Art and Activism Database 2011
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Michigan Chapter
Ann Arbor Percent for Art
DOCUMENTATION:
AnnArbor.com Opinion article - http://annarbor.com/news/ann-arbors-percent-for-art-program-its-good-but-it-needs-work/# "Backers of Ann Arbor's Percent for Art program must remain vocal in supporting it"
The Ann Arbor Chronicle "Art Commission Debates Advocacy Role" http://annarborchronicle.com/2011/12/04/art-commission-debates-advocacy-role/
Email Call for Action: http://annarborchronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Parker27Nov2011email.pdf
Ann Arbor Percent for Art Fact Sheet http://annarborchronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/AAPAC-Percent-for-Art-Fact-Sheet-BULLET-POINTS.pdf
CONTACT PERSON: Margaret Parker
PARTICIPATION:
Any number on how many responses would only reflect those who told me about their response, whereas many more responded because Council members told me about their letters afterwards. I sent out several emails to my personal art list of 243 people. I heard from about 15 who said they'd written or spoken personally(most effective) to Council members. 9 people showed up to speak at the City Council meeting. These had to contacted one by one personally, and emailed to remind them to sign up at 8am on the morning of the meeting. Several strangers also spoke support of public art funding, though they were lest tuned in to the measure up for a vote. Only 1 person spoke against the Percent for Art funding method. The important thing to remember here is that many people might let off steam with negative comments online, but these don't actually translate into negative actions. At least in this case they didn't.
Brenda also sent my message out on the Feminist Art Michigan list serve, she'll have to tell you how many are on that list. But that did prove to add to the responses. One significant member lived right next door to a Council person who had been a long time supporter but had voted in the first round to cut the program in half. This member talked to him and he came out very strongly for keeping the funding in tact!
So in local communities where people know each other on a face to face basis, changes for the benefit of art can be made! And maybe that's the best place to start.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Minnesota Chapter
Women and Water Rights: Rivers of Regeneration
DATES: February 23 TO March 25, 2010
LOCATION: DOCUMENTATION: Katherine E. Nash Gallery, Regis Center for Art, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
DOCUMENTATION:
Woman and Water Rights 2010 website: http://womenandwater.net
On Women's Caucus of Art website: http://www.nationalwca.org/aboutwca/activism.php
UN ISSUES: WWR calls attention to the United Nation’s International Decade for Action, the Water for Life! agenda, and the UN Millennium Development Goals, the achievement of which hinge on integrated management of water resources. A target of the MDG’s is to halve by 2015 those peoples without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.
COMPONENTS: Women and Water Rights Exhibition, Symposium: Global Policy-Local Action, Water Dance: A celebration of water through poetry, visual art, music and dance
PRESS:
Ms Magazine http://womenandwater.net/2010/04/ms-magazine
The Star Tribune: http://womenandwater.net/2010/03/star-tribune
Women's Press: http://womenandwater.net/2010/03/womens-press
Minnesota Alumni. org: http://womenandwater.net/2010/03/making-waves
PHOTOS: http://womenandwater.net/gallery
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: Lucy Lippard, Dr. Vandana Shiva, Gemma Bulos, Sandy Spieler http://womenandwater.net/category/lucy-r-lippard-dr-vandana-shiva
CONTACT PERSONS: Liz Dodson, lizartist (at)me.com
TEXT FROM FLYER: The Women and Water Rights: Concerning Water is an exhibition addressing the precarious state of the world’s fresh water supply and the global need for women’s voices in water management. Through this art exhibition and related programs, WWR underscores the message that clean water and access is a universal human right. The show was first exhibited at the Nash Gallery on the University of Minnesota Campus in 2010. It has since travelled to two other galleries, one in Rochester, MN and the other in Upper Michigan, in an effort to gain new exposure and continue the conversation. The work in this show, Concerning Water looks at local and regional water issues and brings in new artists in addition to some of the original works. The Phipps Center for the Arts is located in Hudson, Wisconsin and the show runs June 15-July 22 2012.
UPDATE: Since the early days of planning for the Women and Water Rights, WWR Exhibition there was always in the planner’s minds the idea that the exhibition would not end after the one 2010 WWR Nash Exhibition. Extending the life of the WWR Art Exhibition and bringing it’s message to new audiences, is still our primary objective. The MN Women’s Caucus for Art, MN Branch Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, WILPF, and the Department of Art, University of MN, Twin Cities hope that through the approach of using the WWR website as a hub, that other WCA Chapters, other WILPF Branches and other groups may continue to play a leadership role in this effort to travel the exhibition by their becoming hosts in their home cities.
