WPW: (R)evolution
September 20th- October 18th,
2013
Opening Reception: 6:30 pm- 9pm, September 20th,
2013
Principle Gallery
208 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(730)739-9326
"We find what we
search for—or, if we don't find it, we become it." – Jessamyn West
Politics and religion. History and humanity.
These are just a few of the dominant themes explored in much of Western art. The
female as subject of interest has proved to be a continuous favorite, only
recently investigated by women artists themselves.
While the feminine muse has historically been
captured by male artists—deeply informed by their own point of view—today, things
are changing. For example, concepts of female roles come in vastly different
forms. And while we can credit this to a changing cultural landscape, we cannot
overlook that this development is also due in part to a change in authorship.
Women are painting women. And for over forty years, they have helped redefine
the sphere of feminine influence.
This shift and its architects already live in
the art history books. History has shown us that paying attention to both sides
of an idea is a way of getting a more honest view of it. The limitless nuances
and variations, including the gender of the artist, are a way of more fully
familiarizing ourselves and our culture with the truths and constraints
associated with such substantial ideas as Myth, Narrative, Metaphor, Human
Existence, and in turn, Women.
Women Painting Women is a blog that was started
in 2009 by artists Alia El-Bermani, Diane Feissel and Sadie Jernigan Valeri, to
highlight underrepresented female artists working in the figurative tradition
with this theme. The blog took on new life in 2010, when the Robert Lange
Studio in Charleston, SC hosted a juried exhibition—appropriately titled,
"Women Painting Women." Over 50 female artists from the United States
and Europe partook in this show—proving that an appetite for this theme was
alive and well.
Out of this exhibit was formed a smaller group
of women, bound by an interest in working together. During a one-week residency
outside Charleston, 13 artists- Mia Bergeron, Alia El-Bermani, Linda Tracey
Brandon, Rachel Constantine, Diane Feissel, Catherine Prescott,
Cindy Procious, Shannon Runquist, Katherine Stone, Terry Moore Strickland,
Stefani Tewes, Alexandra Tyng, and Sadie Jernigan Valeri painted together,
taking on technical challenges as well as finding a space to voice their
concerns and hopes as women making art in the twenty first century. And though
they shared an interest in the overall theme, they were of different ages,
backgrounds and experiences.
The residency in Charleston was a formative one.
The women stayed in touch for two years when, in April 2012, Principle Gallery
in Alexandria, VA asked them to come together again, this time for a show
titled, "Women Painting Women: The Expedition and Beyond."
Due to the success of both these shows,
Principle Gallery will be hosting yet another exhibition of the group's work.
The goal of this show—as with the group's past
shows—is to expand the collective sense of what a woman is and means in the
realm of art. Each artist has been asked to invite one female artist to exhibit
alongside them, thus multiplying the power and vision of the group twofold.
Above all, though, the hope of the artists in
this exhibit is to show variety, and to
continue to build community and visibility for
women artists.
"Women Painting Women: (R)evolution"
opens on September 20th, 2013 and includes the following artists:
Mia Bergeron
Alia El-Bermani
Linda Tracey Brandon
Candice Bohannon
Rachel Constantine
Ellen Cooper
Ellen Eagle
Diane Feissel
Felicia Forte
Zoey Frank
Katherine Fraser
Lisa Gloria
Tara Juneau
Andrea Kemp
Stanka Kordic
Susan Lyon
Katie O’Hagan
Catherine Prescott
Cindy Procious
Shannon Runquist
Ilaria Rosselli del Turco
Kate Savage
Katherine Stone
Terry Moore Strickland
Stefani Tewes
Alexandra Tyng
Sadie Jernigan Valeri
Lea Colie Wight
As well as the following
artists from the gallery’s roster:
Jennifer
Balkan
Linda
Lee Nelson
Teresa
Oaxaca
Paula
Rubino
Please take a look at our “Call ToAction” which asks other venues to host concurrent WPW events and exhibitions
of their own in September and October of 2013.
Venues Currently Participating:
Venues Currently Participating:
Posts
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI was in the original WPW show in Charleston. Is there any way that I can participate in this show?
I want to be invited. Do any of you know my work? My most recent work is on my blog FIGURE. Here is the link:
ReplyDeletehttp://shanna-figure.blogspot.com/
I would love to be included as an artist! Is there a prospectus? http://www.kathleeneatonart.com
ReplyDeleteThis is NOT a call for Artists. This is a CALL TO ACTION! As much as we wish we could have one huge all inclusive exhibition- we are limited by the space of Principle Gallery. We hope you all will encourage your galleries, museums, art centers to host their own Women Painting Women event n September/ October of this year. If your venue agrees, we will be happy to place their name (and yours) on the blog and any potential press. Thanks and good luck.
ReplyDeleteSee this post: http://womenpaintingwomen.blogspot.com/2013/03/wpwrevolution-call.html?m=1
ReplyDelete