Chicago's transgender community has gained national visibility in recent years for its activism on housing and legal issues, but its artists have been less visible. That could be changing, thanks to a new award spotlighting four local artists.
Trans Chicago artists KOKUMO, Andre Perez, H. Melt and Dalice Malice are recipients of Museum of Transgender Hirstory & Art Awards ( MOTHA Awards ).
The awards, in their first year, aim to bring visibility to trans artists nationally. They were created by Chris E. Vargas, a transgender artist and filmmaker.
"I just don't see a lot of opportunities for trans artists to be recognized for their work," said Vargas. "I wanted to give that opportunity to people in the most inclusive way possible but from a critical stance."
Vargas held an open-nomination process online in September and October, taking in nearly 100 names in 16 categories. Winners were chosen by popular vote in November.
Vargas said that due to close votes, each award saw multiple recipients.
The awards are among the first projects for the museum, which Vargas describes as "conceptual" in that it remains online, instead of housed in a physical space. Vargas is building an archive for the museum and would like showcase transgender art history. But the founding of the museum is intended to create potential more than anything, Vargas said.
"I'm asking people to imagine with me what could exist," said Vargas.
Chicago MOTHA Award winners included:
KOKUMO ( KOKUMOMedia.com )
Musician of the Year, alongside Big Freedia and Rae Spoon
New Upcoming Artist of the Year, alongside Hannah Barrett, Erika Bijeljic, Imogen Binnie and Morgan M. Page
Trans Oral History Project, of which Andre Perez is the founder ( transoralhistory.com )
Archives of the Year, alongside Center for Sex and Culture
Dalice Malice ( dalicemalice.com ) and H. Melt
Unrecognized Artist of the Year, Hermit, alongside Malic Amalya, Elliott DeLine, Rapha�le Frigon, Nicki Green, Mirha-Soleil Ross, Thu Ha Vu, Tobaron Waxman and Quito Ziegler
More information on MOTHA is available at: sfmotha.org .