The hub, womenandwater.net, is where the filmed programming, artworks, project mission information, great speeches by Lucy Lippard, juror, art critic, and Vandana Shiva, environmental activist and contact consultant information are available.
Last fall an exhibition titled Water Matters in Rochester MN, had invited all of the WWR artists (26 accepted, and many agreed to pay their own shipping costs) to be part of an eco-art exhibition. In mid-November 2010, this exhibition and related program events opened at a new Watershed Center building with a preliminary dedication at the exhibition opening. Both WCA and WILPF members of the WWR core committee had met with the Water Matters planners, were consultants, and Liz Dodson and Marilyn Cuneo were opening speakers, and helped spread the message about this project that had made use of the WWR website materials.
Most recently, in March 2011, another call came from Roselye Ultan, Curator of the Living Green Art Exhibition, Senior Faculty UN of MN MLS, to the artists of the Women and Water Rights Exhibition inviting them to participate in the May 6-8th, 2011 Art as Gateway for Community Engagement: Sustaining Nature and Culture that will take place at the MN State Fair Grounds/FINE ARTS BUILDING, St. Paul, MN. This will be the 10th anniversary of the LG Expo/Art Exhibition -- the Living Green Expo is under the umbrella of MN Environmental Partners and the grand opening event is scheduled for Friday evening, May 6th, 2011.
Coming up later this year is the eco-art WWR Exhibition at Finlandia University, Hancock, MI, that opens Oct. 27-Nov. 23, 2011, and then next year at Phipps Center for the Arts, 2012- Women and Water Rights exhibition, Hudson, WI. Among locations that had previously expressed interest in hosting and now are in various stages of planning are Chicago, Dayton, Ohio, Los Angeles, and Mexico City. A Traveling Exhibition 2010-2015 will extend the life of the project by moving to venues nationally and internationally that have pledged their interest. So we are now reaching out to all other WCA chapters, WILPF branches and any other interested groups to join and use their local artists or WWR artists and items on the website to advance their local and global water issues and become a part of this exciting project.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
New Hampshire Chapter
Dig-It
Our NH chapter just put together a small exhibition called Dig-It! The central theme for this eco-art exhibition was organic and locally grown food. Imagery considered: local farms, farmers markets, home vegetable gardens, harvest/harvesting, community gardens, vegetable stands, pick-your-own, food preservation, food imagery, etc.. Exploring political, social and cultural themes centered around organic/local food was also encouraged.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Peninsula (California) Chapter
Man as Object - Reversing the Gaze
CALL FOR ART: The goal of this exhibition Man as Object - Reversing the Gaze is to turn the tables and to exhibit works that put the male in the position of art subject and spectacle. What does it mean to objectify men? What does it mean to reverse the (male) gaze? What are the visible signs of maleness and masculinity? How are feminist artists challenging societal views regarding men and masculinity? The exhibition will examine the visibility of men and masculinity from female/feminist/transgender perspectives. In so doing it necessarily problematizes notions of 'men,' 'male,' 'masculinity,' 'women' and 'female' while exploring new possibilities for the gaze. This is an inclusive show, and we welcome women and transgender artists to challenge what it means for 'women' to look at 'men.' Not only will the male figure be taking on the historically 'female' or passive role as object of the gaze, but the surveyor is now positioned as active and critical of traditional gender roles, thus creating a truly feminist stance. The male body and its gender expression become spectacle for a woman's viewing and contemplation. Surveying the ways men are represented in contemporary art by women, this exhibition will open new dialogues regarding the myriad of ways how women view men in today's culture and society. This exhibition will explore women's responses to a male dominated world in a different way than an exhibition of women's images of themselves. It will mark an important development in Feminist Art, which has long concentrated on images of women meant to challenge stereotypical notions of womanhood. A gallery filled with works depicting men, created by women, actively resists the prevalence of the male gaze in art as well as the continued domination of male artists exhibiting in galleries and museums.
ELIGIBILITY Open to all US women artists.
SUBMISSIONS Artists may submit up to three works.
