
Em Conquest of Conquest Studio. Grayce Howe Photos.
Green vines and twinkling lights lined the walls, a warm glow filling the room. The doorway welcomed visitors with fold-up tables displaying handmade crafts and goodies. There were sketches and earrings and crafts galore, all ready to become a present for somebody’s loved one.
On a recent Sunday afternoon, the advocacy group and resource hub TransHaven hosted its seasonal “Egg-Crackin’ Winter Art Mart,” a craft market with transgender artists vending their artwork and creations. The space at 952 State St. is also home to Spruce Coffee, which opened in mid-November and took over what was previously Gather East.
Trans Haven, which moved in and began paying rent in September, hosts everything from trans movie nights to meetups and clothing swaps. The group also hosts a “community closet,” dreamed up and operated by an entirely trans team, in the basement of the building.
For Spruce owners Katie Leavitt and AJ Perez, sharing the space and supporting the event fulfills the mission of being a “third place” that is safe and welcoming to all New Haveners.
“Our Egg-Crackin’ Art Markets are one of the many regular events we do, but they’re special because they allow people to buy from all trans creatives and for trans artists to meet each other,” said Kirill Staklo, program director at PeerPride (Trans Haven lives under the organization’s umbrella).
“Having a space where you can always find fellow trans people can be both mentally healing and very practically useful,” he added. “People can provide emotional and logistical support to each other during difficult times, regular times and joyful times.”

The art markets started several months ago, on Easter Sunday last year. At the time, Trans Haven leadership envisioned a space where trans people could gather “on holidays that people might otherwise spend with unsupportive families,” Staklo said. The space was still Gather East, which changed hands officially in October.
In the fall, the market returned with close to 20 vendor stations, and was an instant success. The winter market was a miniature version of that. Staklo said that PeerPride plans to keep the events going “every season and are excited to expand the size of the outdoor market in the spring.”
“Each of our art markets has and will continue to serve both as opportunities to support local artists and as opportunities to assist with urgently needed fundraising for Gaza,” Staklo added.
“I’m looking forward to having a physical space for Trans Haven,” said Ronan Hernsdorf-Smith of Certain Creations, who vended at the market. “Downstairs we have a community closet and it’s nice to have all of these resources in one place and give people the ability to access these resources on a regular basis.”
Hernsdorf-Smith isn’t alone. Em Conquest, a fellow artist at the event, said they are excited to have a brick-and-mortar space that supports and nurtures trans artists and creatives. After first vending in Willimantic in winter 2019, while they were still in college, Conquest has become a frequent presence at TransHaven events, and is grateful for the community. They now run Conquest Studio, from which their detailed and whimsical sketches take flight.
“I think it’s really a blessing, I don’t say that lightly,” Conquest said. “I think it’s really wonderful that Trans Haven has a physical space now, because now there’s a space where I can come to.”
Since they work from home, Conquest added, outside connection and community is sometimes hard to come by. Online spaces don't match the in-person interactions they sometimes miss. Spruce and Trans Haven together have helped bridge the lack of open community spaces for those who feel isolated.
“Art is connection,” they said. “When I make something that relates to me and then it relates to someone else that is so cool.”
“It always feels very fulfilling to come to any of the TransHaven events or the Spruce events, it makes me feel very at peace,” Conquest added.
This was true at the Winter Art Mart, where vendors spent time sharing their art with community members, and laughing and talking amongst themselves even when customers weren’t present.
“It’s such a wonderful space and community,” Hernsdorf-Smith said, “People are so excited to come in and see you and support you.”
On his table, there was an array of earrings and bracelets for sale, as well as soaps and candles in funky shapes and colors. Each item reflected a part of his personality, in art forms he looked forward to sharing with others.

For Hernsdorf-Smith, handmade items are always more meaningful, and unique; he was excited to provide his pieces as an option for someone's gift.
“I’d much rather have a handcrafted thing than something manufactured and produced from Target,” he said.
Hernsdorf-Smith added that the event—and Spruce’s collaboration with Trans Haven in general—was about not just art but also in-person connection, and providing a space for people who are looking for new friends, communities, and support.
“I feel like a lot of people right now feel isolated in their communities,” he said, “So going out and getting to see the people making creations for you is a really fulfilling thing.”
The Winter Art Mart made it clear that Spruce has not only centered creation and connection, but woven events and resources into its mission that support the broad community that calls New Haven home.
“We love collaborating with Trans Haven on sharing the space as their headquarters every month so that they can host a variety of events that are open exclusively to their community,” said Leavitt and Perez. “During those events, we close operations in order to give them full usage of the space.”
“To come here, and it is so welcoming and so cozy and the ambiance is so beautiful, it makes me really excited. This space adds something to my life that I didn’t know I was missing,” said Conquest.
Spruce Coffee is open 8 a.m. 10 p.m. daily, and always welcomes new guests. To learn more, visit their Instagram.