Exhibit Dates: October 4—December 7, 2025
Exhibit Location: MLK Library, Great Hall

Transformer will be popping up with a FlatFile sale in the Great Hall of MLK Library! Presented as part of D.I.Y. in the District.

https://www.dclibrary.org/diy-district
https://dclibrary.libnet.info/event/14879937

Artist-run. Homegrown. Non-commercial. Multi-media. Experimental. A D.I.Y. (Do It Yourself) art space is usually all of these things - and yet no single definition applies to all. This exhibition celebrates key galleries and exhibition spaces in Washington, D.C. from the 1970s to present day that represent the boundless creativity, resourcefulness, and experimentation of artists working in storefronts, row houses, converted offices, and other unlikely spaces in a federal city known for its national museums and colorful, tranquil abstract paintings. Artist-run spaces flip the script on stereotypes and simplified ideas about culture in the nation’s capital. Though real estate, the cost of living, and lack of investment in the arts are abiding challenges, these spaces have supported generations of artists as they find community and test and develop their ideas.  

Produced in collaboration with Rhizome D.C. and other partners, this exhibit will transform the Great Hall of MLK Library into a celebration of the artist-run and D.I.Y. arts scene in the District from the 1970s through the present day.

Transformer is thrilled to present A Tender Sieve, an exhibition by Canadian artist Mia Feuer. This exhibition is presented in tandem with Transformer's cultural partnership with the Embassy of Canada.

Join us for the open house reception of A Tender Sieve from 12 - 6 PM featuring an artist talk at 1 PM.

Siren Arts is honored to present artist Rob Santello in his first solo exhibition, featuring a provocative body of paintings that challenge cultural and sociopolitical hierarchies.

Join us for a Meet the Artist Open House Reception from 12 - 6 pm on Saturday, October 18, 2025!

Capital One Center Celebration of the Arts

An immersive, multi-arts experience that elevates creativity

Capital One Center Celebration of the Arts, presented with Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art (Tephra ICA), is a two-day outdoor festival happening October 4–5, 2025, in the heart of Tysons, VA. Designed for all ages, this immersive event transforms the streets of Capital One Center into a multi-block celebration of the arts— featuring interactive installations, hands-on workshops, live music, and culinary experiences for every generation.

TRANSFORMER ART ACTIVATIONS:
- Custom painted pet portraits by Baltimore, MD based artist Elizabeth Graeber - 11:30 - 4 PM
- Transformer will be selling pieces from our ever-growing FlatFile collection from 11 - 5 PM

Event is free & open to the public. RSVP here: www.eventbrite.com/e/celebration-of-the-arts-at-capital-one-center-tickets-1548712102589

An immersive, multi-arts experience that elevates creativity

Capital One Center Celebration of the Arts, presented with Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art (Tephra ICA), is a two-day outdoor festival happening October 4–5, 2025, in the heart of Tysons, VA. Designed for all ages, this immersive event transforms the streets of Capital One Center into a multi-block celebration of the arts— featuring interactive installations, hands-on workshops, live music, and culinary experiences for every generation.

Transformer will be selling pieces from our ever-growing FlatFile collection from 11 - 5 PM!

Event is free & open to the public. RSVP here: www.eventbrite.com/e/celebration-of-the-arts-at-capital-one-center-tickets-1548712102589

D.I.Y. in the District

Exhibit Dates: October 4—December 7, 2025
Exhibit Location: MLK Library, Great Hall

Artist-run. Homegrown. Non-commercial. Multi-media. Experimental. A D.I.Y. (Do It Yourself) art space is usually all of these things - and yet no single definition applies to all. This exhibition celebrates key galleries and exhibition spaces in Washington, D.C. from the 1970s to present day that represent the boundless creativity, resourcefulness, and experimentation of artists working in storefronts, row houses, converted offices, and other unlikely spaces in a federal city known for its national museums and colorful, tranquil abstract paintings. Artist-run spaces flip the script on stereotypes and simplified ideas about culture in the nation’s capital. Though real estate, the cost of living, and lack of investment in the arts are abiding challenges, these spaces have supported generations of artists as they find community and test and develop their ideas.  