ENTRY FEES No entry fees for this exhibition. Due to the curatorial award granted the WCA committee for this exhibition, SOMArts has restricted solicitation of entry fees from artists. However, to continue providing exhibition opportunities for women artists, we encourage you to please send a donation of any amount to WCA for exhibition purposes. Please make a check payable to: WCA and reference Reverse the Gaze and mail to: WCA, PO BOX 1498, NY, NY 10013. We greatly appreciate your support and help in making these events possible!
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION Must complete submission by May 20, 2011 at 11:59 PM PST. QUESTIONS? Email: karengutfreund(at)yahoo.com
GALLERY AND DATES OF EXHIBITION SOMArts Cultural Center 934 Brannan Street San Francisco, CA November 4 - 26, 2011
ABOUT THE JUROR Tanya Augsburg is a feminist interdisciplinary performance scholar who specializes in contemporary art and performance. Dr. Augsburg has been teaching at San Francisco State University since 2007, where she is Assistant Professor of Liberal Studies in the areas of the Creative Arts and Humanities. She is curator of Joanna Frueh: A Retrospective, which was held at the Sheppard Fine Arts Gallery, University of Nevada, Reno, in 2005, and editor of the accompanying exhibition catalog of the same title (2005). She is author of Becoming Interdisciplinary: An Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies,2nd Ed. (Kendall/Hunt, 2006) and co-editor of The Politics of Interdisciplinary Studies (McFarland, 2009). Other publications have appeared in The Drama Review: The Journal of Performance Studies;Text and Performance Quarterly; Issues in Integrative Studies; n.paradoxa: International Feminist Art Journal; and Critical Matrix: The Princeton Journal of Women, Gender and Culture. Her most recent research examines feminist art and collaborative art practices. ABOUT WCA WCA is unique in its multi-disciplinary, multi cultural memberships of artists; art historians, students and educators, gallery and museum professionals, and others involved in the visual arts. WCA has focused attention on the enormous contributions of women and people of color throughout the history of art. WCA has affiliates in over 40 states. To join WCA, visit www.nationalwca.org.
GALLERY WEBSITE: http://www.somarts.org/manasobject-opens/
EXHIBITIONS WEBSITE: http://manasobject.weebly.com
PRESS: MS. Magazine http://msmagazine.com/blog/2011/10/28/man-as-object-reversing-the-gaze/, SF Weekly Blog http://blogs.sfweekly.com/exhibitionist/2011/11/man_as_object_objectify.php
YOU TUBE VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f98DHxOnfWI
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Philadelphia Chapter
Little Dresses for AfricaDESCRIPTION: making dresses at Ellen Bonett's house at Phila WCA Holiday Party, December 11, 2011
WEBSITE: Little Dresses for Africa http://www.littledressesforafrica.org/blog/, Philadelphia Chapter Blog http://phila-wca.blogspot.com/2011/11/holiday-party-little-dresses-for-africa.html
Ragdoll Project
PROMOTION:
The Philadelphia Caucus announced the Ragdoll Project on their blog and posted a call for ragdoll donations:
http://phila-wca.blogspot.com/2011/08/call-for-art-rag-dolls.html
A ragdoll tutorial c/o Miss Gioia was offered to members on the blog to use as a pattern for their ragdolls:
http://missgioia.com/2007/06/rag-doll-tutorial.html
The Philadelphia Caucus created a Human Trafficking Awareness Group page on Facebook and invited members and friends of members interested in following the project to join the group. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1561823227#!/groups/wcahumantrafficking/ Members of the group use this page to track project updates, share photos of art work related to the project, share news articles and information on human trafficking, and to announce events.
COLLABORATION: The Caucus has been approached by local organizations that wish to collaborate on the Ragdoll Project: CCE, Covenant House- a local organization that provides housing to the homeless, including women escaping prostitution, and heads the Philadelphia Anti-Trafficking Coalition, Spiral Q Theatre Company
EVENTS: In July, member Megan Driscoll hosted a movie night at her home that was attended by 5 members and 3 guests. The group watched Born into Brothels http://kids-with-cameras.org/bornintobrothels/film.php an Oscar Award winning documentary on children who live in Calcutta's red light disctrict where their mothers work in brothels. The movie was followed by a discussion. The Philadelphia Caucus hosted 2 dollmaking workshops at Moore College of Art and Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in August in preparation for the September Fringe Festival performance protest. Members invited their friends to the workshop through Facebook and flyers posted at PAFA. 7 members and guests attended the PAFA workshop and 15 members and guests attended the Moore workshop.
