In the heart of Downtown BG, trans artists poured their passion into paintings as the community gathered Saturday night to raise funds for gender-affirming care at the 2nd Annual Transcendence Benefit Art Show’s opening reception.
Jax Foster, event organizer and owner of the fine art company Thistle & Berry, said the evening brought together trans artists in Bowling Green.
“I wanted a space where I wasn’t going to reject anything. Everybody’s welcome and you get to meet each other. Connect. Network,” Foster said. “I have had a handful of artists come to me and thank me for facilitating this because they don’t get that space.”
Trans-inclusive events are an important facet of the community, ‘21 BGSU alum GM O’Hara said. This was their second year at the benefit, where they shared a digital piece on canvas.
“During the summer, we had an all-inclusive art show,” O’Hara said. “It’s not as much about, ‘We are the only ones who are allowed to do this.’ It’s more about, this is a place that we can come share our experiences in a very safe place, know that we have support, and feel like we have a community and a home.”
The benefit raised more than $2,000 through raffle sales, sponsorships, and financial donations, with the gallery open from Saturday to Monday. These proceeds went to the queer-run nonprofit No More Dysphoria to support people’s transitions, the owner of Thistle & Berry said.
“They’ll help with getting binders, they’ll help with HRT, surgery funds. And it goes right into the hands of trans people, which I think is super important. So there’s no middleman,” Foster said. “They helped with my transition. So I know the money is going where it’s appropriate.”
More proceeds from the event came from art sales, directly benefiting trans artists. Max Sweet sold “Ode to Love” for $350, and Jim Howes sold “Stonewall” for $250.
Foster’s piece, “La Rinascita,” was on display alongside two smaller portraits. The oil-on-canvas painting is their personal take on Mary holding Christ after the crucifixion, Foster said.
“After my top surgery, I woke up, and it was such a deep experience to wake up and have one of my very close friends with me,” they said. “She looked at me with all this love, and she was so proud of me. It was such a deep moment that I wanted to capture that and keep it forever.”
Closer to campus, another BGSU artist showcased their craft as a form of self-expression.
Zak Ventura-Perry, ‘24 BGSU alum, had one of their Bachelor of Fine Arts sculptures, “Adorned Decay,” on display. It featured rotted teeth made from beads and jewelry, representing grief and loss over a loved one, they said.
“You love someone so much, and then when you lose them, it’s bad, it hurts, it sucks,” Ventura-Perry said. “So they’re rotted teeth, but they’re covered in all the jewels. They have pieces of my grandma’s jewelry in them.”
As the opening reception concluded with a raffle sponsored by For Keeps, Sugar Milk Bakery and many other BG favorites, the Transcendence Benefit not only raised funds– but raised the spirits of attendees as they celebrated art and community.
