Join us for an artist reception and meet the creators of the book Shapeshifters: Bodies Like Water, Ira Baumgarten and Jenny Zander. Ira will share how his desire to support his lifelong friend became a two-year journey of continued learning and understanding about the expansion of gender. Jenny will share her creative vision of choosing participatory artists, utilizing their words to inspire her body art, the choice of setting, and her photos. 

This free program is sponsored by the Friends and Foundation of Rochester Public Library. Light refreshments will be served. 

About the art:

Shapeshifters: Bodies Like Water

Playing with Gender…Playing with Power

This work honors the deep connections between the body, land, and queer wisdom. The strength of these connections manifests as the courage to separate from predetermined ideals of gender, to surrender and embark on a sacred journey of self-realization. Shapeshifters: Bodies Like Water is a celebration of this journey.

 Why do we focus on gender as the playground for liberation? To play with gender is to play with power, to actively shift the violent dynamics of colonization, white supremacy, and other systems of oppression that rely on seemingly unchangeable gender norms. To honor the wisdom of transgender people is to honor our capacity for change. To integrate trans wisdom into our lives is to intensely experience a resurgence of curiosity, love, and hope.

This exhibit seeks to offer a loving mirror of celebration and inquiry for the parts of ourselves that are curious, that seek to expand the shapeshifter in all of us. For those who were raised in traditional views of gender, who want to better understand this journey, may this book be a safe bridge to cross in the search for knowing. Furthermore, may this book be an offering at the altar of care for all people. Access to care has been long overdue for the queer and trans community. We all deserve access to healthcare, freedom, and expression.