The Philadelphia Caucus' first performance protest for the Ragdoll Project took place on September 2 at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival's First Friday on the busy sidewalk at 2nd and Market Streets. Members assembled a pile of dolls, hand made by members and supporters of the project, and presented them to the public along with flyers and educational materials on human trafficking. The Caucus created a handout that explained the project, basic facts about the issue and ways to help end trafficking. The Salvation Army, the US Department of Health, and the A21 Campaign donated flyers, stickers, and posters that members also handed out. Members spoke with hundreds of passersby and held lively discussions about trafficking and prostitution. Many people were surprised by what they learned and were not aware of the severity of the issue. Members also asked people to sign a petition letter written to the Editors of the Philadelphia Weekly and the City Paper requesting that they stop advertising prostitution in their publications. 68 signatures were collected that night and the Caucus will continue to collect signatures at future workshops and performance protests to attach to the letter.
From September 3 through September ?? the ragdolls along with educational materials were displayed at the Plastic Club (Bonnie- can you write this part?)
The Philadelphia Caucus plans to hold more ragdoll workshops, performance protests, and movie nights in the coming months. In the Spring of 2012 an exhibition of art work to promote awareness of human trafficking will be held at Cabrini college. The Caucus will host a panel discussion on trafficking at Cabrini in conjunction with the exhibition.
RECOGNITION: The A21 Campaign, an international organization committed to ending slavery, acknowledged the Philadelphia Caucus as "Heroes" on their website and included a link to the WCA blog where visitors find information on how to donate a ragdoll to the project:
http://www.thea21campaign.org/a21-heroes.php
http://bonnie-macallister.blogspot.com/
http://bonnie-macallister.blogspot.com/2011/10/thank-you-a21-campaign.html
PARTICIPATION:
Over 50 dolls have been created
Over 40 people have participated in our ragdoll-making workshops
We handed out 120 flyers at our First Friday Fringe Festival Protest/Performance to passersby. The flyers described our project, gave facts about trafficking and listed things people can do to end the demand for victims.
10 members participated in our movie night where we showed a documentary about trafficking.
68 members in our Facebook group "WCA Philadelphia Human Trafficking Awareness Project"
PETITION:
STOP FACILITATING THE ILLEGAL SALE OF HUMAN BEINGS FOR SEX:
Eliminate Adult Services advertising in the City Paper and Philadelphia Weekly
Dear Ms. Stuski and Ms. Ince,
The City Paper and Philadelphia Weekly publish hundreds of listings monthly in their Adult Services sections as that are thinly veiled advertisements for prostitution and the sale of possible victims of sex trafficking, including minors. Your publications are facilitating the sale and sexual exploitation of human beings for profit. Nearly naked persons in provocative positions are pictured in many of your advertisements and many ads for escort services and massages explicitly state that sexual services will be provided in exchange for money. Your readers, the public at large, and state law enforcement officers are increasingly concerned about human trafficking, especially the trafficking of minors. Human trafficking is the second largest global organized crime today, generating approximately $32 billion each year.1 The overwhelming majority of those involved in the sex trade are children, teens, and adults who entered the trade before they turned 18. UNICEF estimates that 1 million children worldwide are exploited every year in the commercial sex trade, which includes prostitution and pornography.2 In one study in the US, 79% of women in prostitution surveyed gave an indication that they were in prostitution due to some degree of force such as kidnapping or violence from a pimp.3 Your papers are a potential hub for sex trafficking of adults and children.
As a practical matter it is likely difficult to accurately detect human trafficking, including trafficking of minors, in your listings. To outside observers, the sole purpose of your Adult Services section seems to be to advertise prostitution. For this reason, Craigslist recently shut down its Adult Services section as a clear way to eradicate advertising on its website that trafficked children for prostitution.
We ask that you eliminate Adult Services advertising in the City Paper and Philadelphia Weekly to eradicate the facilitation of prostitution and potentially the sale of adults and children who are victims of trafficking.
Sincerely,
________________________________________________________________
1 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2009, Trafficking in Persons: Global Patterns.
