With support from the California Arts Council, Chrysalis Studio will conduct Queer Ancestors Project PRINTS!, a free 18-week series of printmaking and LGBTQ2S+ history workshops taking place in Fall 2023 at San Francisco’s SOMArts Cultural Center for 10 Queer and Transgender young artists age 18-26, who will create and disseminate prints exploring the roots of their own individual experience of Queerness. The workshop series will culminate in a Group Exhibition and Artist Panel at STRUT, a health center serving LGBTQ2S+ people in San Francisco’s Castro LGBTQ+ Cultural District. CAC funds will support project costs including project personnel, guest artists, project materials, and the culminating exhibition expenses.
Chrysalis Studio annually organizes 2 group exhibitions showcasing the work of 30 to 40 printmakers, conducts free Queer Ancestors Project (QAP) printmaking and writing workshops, offers 15+ printmaking workshops to the public, and holds an artist panel and a public reading showcasing the work of our QAP artists and writers. QAP promotes artistic exploration for historically excluded transitional-age youth (TAY) through printmaking and writing cohorts that foster creative community. These free programs for queer and trans youth combine arts with Queer and Trans history, to forge relationships between LGBTQ2S+ people and our ancestors.
QAP originated to address the lack of arts programs serving emerging LGBTQ2S+ transitional age artists and provides experiences that build community, artistic development, and personal resilience. QAP provides sustenance – workshops, training, space, equipment, critical feedback, and camaraderie – to young LGBTQ2S+ artists whose work is dedicated to social justice.
Our 2023-24 free in-person programming included 2 exhibitions presenting work created in our 20-week QAP PRINTS! and QAP RESISTS! Workshops, public receptions for both exhibitions, an artist panel carving space for LGBTQ2S+ intergenerational community building, a community printmaking party with free printing on t-shirts, and a public reading showcasing the literary work of participants from our 10-week QAP Kaleidoscope workshops in collaboration with Still Here San Francisco.