Produced in collaboration with Rhizome D.C. and other partners, this exhibit will transform the Great Hall of MLK Library into a celebration of the artist-run and D.I.Y. arts scene in the District from the 1970s through the present day.

Check out Transformer’s booth in the exhibition!

Transformer is honored to present Pure Peace, a storefront video installation by DMV based artist Steven Ferri, as part of DC Art All Night. Set against the city’s unprecedented moment under federal occupation — when policing in Washington, DC is placing exceptional demands on the city government, residents, police officers, and the National Guard — Pure Peace delivers its metaphor with striking poignancy.

The video depicts a toy soldier submerged in a mason jar as Amish honey is slowly poured in. As the golden liquid envelopes the figure, it overflows the jar and fills the frame, ultimately drowning out the soldier and the container itself. The work employs two contrasting symbols—the mass-produced toy soldier and the organic Amish honey—exploring the tensions between violence and pacifism, war and peace, and confrontation and surrender.

Pure Peace will be on a 24/7 continuous loop for sidewalk viewing September 13 - October 20, 2025.

Miss Grace David is a Black, queer, and non-binary femme performance and textile artist based in the DC area. By using character performance, textile production, world-making, and storytelling, their work connects human emotion and personal experience with visual abstraction. Their work and film has been commissioned by Dance Place in Washington, DC, Tariq O’Meally’s BlackLight Summit, and shown at The Kennedy Center. Grace is the inaugural awardee of the HAUS AWARD in 2021 from haus of bambi recognizing DMV-based LGBTQ+ artists for work exploring the complexity of queer identity. Most recently, Grace was announced as a Fellowship Artist with Dance Place for their 2025-2027 Season.⁠

Miss Grace David is a Black, queer, and non-binary femme performance and textile artist based in the DC area. By using character performance, textile production, world-making, and storytelling, their work connects human emotion and personal experience with visual abstraction. Their work and film has been commissioned by Dance Place in Washington, DC, Tariq O’Meally’s BlackLight Summit, and shown at The Kennedy Center. Grace is the inaugural awardee of the HAUS AWARD in 2021 from haus of bambi recognizing DMV-based LGBTQ+ artists for work exploring the complexity of queer identity. Most recently, Grace was announced as a Fellowship Artist with Dance Place for their 2025-2027 Season.⁠

Bumper is DC’s alien superstar hellcat! They are a producer, performer, carpenter and⁠ community builder. Whether center stage or behind the scenes, Bumper steps into any arena where beauty is being made. Four years deep in the District and fresh off producing one of World Pride DC’s standout events, they’re at the top of their game. You might’ve seen them tearing it up at Honcho, holding down a residency at The Kennedy Center, or caught their cowboy hat bouncing through Flower Factory as the creative director. What’s next? Creating Sanctuary. Stay tuned.⁠

Bumper is DC’s alien superstar hellcat! They are a producer, performer, carpenter and⁠ community builder. Whether center stage or behind the scenes, Bumper steps into any arena where beauty is being made. Four years deep in the District and fresh off producing one of World Pride DC’s standout events, they’re at the top of their game. You might’ve seen them tearing it up at Honcho, holding down a residency at The Kennedy Center, or caught their cowboy hat bouncing through Flower Factory as the creative director. What’s next? Creating Sanctuary. Stay tuned.⁠

Bambi is an artist, dancer, damn good storyteller, and host at haus of bambi (hausofbambi.com). And the recipient of the Washington Award in dance, btw. Commissioned by Vogue, The Kennedy Center, The City of Alexandria and the Metal Hearts Cabaret in Boston, Bambi dances the line between the too much and the just enough. (duh) ⁠