2 UNICEF (2006). Convention on the rights of the child: Optional protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
3 Hughes, D.M. (Spring 2003). Demand: The driving force of sex trafficking. Coalition Commentary. Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
Ann Arbor Percent for Art
DOCUMENTATION:
AnnArbor.com Opinion article - http://annarbor.com/news/ann-arbors-percent-for-art-program-its-good-but-it-needs-work/# "Backers of Ann Arbor's Percent for Art program must remain vocal in supporting it"
The Ann Arbor Chronicle "Art Commission Debates Advocacy Role" http://annarborchronicle.com/2011/12/04/art-commission-debates-advocacy-role/
Email Call for Action: http://annarborchronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Parker27Nov2011email.pdf
Ann Arbor Percent for Art Fact Sheet http://annarborchronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/AAPAC-Percent-for-Art-Fact-Sheet-BULLET-POINTS.pdf
CONTACT PERSON: Margaret Parker
PARTICIPATION:
Any number on how many responses would only reflect those who told me about their response, whereas many more responded because Council members told me about their letters afterwards. I sent out several emails to my personal art list of 243 people. I heard from about 15 who said they'd written or spoken personally(most effective) to Council members. 9 people showed up to speak at the City Council meeting. These had to contacted one by one personally, and emailed to remind them to sign up at 8am on the morning of the meeting. Several strangers also spoke support of public art funding, though they were lest tuned in to the measure up for a vote. Only 1 person spoke against the Percent for Art funding method. The important thing to remember here is that many people might let off steam with negative comments online, but these don't actually translate into negative actions. At least in this case they didn't.
Brenda also sent my message out on the Feminist Art Michigan list serve, she'll have to tell you how many are on that list. But that did prove to add to the responses. One significant member lived right next door to a Council person who had been a long time supporter but had voted in the first round to cut the program in half. This member talked to him and he came out very strongly for keeping the funding in tact!
So in local communities where people know each other on a face to face basis, changes for the benefit of art can be made! And maybe that's the best place to start.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Minnesota Chapter
Women and Water Rights: Rivers of Regeneration
DATES: February 23 TO March 25, 2010
LOCATION: DOCUMENTATION: Katherine E. Nash Gallery, Regis Center for Art, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
DOCUMENTATION:
Woman and Water Rights 2010 website: http://womenandwater.net
On Women's Caucus of Art website: http://www.nationalwca.org/aboutwca/activism.php
UN ISSUES: WWR calls attention to the United Nation’s International Decade for Action, the Water for Life! agenda, and the UN Millennium Development Goals, the achievement of which hinge on integrated management of water resources. A target of the MDG’s is to halve by 2015 those peoples without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.
COMPONENTS: Women and Water Rights Exhibition, Symposium: Global Policy-Local Action, Water Dance: A celebration of water through poetry, visual art, music and dance
PRESS:
Ms Magazine http://womenandwater.net/2010/04/ms-magazine
The Star Tribune: http://womenandwater.net/2010/03/star-tribune
Women's Press: http://womenandwater.net/2010/03/womens-press
Minnesota Alumni. org: http://womenandwater.net/2010/03/making-waves
PHOTOS: http://womenandwater.net/gallery
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: Lucy Lippard, Dr. Vandana Shiva, Gemma Bulos, Sandy Spieler http://womenandwater.net/category/lucy-r-lippard-dr-vandana-shiva
CONTACT PERSONS: Liz Dodson, lizartist (at)me.com
TEXT FROM FLYER: The Women and Water Rights: Concerning Water is an exhibition addressing the precarious state of the world’s fresh water supply and the global need for women’s voices in water management. Through this art exhibition and related programs, WWR underscores the message that clean water and access is a universal human right. The show was first exhibited at the Nash Gallery on the University of Minnesota Campus in 2010. It has since travelled to two other galleries, one in Rochester, MN and the other in Upper Michigan, in an effort to gain new exposure and continue the conversation. The work in this show, Concerning Water looks at local and regional water issues and brings in new artists in addition to some of the original works. The Phipps Center for the Arts is located in Hudson, Wisconsin and the show runs June 15-July 22 2012.
UPDATE: Since the early days of planning for the Women and Water Rights, WWR Exhibition there was always in the planner’s minds the idea that the exhibition would not end after the one 2010 WWR Nash Exhibition. Extending the life of the WWR Art Exhibition and bringing it’s message to new audiences, is still our primary objective. The MN Women’s Caucus for Art, MN Branch Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, WILPF, and the Department of Art, University of MN, Twin Cities hope that through the approach of using the WWR website as a hub, that other WCA Chapters, other WILPF Branches and other groups may continue to play a leadership role in this effort to travel the exhibition by their becoming hosts in their home cities.
