STATIONS OF THE LOST

is a secular/gnostic requiem, a theatre piece written by Dr. Felix Graham in collaboration with TRANScend, New York's trans/gender-expansive vocal ensemble, and Randy Polumbo, visual artist. The requiem, in oratorio form, is performed alongside an installation of 14 panels, replacing the traditional stations of the cross with commemorative art pieces honoring the lives of trans artists (both past and present).

The text of the libretto is based on the writings of Aleister Crowley, a queer, gender-fluid spiritualist and author — once described as “the wickedest man on Earth.” His text, Liber XV, forms what was known as the ‘Gnostic Mass,’ meant to replace the traditional liturgical text in a way that celebrated the internal divine and spirituality that was not directly related to the catholic church. 

TRANS DAY OF REMEMBRANCE & RESILIENCE

November 20 is the transgender day of remembrance, a day of commemoration begun in 1999 by trans activist Gwendolyn Ann Smith as vigil to commemorate trans lives lost to violence – particularly trans women of color, the most frequent targets of transphobic violence. In the years since, it has expanded further into a dual day of remembrance and resilience: to remember the lost, certainly, but also to honor the life, spirit, and contributions of the living trans community, too, through art, music and poetry. Art (and particularly music) is a powerful medium for social change and in recognition of that, today’s performance is dedicated to the trans activists and artists who committed their time and energy to creating a more equitable society — one in which we can stand and sing openly and freely.

The fourteen stations displayed were created to memorial fourteen different trans activists and artists — many of whom were lost to violence and societal neglect, and all of whom were foundational to the existence of trans visibility and culture today. Their names are Rita Hester, Billy Tipton, Sophie Xeon, Lorenza Bottner, Claude Cahun, Angela Morely, Virginia Prince, Wilmer Broadnax, April Ashley, Lili Elbe, Greer Lankton, Mark Aguhar & Maxine Feldman.

JOINT ARTIST STATEMENT

Traditionally, memorial works for marginalized people have posed as a mea culpa - looking back in sorrow. While looking back is important, we believe that looking forward is just as important...and a lot more beneficial to the people still living. As such, we are creating new art music in the classical tradition in honor of the national trans day of remembrance/resilience. Not just to celebrate the trans artists who have been lost to violence or societal neglect, but to uplift the trans artists who are with us now.

In the spirit of Dr. Graham’s composition, Polumbo painted a series of images of birds from life. These were re-imagined by his studio from 3-D scans of TRANScend members hands and faces. Each bird is made of Reishi Mushroom mycelium grown into a mold made from elements gathered from TRANScend members and is associated with an important trans artist or activist, many of whom were lost to violence or societal neglect, and all of whom contributed significantly to trans art, culture and visibility. Soaring fiercely, with wings made of human hands, and witnessing through over-scaled blown glass eyes. They draw a line between the tragic past and celebration of living trans people and mark that we are all watching and demand a just and inclusive future.

THE FOURTEEN STATIONS