⁠Bambi is a founding member of The Kennedy Center’s Dance Council, was artist-in-residence at Dance Place in DC, and also is the runway movement director for NewYork couturier Bach Mai.⁠

Bambi is an artist, dancer, damn good storyteller, and host at haus of bambi (hausofbambi.com). And the recipient of the Washington Award in dance, btw. Commissioned by Vogue, The Kennedy Center, The City of Alexandria and the Metal Hearts Cabaret in Boston, Bambi dances the line between the too much and the just enough. (duh) ⁠

Bambi is a founding member of The Kennedy Center’s Dance Council, was artist-in-residence at Dance Place in DC, and also is the runway movement director for NewYork couturier Bach Mai.⁠

JaxKnife Complex (Jacob Stewart) has had a foot in the world of dance from the age of four. Jax’s journey to the nightclub and its dance floor began at the Debbie Manoly Academy of Dance and went on to merge with theater arts in undergrad. They have taught theater, dance, and stage craft for nearly a decade and moved into the world of nightlife permanently in 2015 with the opening of their home bar TRADE in Washington, DC.⁠ You can catch JaxKnife’s drag review "Imaginary Friends" every other month on the stage at TRADE or join them for a night of wild chaos at their dance party "Glitch". A huge thank you goes out to all of the members of the haus of bambi and everyone in the DC nightlife scene that had a hand in helping mold and create the person that JaxKnife Complex danced their way into being... the birthday clown your parents never hired.⁠

JaxKnife Complex (Jacob Stewart) has had a foot in the world of dance from the age of four. Jax’s journey to the nightclub and its dance floor began at the Debbie Manoly Academy of Dance and went on to merge with theater arts in undergrad. They have taught theater, dance, and stage craft for nearly a decade and moved into the world of nightlife permanently in 2015 with the opening of their home bar TRADE in Washington, DC.⁠ You can catch JaxKnife’s drag review "Imaginary Friends" every other month on the stage at TRADE or join them for a night of wild chaos at their dance party "Glitch". A huge thank you goes out to all of the members of the haus of bambi and everyone in the DC nightlife scene that had a hand in helping mold and create the person that JaxKnife Complex danced their way into being... the birthday clown your parents never hired.⁠

King Molasses (they/them) is an award-winning drag king and performing artist based in Washington, DC. They consecutively reigned as DC’s Best Drag King from 2022 through 2025 and were voted Best Gender Non-Conforming Artist 2024-2025 by the DC Drag Awards. They have been featured on Bravo TV, The Washington Post, Good Morning America, and NPR. A DMV native, Molasses debuted in 2018 and has since become a fixture in the district’s performing arts scene. Their work has been commissioned in venues nationwide, including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Smithsonian galleries, and Sasha Velour’s acclaimed NYC drag revue, NightGowns. Their drag is a call to mindfulness, black surrealism, and heritage-based movements that dare to create images of self-liberation.⁠ ⁠ King Molasses is 1 of 10 drag kings competing in the inaugural season of King of Drag, a new competition TV show highlighting some of the world’s best drag king performers!⁠

King Molasses (they/them) is an award-winning drag king and performing artist based in Washington, DC. They consecutively reigned as DC’s Best Drag King from 2022 through 2025 and were voted Best Gender Non-Conforming Artist 2024-2025 by the DC Drag Awards. They have been featured on Bravo TV, The Washington Post, Good Morning America, and NPR. A DMV native, Molasses debuted in 2018 and has since become a fixture in the district’s performing arts scene. Their work has been commissioned in venues nationwide, including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Smithsonian galleries, and Sasha Velour’s acclaimed NYC drag revue, NightGowns. Their drag is a call to mindfulness, black surrealism, and heritage-based movements that dare to create images of self-liberation.⁠ ⁠ King Molasses is 1 of 10 drag kings competing in the inaugural season of King of Drag, a new competition TV show highlighting some of the world’s best drag king performers!⁠