Second Workshop at GreenHill
GREENSBORO, N.C.– Local Entrepreneur, and emerging curator, Jordan T. Robinson, is conducting a series of workshops throughout the state of North Carolina in preparation for an Exhibition held in November. The exhibition, “Transparency”, is an initiative to use art as a platform for the Trans community in North Carolina. Robinson is hosting workshops throughout the major cities in the state and plans to host the exhibition in Raleigh as a statement for North Carolinians to support their fellow neighbors who so happen to be trans.
“The exhibition is really about representation…” Robinson says, “and what better way to represent somebody than to let them tell us who they are and wat their needs, issues, strengths are. Based on how people are represented in culture could affect their reality based on the actions other make based on their bias. I want to advocate for a community that is underserved by doing what I do best, producing shows.”
The Transparency Project Robinson is producing is a response to a series of events as far back as 2015 with the HB2 debate that challenged Trans citizens’ freedom to use the bathroom of their choosing. Followed that, was the President’s Executive order to dismiss and ban Trans soldiers, which was the final straw for Robinson. “When I saw the coverage on the news, something went off in me that said ‘if there is a time to do this project, it is now.’ And since then, I have been working on this project.” Seeking to establish his career in the Arts, Robinson has been producing exhibitions independently under his creative brand, JTR Presents, which offers creative services, from photography to logo and branding, to help fund productions like Transparency. In doing so, Robinson seeks to help the community through the works by emerging contemporary artists and overall contributes to what he believes is expanding the value of Art & Design. More information can be found at his website, https://jtrpresents.art.
Currently, Robinson has been supported by the community with this project through the help of Greenhill, who is sponsoring the first workshop in the Greensboro area. There, along with every workshop Robinson is hosting, there will be a quick brief and introduction of the artists involved followed by a Q&A, community forum, and brainstorm session between the artists and the Trans Community. The first workshop will be in Greenhill’s gallery and studio spaces on Saturday and Sunday (June 22 & 23) from 1pm to 5pm.
The Transparency project is produced by JTR Presents, which is seeking fiscal sponsorship by a non-profit in order to offer tax-deductions for those who donate and sponsor the project. The project is seeking for more sponsors to host space for the workshops and other forms of support. The following are the cities Robinson seeks to host workshops:
Asheville
Charlotte
Durham
Greeneville
Greensboro
Raleigh
Wilmington
Winston-Salem
The artists involved range from local artists to out of state artists. Former Charlotte-based artist, Lara Americo, is a performance artist whose work relate to Trans topics along with other themes such as spirituality, identity, and social issues. She is the co-curator for this project and has been providing insight for Robinson about the community he aims to serve with this project. In addition, organizations that serve the community, like Transcend Charlotte and Guilford Green Foundation, have also provided Robinson insight as well as connection to the community itself. Anyone able and willing to support the project, JTR Presents, or Robinson himself, can reach out through jtrpresents@gmail.comand follow JTR Presents on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram through the handle, @JTRPresents.