ARTISTS CREATE EXHIBITIONS
Artist can be very singular people. Necessarily so, to filter the world they see it. It’s in their job description and it’s a big reason why we the viewers love art; artists give us a view of the world we haven’t thought of, can’t imagine, or can’t articulate creatively.
So, what has made Empowerment Vs Exploitation exciting was bringing together those singular visions and diverse creativity of so many artists to tell a single story. Especially a story as important and relevant as this.
Thirty-nine artists make up this exhibition, each providing a unique perspective on the story. Today, we want to highlight four, to give a flavor of what you can expect to see and experience when you visit the exhibition.
Rosemary Meza-Desplas is an artist living in Farmington, New Mexico. At the heart of her work is the female experience within a patriarchal society. “As a woman,” she says, “daily navigation of our world is a precarious tightrope walk. The use of portraiture to discuss gender-based burdens personalizes the political.” Her work presented in Empowerment Vs Exploitation is Jane Marches #1, one of a series she has created around the act of marching—the simplest use of the physical body as a political force—with nude figures expressing vulnerability and defiance.
Lauren Kalita presents her work Feral Wom+n, Mothers & Daughters: Kim & Phoebe 10. She defines a “feral wom+n” as one who maintains her sense of self/selves in spite of, (or in defiance of) that which the cultural gatekeepers deem acceptable for women. Through this work she is interested in “Moments of access to the feral selves of wom+n in our community,” and how such freedom is passed from mothers to daughters and daughters to mothers.
Baltimore artist Joan Cox is represented by her work Night Hunger. Using narrative, historical art references, fantastical elements of costumes and autobiography, she depicts taboo intimacies between women. Acknowledging and emphasizing the female gaze, it helps to broaden the dialogue around the lack of a lesbian presence in the history of Western art. “I create paintings and images that I wish I could have seen growing up,” she says. “Realities that echo my own and let me know that I am not only valid but also not wicked or simply confused for being myself – a lesbian.”
Artist Charles Stigliano is a professor at Massachusetts College of Art & Design. His work in Empowerment Vs Exploitation is Galatea 1, a life-sized female puppet, carved in wood and ‘tattooed’ with sixty-five images taken from examples of historical works of art—dating from the 5th century BCE to the late 20th century—that depict or refer to violence against women. “Social codes, often backed by legislation, that require half the population to adhere to behavioral as well as visual standards imposed on them by the other half. There are many tools for enforcing these standards,” Charles says. “Violence is one of them.”
Artists create exhibitions. All the artists involved collectively epitomize the phrase “greater than the sum of its parts” and we are thrilled they are part of Empowerment Vs Exploitation. Throughout the run, we will showcase each of them as a part of our social media campaign and share access to their digital platforms so you can discover more about them and their incredible work.
The exhibition is now open – please join us for the exhibition and the exhibition’s audio tour.
HAPPENINGS
Sunday, February 27, at 3pm
“Back to the Garden,” A Joni Mitchell Tribute
With Dawna Hammers
Dawna Hammers
Join us for an amazing afternoon of music from the albums of Joni Mitchell, as performed by Dawna Hammers – a seasoned singer, songwriter, and recording artist in her own right. Dawna plays guitar, dulcimer, piano, and hand drums, and sings the songs you are sure to know just like Joni!
Check her web site: www.dawnahammers.com
$25