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Zhi Kai Vanderford
THE ART OF RESISTANCE
August 30, 2024 - October 06, 2024
about the exhibition
on view: august 30 - october 06
"The Art of Resistance" is an exhibit of curated artwork by artist Zhi Kai Vanderford. Zhi Kai Vanderford is a transgender artist, activist, writer, and elder. This exhibit curates the artwork he's created while incarcerated in the last 37 years.
The exhibit curates four different themes: identity & transformation, prisons & policing, police violence, and friends.
Identity & transformation focuses on Zhi Kai's own exploration of his identity as a transracial adoptee and trans man. By providing context to the political landscape of trans and adoptee identity, viewers are able to better understand the systems that have placed Zhi Kai to where he is.
Prisons & policing speaks to Zhi Kai's experience inside while police violence explores the brutality police enact outside. Zhi Kai grapples with the systems inside that dehumanize and the murders of Black people by the hands of police.
And lastly, the friends theme explores the dichotomy between the use of solitary confinement and the friendships Zhi Kai has built over the last decades while incarcerated. In one email exchange, a friend shared photos of some art that they saw, including a cubist piece displayed in the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes in Havana. Inspired by that artwork, Zhi Kai created a piece that showcased his care and love for his friends while incorporating that art style.
The pieces speak to his identity as a trans man, explore his emotions and frustrations with the prison system, and more. For the public, the stories and experiences of those incarcerated are often unheard and invisibilized – and this is by design. This exhibit is important in showing one story of one person unfairly incarcerated – a representative of many other people, unfairly funneled into the criminal justice system and caged away.
pervious events
Sunday, October 6th @11AM - 1PM
BOBALITION
Come grab a free boba drink and learn about Zhi Kai Vanderford, a trans elder, advocate, artist, and writer and his work at XIA Art Gallery. Hear his story, the impacts of incarceration on our Asian community, and spend time making art through a guided art session.
meet the artist
about
the exhibition
on view: august 30 - oct 06
"The Art of Resistance" is an exhibit of curated artwork by artist Zhi Kai Vanderford. Zhi Kai Vanderford is a transgender artist, activist, writer, and elder. This exhibit curates the artwork he's created while incarcerated in the last 37 years.
The exhibit curates four different themes: identity & transformation, prisons & policing, police violence, and friends.
Identity & transformation focuses on Zhi Kai's own exploration of his identity as a transracial adoptee and trans man. By providing context to the political landscape of trans and adoptee identity, viewers are able to better understand the systems that have placed Zhi Kai to where he is.
Prisons & policing speaks to Zhi Kai's experience inside while police violence explores the brutality police enact outside. Zhi Kai grapples with the systems inside that dehumanize and the murders of Black people by the hands of police.
And lastly, the friends theme explores the dichotomy between the use of solitary confinement and the friendships Zhi Kai has built over the last decades while incarcerated. In one email exchange, a friend shared photos of some art that they saw, including a cubist piece displayed in the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes in Havana. Inspired by that artwork, Zhi Kai created a piece that showcased his care and love for his friends while incorporating that art style.
The pieces speak to his identity as a trans man, explore his emotions and frustrations with the prison system, and more. For the public, the stories and experiences of those incarcerated are often unheard and invisibilized – and this is by design. This exhibit is important in showing one story of one person unfairly incarcerated – a representative of many other people, unfairly funneled into the criminal justice system and caged away.
Zhi Kai Vanderford
I have been incarcerated over 36 years because when I was 19 years old and pregnant I killed, at that time, the love of my life. Prison has been a time of remorse, growth & penance.
I'd like to share a little about my journey. Most people will tell you the pain lessens with time, but at least in my case, I can't say that is true. With each passing year, I mature and realize the immense gravity and permanency of my actions. Regardless of how emotionally rejected and dejected I felt when my crime happened, there was no reason for me to make a violent choice or to hurt anyone. I am sorry for all the pain I have caused to others. I have ultimately come to terms with the fact that I cannot undo my crime, and can only move forward with an intention of reparation and service toward others.
I have worked very hard on my own healing. When I committed my crime back in 1987, I didn't understand myself: my trans male sexuality, my experience as a transracial adoptee who had been given up by my birth mother, surviving a sexually abusive father, deep emotional suffering, and lack of healthy coping mechanisms. I was a teenager with a hard start in life. This does not excuse my actions, but it is an important context. I have spent the last three and a half decades trying to improve myself:
I've taken countless classes, earned multiple degrees, worked numerous prison jobs, and am one of the first people in the United States to earn a paralegal degree while incarcerated. My poetry and writing have been published in Poetry Unbound, Yellow Medicine Review, The Named and the Nameless, Daughters Magazine, MN Women’s Press, and Night Colors, as well as on the University of Arizona website. My art has been shown in multiple galleries and exhibits. Here is one of my recent art pieces:
My greatest joy has been the ability to tutor and help others achieve their educational goals. I have also been a staunch advocate for other trans people in prison, even though that has sometimes meant considerable risk and retaliation.
I have a sincere need to give back to the world around me. I want to be a bone marrow donor to help another person live; I want to speak to LGBTQ youth about their value & purpose. I am equipped to pay rent on the planet through contribution and that is my number one goal. I have been parole-eligible for over 18 years but every time I go before the board, they give me conflicting and confusing answers about why they won’t release me. My support network believes it is personal retaliation because of all my advocacy in prison. They tell me advocating less for others may improve my own chances, but that is not how I want to live my life.
I'm asking you to give me a second chance by signing your support for my release. I am a first and last time offender and freedom will not be wasted on me. I think about integrity every day.
Please support me by signing the petition at tinyurl.com/parolevanderford or click the icon below.
Thank you.