Showcasing Their Talents

By By Patrick Bohn, April 9, 2024

Trans Art Show celebrates Transgender Day of Visibility.

Eoin Keeney-Horsch ’27 next to his piece, titled "Phoenix", at the Trans Art Show, which was held on March 29.

(Photo by Patrick Bohn)

After coming back from spending their fall semester in London, February Schneck ’25, a student worker in the college’s Center for LGBT Education, Outreach, and Services, was helping to map out the center’s programming for the upcoming semesterduring the office’s winter retreat. When it came time to brainstorm ideas to recognize Transgender Day of Visibility, which occurs on March 31 each year, they had a critical realization.

“Because we have a large and open queer population here at IC, we can do next-level trans programming, instead of just general promotion,” February said. “I think everyone on campus knows there’s trans people on campus. I wanted to offer programming that let people see us in a different way.”

February’s idea? An art show featuring work by trans and non-binary students that included pictures, poetry, music, and even jewelry creation.

“I wanted to offer programming that let people see us in a different way. And what better way to show people who you are than art?” they said. “So this was an opportunity for transgender students to convey who we are.”

“For so long our stories have been ignored, and when they have been told, they haven’t been told by us. This event puts trans and non-binary people at the focal point where we can tell our stories.”

Eoin Keeney-Horsch ’27

The idea for the art show came from February Schneck ’25, a student worker in the college’s Center for LGBT Education, Outreach, and Services. (Photo by Patrick Bohn)

That’s how the Trans Art Exhibition, held March 29, was born.

Art major Eoin Keeney-Horsch ’27 showcased his talent with his work “Phoenix,” which he created for a class, featuring a character who undergoes a rebirth throughout the several panels of the piece.

He relished the opportunity to take part in the event.

“For so long our stories have been ignored, and when they have been told, they haven’t been told by us,” Keeney-Horsch said. “This event puts trans and non-binary people at the focal point where we can tell our stories.”

Jamie Kurnev ’27 wrote a poem titled “Amilac” for the show, about an incident that happened to her this past summer, and the incident’s impact on her.

“To show trans resilience and trans joy is so important. I’m so lucky to not only have a student staff who can help organize this, but to also work at a place where our community is very receptive to this type of programming.”

Crissi Dalfonzo, director, Ithaca College LGBT Center

“I have a lot that I’ve written down, and it sits on my computer,” she said. “I like that this piece has a destination. Having an event like this means I’m not doing my writing for nothing.”

Crissi Dalfonzo, director of the LGBT Center, said the event was a testament to the hard work of current students, and the entire IC community.

“To show trans resilience and trans joy is so important,” Dalfonzo said. “I’m so lucky to not only have a student staff who can help organize this, but to also work at a place where our community is very receptive to this type of programming.”