Transformer is an exciting and essential part of the Washington, DC cultural community providing a broad range of experience to artists and audiences.
Founded by arts and development professionals Jayme McLellan and Victoria Reis in summer 2002 to profile experimental work by up and coming artists of all ages and backgrounds, “Transformer has steadily made its mark on the D.C. arts scene...the emphasis is on change and freedom, diverse voices and new artistic mediums for expression.” (*The Washington Post)
With a unique store-front exhibition space at 1404 P Street, NW, Transformer’s Exhibition Series, consisting of six to seven exhibitions per season, encourages artists to be site-responsive, often producing a deeper and more thoughtful exploration of ideas and solutions to the presentation of their work. Exhibitions run five to six weeks and are organized by Transformer staff in conjunction with participating artists, guest curators, and advisors.
Seeking to connect emerging artists with the larger cultural milieu, exhibiting artists are provided increased exposure to peer artists, curators and the local arts community, and are encouraged to: meet collectors at exhibition previews, speak with the press about their work, and participate in organized artist talks with the public. As an artist-centered organization, Transformer is committed to providing artists’ honorariums and material costs. Artists are never charged fees for participating in Transformer’s exhibition series.
Exhibitions are profiled on Transformer’s website, www.transformerdc.org, and press releases are sent to an extensive press list and a general audience list-serve of several hundred individual and organizational supporters. For each exhibition, Transformer also works with professional DC graphic designers to develop creative exhibition announcement cards sent to a growing mailing list of Visionary Friends of Transformer.
Recognized as a leader in the arts field, in March 2005 Transformer was selected to participate in the Warhol Initiative, the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Art's national capacity-building grant program for visual arts organizations. Transformer joins Stage II of the Initiative, geared at supporting relatively young organizations that operate on modest budgets, and are regarded by the foundation as "the next generation of artist spaces."
Transformer is supported by:
The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts
The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation
The CrossCurrents Foundation
D.C. Commission on the Arts & Humanities
The National Endowment for the Arts
SunTrust
Transformer's Board and Advisory Council
the Visionary Friends of Transformer
and the tireless in-kind donations of time and expertise by friends, volunteers and supporters.
Thank You!
