蜜桃传媒

Stage performance, public programming, and generative workshops round out semester-long partnership with the Philadelphia -based artist and performer.

Several 蜜桃传媒 Centers of Excellence and departments have embarked on a semester-long collaboration with , a performance and visual artist based in Philadelphia.   

As part of a course, students will reinterpret and recreate one of Jarboe鈥檚 exhibitions, a deeply personal and interactive experience called The Rose Garden Green Room. The exhibition will run from October 23 to December 4, 2025 in the College鈥檚 Kohl Gallery.   

The Green Room was one part of an exhibit created by Jarboe called The Rose Garden, which illuminated Jarboe's gender journey鈥攖he artist identifies as genderqueer, uses she/her pronouns, and alternates referring to herself as John or Rose. The names were picked by her mother for twins, but one embryo was reabsorbed during early stages of the pregnancy, a not uncommon occurrence that nonetheless captured Jarboe鈥檚 imagination. 

The exhibit was originally conceived and created by Jarboe in collaboration with The Fabric Workshop and Museum, Philadelphia, and then exhibited in D.C. by Cultural D.C. Both an art piece and a gathering space for all, the exhibit includes sculpture and audiovisual elements familiar in art galleries while also maintaining an aura of familiarity, evoking hints of nostalgia and warmth, nourishing those in it and challenging them to deepen their understanding of gender. Participants can explore queer identity in a library nook, stop by the letter writing station to pen a note to their gender, explore Jarboe鈥檚 videos throughout, have a snack, and even play dress up in the closet.   

The collaboration with Jarboe grew out of a conversation initiated by Kohl Gallery Director Rob Blackson shortly after his arrival to Washington in 2024. He learned of Jarboe's prior work with the College鈥攊ncluding the 2013 performance "A Civil War Cabaret" commissioned by the Starr Center for the American Experience鈥攁nd how several departments were eager to work with the artist again. 

"Connecting Washington students to the professional artist John Jarboe has proven to be an exemplary model of experiential learning," noted Blackson. "The class I have co-taught with Jarboe directly in Kohl Gallery has creatively and academically inspired the students to reach beyond the gallery and connect their interests to communities both in and outside the College."   

The exhibition will be complemented by a series of free public programs, including a performance by Jarboe鈥檚 cabaret group, The Bearded Ladies, a generative letter writing workshop, and a hands-on quilting workshop that explores personal expression.  

鈥淥ur students thrive on collaboration between academic disciplines and Jarboe's work at the College this fall connecting our students to the theater, psychology, and art and art history departments, as well as The Rose O'Neill Literary House and the Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience, is testament to the range of unique ways our academic environment encourages self-discovery and interdisciplinarity,鈥� Provost Kiho Kim said.  

In addition to the many collaborators throughout the College, the exhibition and programs have also garnered external support from The Hedgelawn Foundation and the Kent Cultural Alliance.   

Students in the class taught by Jarboe and Blackson hope those who come to view the exhibit will feel the show鈥檚 welcoming nature.   

鈥�The Rose Garden Green Room isn't just an interactive art exhibit; it is a raw, honest, and beautiful story of self-expression and discovery,鈥� said student Avah Christianson. 鈥淭he message John's exhibit has been designed to radiate is 'all are welcome.' This space is welcoming and comforting to all even those who don鈥檛 quite understand gender queerness or have never thought about it. It's a safe place in this world for a nice breath of fresh air.鈥�   

Events and exhibits centered around Jarboe鈥檚 work that are open to the public this semester include:   

The Rose Garden Green Room Exhibition   

October 23 to December 4, 2025 | Kohl Gallery 

An Exhibition Opening will take place on Thursday, October 23 from 5 - 6:30 p.m. in 蜜桃传媒鈥檚 Kohl Gallery, located in the Gibson Center for the Arts. Jarboe will be in attendance. The exhibition will run from October 23 鈥� December 4, 2025. The gallery is fully accessible and open to the public Tuesday 鈥� Saturday from 2 p.m. 鈥� 5 p.m., Wednesdays from 2 p.m. 鈥� 6 p.m. and by appointment. For more information, visit www.washcoll.edu/arts/kohl-gallery/index.php.

That鈥檚 Sew You!  

October 30, 4 p.m. | Larrabee Arts Center 

This hands-on workshop will be led by Emerald Andrews, an avid quilter and assistant professor of math at 蜜桃传媒. Andrews will guide participants to understand how gender identity relates to personal expression while learning basic methods of transforming clothing using bleach, fabric paint, and patches. Crafting supplies will be provided. Attendees are encouraged to bring clothing from their wardrobe to transform. There will also be an opportunity to contribute photographs of their creations to a shared photo album in the exhibition. Space is limited, so sign-ups are required: . The workshop will take place in the Larrabee Arts Center located at 100 Gibson Ave on 蜜桃传媒's campus on Thursday, October 30, from 4 to 6 p.m.  

鈥淒ear Gender鈥� Generative Letter Writing Workshop  

November 6, 4 p.m. | Rose O鈥橬eill Literary House 

Performance and visual artist John Jarboe will offer an interactive workshop on engaging creatively with your gender. The event takes place at the Rose O鈥橬eill Literary House on 蜜桃传媒鈥檚 campus on Thursday, November 6 from 4 to 5 p.m and is open to the public. Jarboe will share exercises used to create her exhibition The Rose Garden and performance Rose: You Are Who You Eat. Participants will explore how to use performance, fantasy, and creative practice to see themselves and others more clearly, and how to embrace the complexity of their 鈥済enderful鈥� existence. More information on the event is available on 蜜桃传媒鈥檚 event calendar.  

Rose: You Are Who You Eat 

Created by The Bearded Ladies Cabaret 

November 7 & 8, 7:30 p.m | Tawes Theatre 

In a special guest performance, Philadelphia鈥檚 acclaimed Bearded Ladies Cabaret brings Rose: You Are Who You Eat to 蜜桃传媒. A genre-defying cabaret blending drag, live music, storytelling, and political satire, Rose follows the journey of a trans woman navigating identity, visibility, and resilience. Both hilarious and heartfelt, this performance confronts gender norms while celebrating radical joy. Tickets and info available on the .  

Baking The Poison Cookie  

December 4, 11:30 a.m. | Kohl Gallery 

Serving in her role as Artistic Director of The Bearded Ladies, Jarboe will lead a workshop exploring queer performance from the rich history of the cabaret, exploring the birth of the form in 1880s Paris, through Dada, Weimar Germany, the clubs of Harlem, and more. Jarboe will lead students and the public through various ways in which the form of cabaret has transformed as it negotiates moments of socio-political crisis. Be prepared for singing, group listening, and dreaming forward creative tactics for the future. This event will take place in the Kohl Gallery on 蜜桃传媒鈥檚 campus on Thursday, December 4, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more information, visit https://www.washcoll.edu/arts/kohl-gallery/index.php.

 

  - Dominique Ellis Falcon