The hub, womenandwater.net, is where the filmed programming, artworks, project mission information, great speeches by Lucy Lippard, juror, art critic, and Vandana Shiva, environmental activist and contact consultant information are available.
Last fall an exhibition titled Water Matters in Rochester MN, had invited all of the WWR artists (26 accepted, and many agreed to pay their own shipping costs) to be part of an eco-art exhibition. In mid-November 2010, this exhibition and related program events opened at a new Watershed Center building with a preliminary dedication at the exhibition opening. Both WCA and WILPF members of the WWR core committee had met with the Water Matters planners, were consultants, and Liz Dodson and Marilyn Cuneo were opening speakers, and helped spread the message about this project that had made use of the WWR website materials.
Most recently, in March 2011, another call came from Roselye Ultan, Curator of the Living Green Art Exhibition, Senior Faculty UN of MN MLS, to the artists of the Women and Water Rights Exhibition inviting them to participate in the May 6-8th, 2011 Art as Gateway for Community Engagement: Sustaining Nature and Culture that will take place at the MN State Fair Grounds/FINE ARTS BUILDING, St. Paul, MN. This will be the 10th anniversary of the LG Expo/Art Exhibition -- the Living Green Expo is under the umbrella of MN Environmental Partners and the grand opening event is scheduled for Friday evening, May 6th, 2011.
Coming up later this year is the eco-art WWR Exhibition at Finlandia University, Hancock, MI, that opens Oct. 27-Nov. 23, 2011, and then next year at Phipps Center for the Arts, 2012- Women and Water Rights exhibition, Hudson, WI. Among locations that had previously expressed interest in hosting and now are in various stages of planning are Chicago, Dayton, Ohio, Los Angeles, and Mexico City. A Traveling Exhibition 2010-2015 will extend the life of the project by moving to venues nationally and internationally that have pledged their interest. So we are now reaching out to all other WCA chapters, WILPF branches and any other interested groups to join and use their local artists or WWR artists and items on the website to advance their local and global water issues and become a part of this exciting project.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
New Hampshire Chapter
Dig-It
Our NH chapter just put together a small exhibition called Dig-It! The central theme for this eco-art exhibition was organic and locally grown food. Imagery considered: local farms, farmers markets, home vegetable gardens, harvest/harvesting, community gardens, vegetable stands, pick-your-own, food preservation, food imagery, etc.. Exploring political, social and cultural themes centered around organic/local food was also encouraged.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Peninsula (California) Chapter
Man as Object - Reversing the Gaze
CALL FOR ART: The goal of this exhibition Man as Object - Reversing the Gaze is to turn the tables and to exhibit works that put the male in the position of art subject and spectacle. What does it mean to objectify men? What does it mean to reverse the (male) gaze? What are the visible signs of maleness and masculinity? How are feminist artists challenging societal views regarding men and masculinity? The exhibition will examine the visibility of men and masculinity from female/feminist/transgender perspectives. In so doing it necessarily problematizes notions of 'men,' 'male,' 'masculinity,' 'women' and 'female' while exploring new possibilities for the gaze. This is an inclusive show, and we welcome women and transgender artists to challenge what it means for 'women' to look at 'men.' Not only will the male figure be taking on the historically 'female' or passive role as object of the gaze, but the surveyor is now positioned as active and critical of traditional gender roles, thus creating a truly feminist stance. The male body and its gender expression become spectacle for a woman's viewing and contemplation. Surveying the ways men are represented in contemporary art by women, this exhibition will open new dialogues regarding the myriad of ways how women view men in today's culture and society. This exhibition will explore women's responses to a male dominated world in a different way than an exhibition of women's images of themselves. It will mark an important development in Feminist Art, which has long concentrated on images of women meant to challenge stereotypical notions of womanhood. A gallery filled with works depicting men, created by women, actively resists the prevalence of the male gaze in art as well as the continued domination of male artists exhibiting in galleries and museums.
ELIGIBILITY Open to all US women artists.
SUBMISSIONS Artists may submit up to three works.
