Please feel welcome to attend the reception for Living, Not Just Surviving: Cass Marie Domino, an exhibition presented by the Wisconsin Union Directorate Art Committee celebrating Cass Downing, aka Cass Marie Domino, legendary drag artist, AIDS activist and trans woman who has been a critical member of the Madison’s LGBTQ+ and drag communities since the 1980s. This exhibition will be open to the community during building business hours in the Main Gallery at Memorial Union from June 2nd through September 12th, 2025.
Born and raised in Madison, Cass is a renowned entertainer who’s been gracing stages, pride festivals, club shows, drag competitions, TV, and radio spots for over 35 years. Tracing the exceptional decades-long career, activism, and ongoing legacy of Cass Downing, this exhibition tells the story of her own personal journey while at the same time offering a portrait of the LGBTQ+ community in Madison.
Gowns, sashes, tiaras, archival images, and photojournalism will tell the story of Downing’s life and ongoing legacy. A wall of sashes and tiaras will showcase her drag accolades from her first title, Miss Gay Madison, in 1993, through her recent titles. Her Red Ribbon Dress marks her ongoing philanthropy for HIV/AIDS causes and her coming out publicly as HIV+. Accessories and ephemera will document her journey in recovery and embracing her gender identity. Documentary photography of her wedding will show how glamour is not just central to Downing’s career as a performer, but also an important expression of her personal life and love. Children’s books, photography, and costumes will represent her contributions to Drag Queen Story Hour in Wisconsin. Finally, photography and accessories will document her ten-year commitment to mentoring young drag queens. This exhibition chronicles the ongoing legacy of Cass Downing, telling the story of her own personal journey while at the same time offering a portrait of the LGBTQ+ community in Madison as a whole. “Working on this exhibit gave my students and me a hands-on opportunity to prepare a curated selection of Cass’s beautiful and historic gowns for display, while also learning from Cass herself about the context for these gowns - the life and decades-long career that she’s built in the face of so many challenges,” explained Prof. Campbell. “This show began with a conversation about items Cass had that she was interested in donating to the Madison LGBTQ+ Archive, when we realized they could be the foundation of an exhibit,” remembers Dr. Seyforth. In this contemporary moment, we stop to honor our trans elders, and to share their stories with the next generation.
This exhibition is co-curated by the Madison LGBTQ+ Archive and UW’s Open House Learning Community seminar. Curators include Evelyn Geier, class of 2028, Cam Young, class of 2028, Prof. Anna Campbell, Gender Women’s Studies, and Dr. Scott Seyforth, co-founder of the Madison LGBTQ+ Archive.
