The Exercises For Emerging Artists - Launched in March 2004, this peer critique and mentorship program is an intensive series of meetings at Transformer for selected participating artists to meet, discuss a new body of work, and have that body of work presented at Transformer. Spanning several months, artists work with Transformer’s advisory council and staff, invited guest curators, and other arts professionals to gain insightful feedback on the artistic process. The Exercises culminates in a group exhibition each summer. Past exhibitions include: E1: Contemplating Process, E2: Carving a Path, E3: Painters, E4: Station to Station, and E5: Rangefinder; these exhibitions have received tremendous community support and positive press reviews.

Flat File - Launched in spring 2007, Transformer's Flat File consists of works in a variety of two-dimensional mediums including photography, painting, drawing and printmaking approximately 16" x 20" in size and smaller. Currently featuring works by regionally, nationally and internationally based emerging artists, the program is open to both artists that have exhibited with Transformer in the past and those who are new to Transformer.

Works are available for viewing and purchase at Transformer's gallery space on an on-going basis, and may be included in art fairs and traveling exhibitions.

Artists who wish to submit their artwork and/or exhibition proposals are encouraged to email us at submissions@transformergallery.org with the following:

• an artist statement/short statement about the body of work you are presenting for review. If the proposal is for a site specific installation, describe in one or two paragraphs how you intend to utilize the project space;
• a resume and/or short bio;
• 5 - 10 jpeg images of your artwork/the work being proposed and/or a link to your online portfolio;
• any other relevant materials, such as press coverage.

The FRAMEWORK Panel Series - Launched in December 2002 this program seeks to develop critical arts dialogue while simultaneously growing the Washington arts audience. Click here for more information.

Temporal Projects

• Bartering in the Land of Abundance - From August 26-28, 2008, The Floating Lab Collective set up a series of objects within Transformer’s project space, encouraging visitors to take an object in exchange for an object they leave behind. To document and archive the exchanges, a Floating Lab Collective artist on site made quick drawings of each item and recorded its known history. Floating Lab Collective said: “The purpose of bartering in this instance is to subvert both its semantic value and the traditional context of the art object as mercantile in nature. This project places the object in a social interstice, basically removed from the law of profit by emphasizing the sociability of the object in the context of bartering.” Read what The Washington Post had to say about the project.
• From August 8-26, 2008, John James Anderson's video work Moment of Zen: Meeting Buddha in the Road was featured in Transformer's storefront window. "In the video the protagonist focuses on his concept of nothingness – television static – and believes himself enlightened" says Anderson, " -- before realizing that the television and his concept is nothing more than a false Buddha." For more information about John James Anderson and to purchase DVDs of Moment of Zen: Meeting Buddha in the Road, please contact the artist directly at: johnjamesanderson@gmail.com
• On Saturday, August 11 2007, Transformer presented a one-night-only performance by Sharon Cheslow and James Schneider. Cheslow and Schneider (aka Matterlink), who both emerged from DC's 1980's punk scene, fused their improvised sound and image work to create a "sonic image" performance. Appropriately, as they foud themselves in their native town at the same time, they confronted themes of "home" and "homeland."

Public Art Projects

• From September 7, 2007 to September 29, Transformer presented the chance video dances series of public art-projections, directed by Jane Jerardi, performed by Brian Buck, Jane Jerardi and Ginger Wagg and with videography by Fernando Ortega and Michael Wichita. Click here for the full press release in PDF format, and visit chancedance.org for more information. Also check out the Washington Post Express write-up.
  
  
  
• The Grate Project

  Seeking to create large scale paintings that will exist in the public realm, from September 15 through September 30, 2007 Kelly Towles created murals that completely covered the roll-down security grates at One World Fitness, outside the artist studios at 926 N Street in Blagden Alley, and at the Black Cat nightclub. Re-vitalizing these grates into dynamic contemporary artworks, The Grate Project is intended to further dialogue about the nature of street art and public art work, while enhancing DC's street-scapes.

  For a press release featuring further information on The Grate Project, as well as artist bio information, please click here.

  Read what Washington City Paper had to say about The Grate Project by clicking here.

  The Grate Project was made possible through the support of the Creative Communities Fund - The Community Foundation of the National Capital Region, Transformer, One World Fitness, The Black Cat, and Furioso Development Corporation. Special thanks to Giorgio Furioso, Dante Ferrando, and Karim Steward for making The Grate Project possible.

Collaborations

• Pictures Reframed - On Friday, November 7, 2009, Transformer partnered with the Washington Performing Arts Society to present a question-and-answer session with Leif Ove Andsnes, the pianist whose performance combined with Robin Rhode's illustrations to create the multi-sensory Pictures Reframed. Moderated by Ryan Hill.