ENTRY FEES No entry fees for this exhibition. Due to the curatorial award granted the WCA committee for this exhibition, SOMArts has restricted solicitation of entry fees from artists. However, to continue providing exhibition opportunities for women artists, we encourage you to please send a donation of any amount to WCA for exhibition purposes. Please make a check payable to: WCA and reference Reverse the Gaze and mail to: WCA, PO BOX 1498, NY, NY 10013. We greatly appreciate your support and help in making these events possible!
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION Must complete submission by May 20, 2011 at 11:59 PM PST. QUESTIONS? Email: karengutfreund(at)yahoo.com
GALLERY AND DATES OF EXHIBITION SOMArts Cultural Center 934 Brannan Street San Francisco, CA November 4 - 26, 2011
ABOUT THE JUROR Tanya Augsburg is a feminist interdisciplinary performance scholar who specializes in contemporary art and performance. Dr. Augsburg has been teaching at San Francisco State University since 2007, where she is Assistant Professor of Liberal Studies in the areas of the Creative Arts and Humanities. She is curator of Joanna Frueh: A Retrospective, which was held at the Sheppard Fine Arts Gallery, University of Nevada, Reno, in 2005, and editor of the accompanying exhibition catalog of the same title (2005). She is author of Becoming Interdisciplinary: An Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies,2nd Ed. (Kendall/Hunt, 2006) and co-editor of The Politics of Interdisciplinary Studies (McFarland, 2009). Other publications have appeared in The Drama Review: The Journal of Performance Studies;Text and Performance Quarterly; Issues in Integrative Studies; n.paradoxa: International Feminist Art Journal; and Critical Matrix: The Princeton Journal of Women, Gender and Culture. Her most recent research examines feminist art and collaborative art practices. ABOUT WCA WCA is unique in its multi-disciplinary, multi cultural memberships of artists; art historians, students and educators, gallery and museum professionals, and others involved in the visual arts. WCA has focused attention on the enormous contributions of women and people of color throughout the history of art. WCA has affiliates in over 40 states. To join WCA, visit www.nationalwca.org.
GALLERY WEBSITE: http://www.somarts.org/manasobject-opens/
EXHIBITIONS WEBSITE: http://manasobject.weebly.com
PRESS: MS. Magazine http://msmagazine.com/blog/2011/10/28/man-as-object-reversing-the-gaze/, SF Weekly Blog http://blogs.sfweekly.com/exhibitionist/2011/11/man_as_object_objectify.php
YOU TUBE VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f98DHxOnfWI
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Philadelphia Chapter
Little Dresses for AfricaDESCRIPTION: making dresses at Ellen Bonett's house at Phila WCA Holiday Party, December 11, 2011
WEBSITE: Little Dresses for Africa http://www.littledressesforafrica.org/blog/, Philadelphia Chapter Blog http://phila-wca.blogspot.com/2011/11/holiday-party-little-dresses-for-africa.html
Ragdoll Project
PROMOTION:
The Philadelphia Caucus announced the Ragdoll Project on their blog and posted a call for ragdoll donations:
http://phila-wca.blogspot.com/2011/08/call-for-art-rag-dolls.html
A ragdoll tutorial c/o Miss Gioia was offered to members on the blog to use as a pattern for their ragdolls:
http://missgioia.com/2007/06/rag-doll-tutorial.html
The Philadelphia Caucus created a Human Trafficking Awareness Group page on Facebook and invited members and friends of members interested in following the project to join the group. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1561823227#!/groups/wcahumantrafficking/ Members of the group use this page to track project updates, share photos of art work related to the project, share news articles and information on human trafficking, and to announce events.
COLLABORATION: The Caucus has been approached by local organizations that wish to collaborate on the Ragdoll Project: CCE, Covenant House- a local organization that provides housing to the homeless, including women escaping prostitution, and heads the Philadelphia Anti-Trafficking Coalition, Spiral Q Theatre Company
EVENTS: In July, member Megan Driscoll hosted a movie night at her home that was attended by 5 members and 3 guests. The group watched Born into Brothels http://kids-with-cameras.org/bornintobrothels/film.php an Oscar Award winning documentary on children who live in Calcutta's red light disctrict where their mothers work in brothels. The movie was followed by a discussion. The Philadelphia Caucus hosted 2 dollmaking workshops at Moore College of Art and Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in August in preparation for the September Fringe Festival performance protest. Members invited their friends to the workshop through Facebook and flyers posted at PAFA. 7 members and guests attended the PAFA workshop and 15 members and guests attended the Moore workshop.
