Living Gallery: Linda LaBeija

Adjusting My Crown

Linda LaBeija presents excerpts from Adjusting My Crown, her first studio project. The performance is set to combine interpretive movement with elements of house, spoken word, hip hop and R&B. Witness her exploration into the reality of black trans mortality as she confronts issues around race, sex, love and gender. May audiences leave changed, reignited, and uplifted after this rallying call. 

ABOUT LINDA LABEIJA

Linda LaBeija is a multidisciplinary artist, teacher and curator from the Boogie Down Bronx of New York. Her work explores the complexities of living as a transgender woman of color in today’s America. With origins in both Black America and the English/Spanish-speaking Caribbean, Linda’s transnational experience of living at the intersection of embodied, social, and national borders hones in on the critiques of hegemonic power. Born out of the Iconic House of LaBeija in the underground New York City Vogue Ballroom scene, Linda’s pursuit of spoken word infused musical sound has been featured in articles in both AFROPUNK and The Fader. She has been featured in magazines such as The New Yorker, Timeout New York, W Magazine and Coveteur Mag. She has helped open stages for StaceyAnn Chin, Me’shell Ndegeoecello, Big Freedia and Billy Porter. She has curated performances through The Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance, La Mama Experimental Theater, New York Live Arts and VICE. She can also be seen in the feature film “Pariah” directed by Dee Rees and in the FX series “Pose” produced by Ryan Murphy. Currently, her work can be found archived at the Brooklyn Museum in the “Nobody Promised You Tomorrow: Art 50 Years After Stonewall” Exhibit.

Through workshop facilitation and communal performances, Linda uses her autobiographical work to create greater social consciousness around transgender issues. In addition to her creative work, she works full time providing services to LGBT homeless youth at the Ali Forney Center as their first Arts Programming and Community Outreach Coordinator. She has long served her community for nearly a decade working with organizations such as the Hetrick-Martin Institute, The Possibility Project, El Puente Leadership Center, Safe Space, Safe Horizon and Voices Unbroken. She even helped organize AFROPUNK’s Trans Justice March of 2015. She has extensive experience working with runaway/homeless youth, injection drug users, young people who have been incarcerated and commercial sex and specializes in providing LGBT services. As a performing artist, musician, teacher and writer, Linda’s work intervenes with confidence, politicized anger, and grace into a symbolic and literal economy which would otherwise render her bound and gagged.

Photo courtesy of the artist.

 Living Gallery, a monthly program curated by Eva Yaa Asantewaa and produced in the Gibney Gallery, presents live performance of storytelling, monologues, spoken word, stand-up, or creative talks.

Each performance—free and open to the public—runs 30-45 minutes, usually scheduled within the hour before a dance concert presented in Gibney’s Theater. We welcome you to attend both events and enjoy a wide range of expressive artists.

ACCESSIBILITY

Gibney 280 Broadway is accessible via elevator from the main entrance at 53A Chambers Street.

We welcome the opportunity to make this event more accessible. Please refrain from wearing scented products, so that people with chemical sensitivities can join us. Please request ASL interpreting, audio description, or open captioning 30 days before the event or submit other requests by completing our Access Requests and Inquiries Form or calling 646.837.6809 (Voice only).