All My Ancestors are Transgender: How to Create a Chosen Family Archive
Ages 18 and up
October 7–28, 2026
6–8pm, Wednesdays
Image Credit: Kenny Shiloh Russell
Instructor
Kenny Shiloh Russell
Pricing
Tiered Pricing: $45, $120, $220, or $320 + $30 registration fee
Dates
7 - 28 October
This course explores how to create a physical archive that preserves Queer life. Topics include: the origins of archiving, how to protect and safely store archival material, and how to select materials. We will explore existing physical records, map out chosen family trees, and preserve personal materials. Participants will also learn how to preserve digital media and sounds. Learners will walk away with a starter archival kit they can continue to add to over time. The course will end with an optional brief presentation of each learner’s archives.
This course will be held in person at the Abrons Arts Center. All courses will gather on Friday October 30 for a culminating share out.
About Kenny Shiloh Russell
Kenny Shiloh Russell is an interdisciplinary artist and arts administrator living in Brooklyn, NY. They create art with preservation at the forefront of their mind, specifically through a Queer, Afro-Caribbean lens. They hold a BS in Textile Development from the Fashion Institute of Technology, and are currently part of a Black Lesbian Research Residency at the Lesbian Herstory Archives through August 2026. They work at NYFA in the Awards and Grants department where they oversee several programs, including the Queens Arts Fund, JGS Fellowship for Photography, and the Ryan Hudak LGBTQ+ Dramatic Writing Award.
About
All My Ancestors are Transgender is presented as part of Artist to Artist: a class series by Abrons Arts Center and The School of Making Thinking.