Thirty years after the Guerrilla Girls put on their masks and started conducting “weenie counts,” women are still at a disadvantage in the art world. But — as we were reminded by “Girls at Night on the Internet,” a recent show highlighting female net and digi-artists — women are establishing their own, parallel structures of artistic legitimacy and supporting each other now more than ever. Three upcoming all-female art shows demonstrate that women (and female-identifying) artists are connecting across disciplines and taking charge of their own depiction possibly now more than ever.
“Foursome”
Wednesday, Sept. 9 through Tuesday Sept. 15 at Gallery Sensei
Presented by Milk and Night, the feminist curatorial team that blew up a church in Greenpoint earlier this year, this exhibition features four young female artists (Leah Schrager, Marie Tomanova, Cindy Hinant and Victoria de Lesseps) who come from very different backgrounds. The show demonstrates that female-centric art is incredibly diverse and continues to evolve right along with women’s issues.
Shrager’s digital work takes Jezebel’s Photoshop of Horrors column to a whole new level and confronts issues of body image and impossible ideals in the process. The lush photographs taken by Marie Tomanova focus on women, often from the waist down, while work by Cindy Hinant ranges thematically from celebrity obsession to color-focused minimalism.
Speaking of celebrities, Victoria de Lesseps is the daughter of Real Housewives reality star and apparent Countess (which we truly didn’t know was a thing that exists anymore) LuAnn de Lesseps, which is, um, pretty weird. But whatever, we’ll take it. And actually, her paintings on display over at BravoTV.com (lol) are pretty awesome looking.
There are several interesting, related art-happenings going on throughout the exhibition including a collaboration between poet Monica McClure (who’s known for exploring the ways in which women are expected to speak about abortion) and Angelina Dreem, who’s done some pretty amazing and truly out-there video work. Opening reception is tonight from 6 pm to 9 pm.
Painting by Dana James
Friday, Sept. 18 through Sunday Oct. 4 at IDIO Gallery
This dynamic show at IDIO Gallery in Bushwick is jam-packed with stuff to see and do. From two-dimensional work to performances, panels, and concerts, there’s a ton to see.
Artists on view include Dot Vile who will contribute installation work, Juliet Martin who makes some mind-bending sculpture/installation, and Nico Mazzo, an artist known for her textual “fiber paintings,” among others.
The curators have organized a panel discussion on art and feminism (happening Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 7 pm) that includes guest speaker Kiran Gandhi, a drummer and singer who’s collaborated with MIA.
Work by Sally Edelstein
Thursday, Sept. 10 through Sunday, Oct. 11 at A.I.R. Gallery
This exhibition, organized by the Women’s Caucus for Art, is all about showcasing female artists making feminist art “with a contemporary spin.” While demands for gender equality are unfortunately something we’re very much used to hearing (ugh) these artists are taking the age-old fight to the current moment with works that acknowledge contemporary political and social issues. Just in case you thought equality had been realized, this show is a powerful reminder there’s a long way left to go.
Much like the two other shows in our lil’ list, this exhibition includes a variety of mediums: video, paintings, installation, photography, just to name a few. Julie Sinclair Eakin’s fiber sculpture Out of the Closet I is included. As a radical reconstruction and reimagining of the classic button-down shirt, the artist the reexamines some of the very basic social queues that indicate masculinity.
Christine Giancola street photographs of women and children and women alone in economically downtrodden areas and suburban non-place are fascinating depictions of the contemporary social position of average American women.