans/gender-diverse community; and provide resource navigation support to address economic inequities, food and housing insecurity, medical and employment discrimination; and to create and support projects and/or initiatives that showcase transgender people thriving.
