"Living, Not Just Surviving" honors Cass Marie Domino

LISTEN to the Z104 interview with Cass Marie

The student-led Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) Art Committee will introduce an exhibition 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 2 through September 12, 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. 

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.

Learn more about the exhibition.

About the Wisconsin Union Directorate Art Committee

The Wisconsin Union Directorate Art Committee is dedicated to bringing novel and challenging exhibitions to the Wisconsin Union and advancing visual arts in the Madison community. This student-run committee strives to recontextualize standard approaches to the visual arts through collaborative and innovative exhibitions. 

Questions? Contact us.