Interview with Margaux Ayn Schaffer - Part 3

Monika: Do the colors of the flag carry any specific symbolic meaning? 

Margaux: The colors pink and blue are universally idiomatic of the masculine/feminine dichotomy, while white and grey are neutral and transcendent. Aside from some variations representing bidirectional transitions between the two, the design is fairly universal and inevitable. Other than the fact that there is no formal specification of the flag, there has been a lot of ad hoc improvisation and folklore surrounding its use.

Monika: What’s your overall perspective on how transgender stories and characters are portrayed recently in films, newspapers, and books?

Margaux: Well, I often say that rising tides raise all ships, so I’d be remiss to ignore the obvious debates around identity politics and other issues that sometimes create divisions within our diverse communities. For the most part, though, we’ve come a long way.

Monika: How do you personally approach the ongoing conversation around transgender representation and visibility?

Margaux: I’m a big believer in education. “Stop the hate. Educate.” has been my creed for years. Unfortunately, with cable, satellite, and other media platforms, there’s an insatiable demand for infotainment. Yes, we now have “reality television,” which some might argue is neither real nor informative, but I believe in choice. There are many ways to change hearts and minds, it takes all shapes, sizes, races, ages, and socioeconomic perspectives to reach people and be the change we want to see in the world. There’s still a great deal of work to be done.

 

(Left) - Transgender Day of Remembrance at the Arizona State Capitol 2008
L to R Margaux Ayn Schaffer, Representative, Kyrsten Sinema, Rebecca Allison, M.
(Right) - Representing Arizona TDOR at PRIDE 2008.

 

Monika: As an artist, how do you define your creative approach and the essence of your art?

Margaux: Hopefully without boundaries. That’s really what art is about, pushing boundaries. By training, I’m a designer and art director, so I have a foundation in drawing, painting, typography, photography, and printmaking. I was also lucky enough to intern at Genigraphics Corporation, which gave me a head start in computer graphics. So, my roots have always been in both art and technology, which informs my work on several levels.

Monika: Do you believe there is such a thing as transgender art? How would you describe it?

Margaux: Yes! Themes aside, where there’s a transgender artist, there’s transgender art. Beyond mere authorship and visibility, art activism and culture jamming can tap directly into the zeitgeist and quickly affect social change. Street artists like Banksy, and what I did under the meme moniker in the ’90s and early 2000s, and currently under Vangaux, are continuations of that visual language.

Monika: How do you see the role of philanthropy and activism in your art? 

Margaux: Philanthropy is another area I feel strongly about. Art in service to activism can be purely message-based or a synergy between your brand and a specific issue, event, or one-off cause, such as auctions and mural projects. I’ve had a long history of donating my skills not just to trans causes, but to LGBTQ and broader social justice pursuits, whether through pro bono design or donating art. I try to elevate the aesthetic and make art my own form of charity and intellectual capital.

 

An article on Transgender Art in JAVA MAG.

 

Monika: During your transition, were there any transgender role models you looked up to or followed?

Margaux: Having grown up when I did, there were not as many role models as there are today, but the social isolation I experienced motivated me to reach out, find my own answers, and seek my own personal heroes. Women like Christine Jorgensen obviously come to mind. More personally, Canary Conn, Wendy Carlos, and Caroline Cossey were sources of validation and inspiration. 

Monika: Who are some transgender women you admire and respect today? 

Margaux: Now that’s a much larger list! For starters, I’d say Andrea James, Calpernia Addams, Laverne Cox, Becky Allison, Lynn Conway, Lana Wachowski, and once again, Caroline Cossey!

Monika: Looking back, what was the hardest part about coming out for you? 

Margaux: Time and place. Some people say coming out at a bad time or too late. I often tell people coming out isn’t as hard as not coming out. Social isolation and self-denial are a living death. It can be quite personal and quite ugly, given it’s a highly disruptive rite of passage.

Monika: How did that difficulty affect your relationships and daily life? 

Margaux: What is your own salvation turns out to be at odds with friends, family, employers, and not to mention every stranger you may come in contact with. I was humiliated at my place of employment when someone, my boss’s father, called me a creature in front of everybody. I had had enough; after that, I was not in the mood for anything except to rescue my dignity and clear out my office. That’s when I started being a self-employed contractor. Even when people are supportive, it’s usually fraught with misgendering at the least, or at worst, violence out in the world.

 

Exploring Meteor Crater, Flagstaff, Arizona, 2015.

Monika: The transgender community is often grouped within the broader LGBTQ umbrella. As the “T” in LGBTQ, do you feel the transgender community is able to effectively promote its own cause within this larger group?

Margaux: Transgender activism exists wherever a transgender person is standing. Sometimes it’s best to work within existing organizations, and sometimes it’s better to create your own. Activism can take many forms, ranging from a blog, webpage, or vigil to other one-off events, or even something larger in scope.

Monika: How important is collaboration with other LGBTQ organizations and allies in advancing transgender rights?

Margaux: It’s also about forming liaisons and constructively engaging with allies and adversaries. Sometimes you have to partner with others and create synergies with organizations like GLMA and HRC. We have many LGB friends who want to help us with transgender rights. They may not understand us completely, but most are willing to learn. Together, we can achieve goals that might be unreachable with transgender resources alone. 

