Mixed State

Mixed State posits play as a protective, capacity building, anti-fascist praxis—particularly for trans and gender nonconforming folks navigating far-right backlash to trans existence. May our joy be our armour. ‍

From writer Shira Erlichman’s newsletter Freer Form in a post about play:

Authoritarianism can be defined as "the belief that people must obey completely & not be allowed freedom to act as they wish." (Dictionary)

Play is inherently anti-authoritarian.

Authoritarianism is "characterized by highly concentrated & centralized government power maintained by political repression & the exclusion of potential or supposed challengers by armed force. It uses political parties & mass organizations to mobilize people around the goals of the regime." (Wikipedia) Play requires expression, for the power dynamics of its actors to fluctuate. Its very means are mystery, bafflement & the uncertain.

Authoritarianism "favors & enforces strict obedience to authority, especially that of the government, at the expense of personal freedom. It shows a lack of concern for the wishes or opinions of others." Its synonyms include: domineering, dictatorial.

Play courts joy. Play disobeys. It wouldn't be play without some level of rebellion. Play moves toward knowing by not knowing. Play is somatic. Play is how the body laughs.

Two-Spirit, trans and gender nonconforming people embody and exemplify an expansive orientation to personal freedom and expression that is inherently anti-authoritarian, destabilizes binaries and challenges dominant power structures. Mixed State honours this brilliance and references play (during which both our sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems may be stimulated simultaneously) as a potential site for developing presence, resilience and creative agility while activated. This interactive installation is comprised of ‘bandoliers’ made of toys & relics-of-play encased in shrink rubber tubing, polaroid photos of project collaborators wearing the bandoliers, excerpts of Shira Erlichman’s writing and references to play and the nervous system. The bandoliers are designed to easily detach from the wall to be worn, snapped together in new configurations and generally played-with in/around the space.

Mixed State was created as part of the Out of Line trans artist group/residency wherein a collective of eight trans artists gathered in recurring sessions for 10 months in 2024/25 culminating in a group exhibition at the Khyber Center for the Arts (Halifax) in July 2025. Mixed State participating/featured artists: m black, Brody Weaver, Marley O’Brien, Lou Campbell, Kit Holden-Ada, Mo Glitch.