Scholar & Artist Residency

Partnership with Carter-Johnson Leather Library & Collection

Honoring Our History. Inspiring Our Future

In partnership with the Carter Johnson Leather Library and Collection (CJLLC), we are excited to share our Scholar & Artist in Residence Program—a groundbreaking initiative designed to preserve, explore, and expand the narratives of leather and kink folx.

This program provides a unique opportunity for scholars, researchers, and artists to immerse themselves in one of the world’s most significant leather archives. Engaging with both Mama Vi and Dr. Toni Solenne, Women of Drummer scholars and artists create transformative works that honor the past while shaping the future of our culture. Whether you are an academic exploring the deep roots of leatherwomen’s history, an artist capturing the raw beauty of our community, or a storyteller amplifying the voices that deserve to be heard, this residency is designed to support, challenge, and inspire.

By blending historical research, artistic expression, and community storytelling, the WOD & CJLLC residency aims to keep our stories alive, our experiences validated, and our creativity limitless. Are you ready to leave your mark on leather history?

Meet Your Mentors

Dr. Toni Solenne

WOD Executive Producer & Senior Scholar-in-Residence

Dr. Toni has 40 years experience mentoring graduate and undergraduate students while writing dissertations, theses, journal articles, and a wide range of popular publications.

Her research areas include transformational educational processes, sexual identity, leatherwomen's history, and social theory. When asked what is her favorite kink, she will tell you "personal empowerment".

Mama Vi Johnson

CJLLC Director & Senior Griot

Mama Vi has collected kink, leather, and fetish community artifacts, books, and stories for over 50 years. Her collection has evolved from a few boxes in a closet to multiple buildings and over 12 CJLLC library annexes around the world.

Mama Vi proudly shares that she is a sapiosexual (among many other things) and watching scholars and artists become inspired during their visits to the library and research is a turn-on!

Publications

Johnson, V.M. (1996). Dhampir: Child of the Blood

Johnson, V.M. (1999). To Love, to Obey, to Serve: Diary of an Old Guard Slave

Solenne, Toni. (2020). Women in Leather: Shaping Our Own Identity.

Solenne, Toni. (2020), Leather Journal: Stepping into Our Own Power.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Women of Drummer & Carter Johnson Leather Library Scholar & Artist in Residence Program is a one-year immersive residency designed for scholars and artists to explore the rich history, culture, and creative inspiration found within the Carter Johnson Leather Library and Collection (CJLLC). This unique residency provides unparalleled access to primary source materials, mentorship from leather community leaders, and the opportunity to contribute meaningful research and creative works to the broader academic and artistic landscape.

Residency Structure

Exclusive Library Access – Residents receive priority scheduling to visit the Carter Johnson Leather Library in Indiana, with dedicated time for research and engagement with Vi Johnson and Toni Solenne, esteemed custodians of leather history. Scholars and artists will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in rare archives, artifacts, and oral histories, drawing from the vast resources of the CJLLC.
Orientation Week (January) – The program begins with a 4- to 7-day orientation, led by Dr. Toni Solenne and held at the Carter Johnson Leather Library. During this time, residents will tour the archives, meet key figures in the leather community, hear many stories from Mama Vi and begin shaping their projects based on personal interests and available materials.
Scholar Track – Scholars will conduct academic research using the primary sources housed in the library, as well as engaging with community members from the leather community. Research topics may be as varied as historiography, leather history, kink studies, or feminist and LGBTQ+ perspectives within the leather community.
Artist Track – Artists in residence will draw inspiration from the library’s collection, cultural narratives, and lived experiences within the community to produce a significant creative work by the end of the year. Mediums may include, but are not limited to, visual art, performance, creative writing, film and/or interdisciplinary projects.
Final Project & Publication – By the end of the residency, scholars are expected to submit their final research for publication in an academic journal, ensuring that the knowledge gained is documented and shared. Both artists & scholars will complete a work inspired by their residency and cite CJLLC as a key influence.
Women of Drummer Panel (September, Maryland) – As part of their residency experience, participants are expected to share their work on a panel during the Women of Drummer event in Maryland, sharing their insights, research, and creative process with the wider community.

This residency is self-directed, self-funded, and deeply personalized, allowing each participant to explore their own unique interests while making use of CJLLC’s unparalleled resources and the expertise of the Women of Drummer community. Whether through academic scholarship or artistic creation, residents will contribute to the ongoing documentation, preservation, and expansion of leather women’s history and culture.

Meet our Women of Drummer Scholars & Artists