Monika: Are you active in politics? Do you participate in lobbying campaigns? And do you believe transgender women can make a difference in the political arena?

Margaux: Politics is unavoidable, you can try to avoid it, but usually it doesn’t avoid you. People need to be politically aware, if not politically active, then at least aware enough to recognize existential threats when they appear. Some years ago, I caught a lot of flak for saying, “Transsexual is not a dirty word.” Taxonomies and vernacular aside, we are all at our best when we stand united.

Monika: In what ways can transgender people engage politically, especially if they can’t be on the front lines?

Margaux: There are several levels at which we can become engaged. Firstly, by keeping one another in the loop, having each other’s backs is essential amid shifting political challenges. Everyone has something uniquely valuable to contribute. We can’t all go to Washington or the U.N., but today, with the World Wide Web and social media, we can use our diverse talents and skill sets to think globally and act locally.

 

(Left) - Posing with my donated art at fundraising gala 2006.
(Right) Haters gonna hate: vandalism of my work at a 2015 art show.

 

Monika: Are you into fashion? What kinds of outfits do you usually wear? Do you have favorite designers, colors, or trends you like to follow?

Margaux: I guess I’m a Bebe and Chico’s girl, but I’ve also got a purse addiction, Brahmin, Chanel, Coach, Fendi, even Hello Kitty. I can’t help but treat some of this stuff as art objects (challenge shoes come to mind). Much of it I may wear once, on a special occasion, or just display, it’s functional art!

Monika: What are your thoughts on transgender beauty pageants?

Margaux: I’m for anything that glorifies women, regardless of cisgender or transgender labeling. 

Monika: Many transgender women write memoirs. Have you ever considered writing your own book?

Margaux: I’m a work in progress, but the idea has definitely crossed my mind. It’s on the list. I think it’s important to have varied narratives because not everybody has the same circumstances, so many people are often discouraged by stories that fall outside their own experiences and that they can’t identify with.

Monika: How important was it for you personally to connect with others’ experiences during your transition?

Margaux: For myself, being able to connect with the shared experiences of others was quite validating during a time of profound isolation. All too often, people feel discouraged when they can’t identify with others’ histories; yet if they could learn about someone else’s similar age, social, or career circumstances, they would feel less alone, like they were in it together.

 

John Albaza Fashion show at the Phoenix
Art Museum, V.I.P.(!)

 

Monika: How have transgender narratives evolved since you began your transition?

Margaux: When I was starting my transition, most transsexual narratives followed a formulaic approach that had become the industry standard. More recently, the phenomenon of self-publishing has led to greater diversity in sharing our histories, both online and in print. I’ve realized there are many transition stories that vary widely according to a person’s unique qualities, and I think I have quite a few experiences that make my life interesting. We’ll see…

Monika: How important has love been in your life, and what role does it play for you?

Margaux: Love conquers all. Without love in our lives, where would any of us be? People and animals all need love. I’ve dated over the years, and I’ve even broken off marriage proposals. One thing I’m proud of, more often than not, has been reconciliation and continuity in old relationships; life’s too short to burn bridges and darken your heart.

Monika: How does love show up for you beyond romantic relationships? 

Margaux: Love in all its forms manifests in many ways. For some, it’s about family. In my own case, I’ve remained close to my aunt (my mom’s twin sister) and my cousins, even though I don’t have the best relations with my father’s family. Biology is not destiny, so I sought to build my own extended family (you all know who you are). I’m in a good place now.

Monika: Are you currently working on any new creative or professional projects?

Margaux: Presently, I’ve been working on launching a t-shirt company and building my own brands. I’ve been doing large-format digital printing as my primary medium in environmental art. For some time, I went under a number of creative aliases, I’m the hacker/street artist formerly known as MEME, and my friends call me Vangaux with an X (lol). I’ve got several irons in the fire right now. Having built a large modular synthesizer, I’m working on a music project called CHAOS MESSIAH.

Monika: How do you see activism fitting into your ongoing work and creative endeavors?

Margaux: As for activism, I really don’t distinguish it that much because it’s ongoing. I’ve never looked at anything as having an end, it’s always been the journey as much as the destination. Whether it’s mentoring, public speaking, or working on a documentary, it’s all part of a continuum.

 

Art plus Margaux, Boyce Gallery.

 

Monika: What advice would you give to transgender girls who are struggling with gender dysphoria?

Margaux: I think what I would offer is that we’re all unique and deserving of the life we want to live, regardless of limitations others may wish to impose on us. The most important thing of all is to know your value and recognize that we can’t always choose our circumstances, but we can choose our support network. If you’re rejected by family, there’s a need to create an extended family of peers and allies.

Monika: My pen friend Gina Grahame once wrote to me that we should not limit our potential because of how we were born or by what we see other transsexual and transgender people doing. She said our dreams should not end on an operating table, that’s where they begin. Do you agree with this? 

Margaux: Agreed. We are all the architects of our own destiny. There’s so much more to our lives.

Monika: Margaux, thank you so much for this interview!

For more information about Margaux, follow her on Twitter.

All the photos: courtesy of Margaux Ayn Schaffer.

© 2017 - Monika Kowalska