'We're here, we're visible': Exhibit showcases trans artists in P.E.I.

Trans artists from across Prince Edward Island will have their artwork on display in Charlottetown for the next two weeks.

The Sunday night opening of the Won't Back Down exhibit coincides with the Trans Day of Visibility.

Paintings, photos, drawings and more will be on display to the public until April 14 at The Guild's art gallery.

Members of the P.E.I. Transgender Network, which is hosting the exhibit, say trans artists don't often see their work displayed in galleries.

"It's really incredible that folks can then put [this] on their CV and say they were in the gallery," said Kal Ross, vice-chair of the network.

"We're here, we're being visible. There's so much local talent and we wanted to celebrate that."

Won't Back Down will kick off with a grand opening Sunday at 7 p.m. that will feature more than a dozen spoken-word and musical performances by trans Island artists.

This will be the first in a series of 2024 visual art exhibits held by the P.E.I. Transgender Network.It builds on a fine art show held last year at Beaconsfield Carriage House called All Cis-tems Go!

Won't Back Down features pieces from artists as young as nine years old, and was curated by a group of 10 members of P.E.I.'s trans community.

Executive director Lucky Fusca said it was important for the network to support trans people of all ages.

"We thought it was super important, given this [opening] lands on Trans Day of Visibility, to show our community that we're here, that we're not going to back down to the rising hate that the anti-trans folks out in the world are spewing towards the community, including different legislations that are the worst that we've seen attacking trans youth particularly," Fusca said.

"It's an opportunity for us to share our voices, to share our stories and to share our joy as well."

'It's been a tough march'

Fusca said the performance tomorrow night will allow people to share their experiences growing up, and their trans experience.

They said allowing trans people to express themselves is important because their oppressors use silence to dehumanize the community.

"It's been a tough march, so knowing this is happening and seeing the energy in this space and all the incredible work from the community is giving me so much hope right now," Fusca said.

"My hope is that folks will come into this space wherever they're at whether it's in a really awesome place or maybe having a tough time and leave feeling like they've been given a really big hug by [the] community."