Two works from the Muse series, “Whistler’s Mother (after Whistler)” and “Birth of Venus (after Botticelli)” are on view in the EnGENDERing Change exhibition at Cloyde Snook Gallery (Adams State University). The show is on view through Nov. 7, 2019.
We are thrilled that “Whistler’s Mother (after Whistler)” was chosen for Best in Show by the jurors. As a result, we look forward to working with Cloyde Snook Gallery on a solo exhibition of the Muse series tentatively scheduled for Spring 2021.
Jurors’ Statement:
When contacted to serve as jurors, we were deeply impressed by the range and thoughtfulness behind connecting the production of A Doll’s House, Part 2 directed by Dr. John Taylor, with mounting such an ambitious exhibit as joint ways of expanding the impact of issues raised by both on the community. The entries themselves were enormously impressive in the wide range of approach and, in many cases, the courage to explore this sensitive topic in so many creative ways. Well done!
We are the losers in not being able to be there to see the play, but have been so honored to have been asked to evaluate the visual art, and want to thank each of the artists who submitted their work for this effort. What a mind-bending idea it is to actually engender change about gender through visual art or, put another way, to create images that, in the few seconds an artist has our attention, help us confront the deep-seated, enGRAINED, prejudices and stereotypes about gender (and a lot else) we all carry, no matter how “liberated” we may think ourselves. The very atmosphere we breathe from inception on has been so manipulated by memes, marketing, entertainment, and societal “norms” about gender roles that we often don’t realize how deeply they shape our being even when we don’t want them to. We don’t think this exhibit will be sought out by the many who still don’t see the “problem,” but for the rest, the best pieces in this exhibit showed courage and inventiveness in finding ways of exposing those role stereotypes with the honesty, grace, cleverness, and even humor, that can help us face our prejudicial assumptions more objectively, without becoming defensive, and in that way, perhaps outsmart them.
- Alan L. Woods and Ann Alaia Woods, Columbus, OH