The Philadelphia Caucus' first performance protest for the Ragdoll Project took place on September 2 at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival's First Friday on the busy sidewalk at 2nd and Market Streets. Members assembled a pile of dolls, hand made by members and supporters of the project, and presented them to the public along with flyers and educational materials on human trafficking. The Caucus created a handout that explained the project, basic facts about the issue and ways to help end trafficking. The Salvation Army, the US Department of Health, and the A21 Campaign donated flyers, stickers, and posters that members also handed out. Members spoke with hundreds of passersby and held lively discussions about trafficking and prostitution. Many people were surprised by what they learned and were not aware of the severity of the issue. Members also asked people to sign a petition letter written to the Editors of the Philadelphia Weekly and the City Paper requesting that they stop advertising prostitution in their publications. 68 signatures were collected that night and the Caucus will continue to collect signatures at future workshops and performance protests to attach to the letter.
From September 3 through September ?? the ragdolls along with educational materials were displayed at the Plastic Club (Bonnie- can you write this part?)
The Philadelphia Caucus plans to hold more ragdoll workshops, performance protests, and movie nights in the coming months. In the Spring of 2012 an exhibition of art work to promote awareness of human trafficking will be held at Cabrini college. The Caucus will host a panel discussion on trafficking at Cabrini in conjunction with the exhibition.
RECOGNITION: The A21 Campaign, an international organization committed to ending slavery, acknowledged the Philadelphia Caucus as "Heroes" on their website and included a link to the WCA blog where visitors find information on how to donate a ragdoll to the project:
http://www.thea21campaign.org/a21-heroes.php
http://bonnie-macallister.blogspot.com/
http://bonnie-macallister.blogspot.com/2011/10/thank-you-a21-campaign.html
PARTICIPATION:
Over 50 dolls have been created
Over 40 people have participated in our ragdoll-making workshops
We handed out 120 flyers at our First Friday Fringe Festival Protest/Performance to passersby. The flyers described our project, gave facts about trafficking and listed things people can do to end the demand for victims.
10 members participated in our movie night where we showed a documentary about trafficking.
68 members in our Facebook group "WCA Philadelphia Human Trafficking Awareness Project"
PETITION:
STOP FACILITATING THE ILLEGAL SALE OF HUMAN BEINGS FOR SEX:
Eliminate Adult Services advertising in the City Paper and Philadelphia Weekly
Dear Ms. Stuski and Ms. Ince,
The City Paper and Philadelphia Weekly publish hundreds of listings monthly in their Adult Services sections as that are thinly veiled advertisements for prostitution and the sale of possible victims of sex trafficking, including minors. Your publications are facilitating the sale and sexual exploitation of human beings for profit. Nearly naked persons in provocative positions are pictured in many of your advertisements and many ads for escort services and massages explicitly state that sexual services will be provided in exchange for money. Your readers, the public at large, and state law enforcement officers are increasingly concerned about human trafficking, especially the trafficking of minors. Human trafficking is the second largest global organized crime today, generating approximately $32 billion each year.1 The overwhelming majority of those involved in the sex trade are children, teens, and adults who entered the trade before they turned 18. UNICEF estimates that 1 million children worldwide are exploited every year in the commercial sex trade, which includes prostitution and pornography.2 In one study in the US, 79% of women in prostitution surveyed gave an indication that they were in prostitution due to some degree of force such as kidnapping or violence from a pimp.3 Your papers are a potential hub for sex trafficking of adults and children.
As a practical matter it is likely difficult to accurately detect human trafficking, including trafficking of minors, in your listings. To outside observers, the sole purpose of your Adult Services section seems to be to advertise prostitution. For this reason, Craigslist recently shut down its Adult Services section as a clear way to eradicate advertising on its website that trafficked children for prostitution.
We ask that you eliminate Adult Services advertising in the City Paper and Philadelphia Weekly to eradicate the facilitation of prostitution and potentially the sale of adults and children who are victims of trafficking.
Sincerely,
________________________________________________________________
1 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2009, Trafficking in Persons: Global Patterns.
2 UNICEF (2006). Convention on the rights of the child: Optional protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
3 Hughes, D.M. (Spring 2003). Demand: The driving force of sex trafficking. Coalition Commentary. Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
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Women and Water
DATE: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, MARCH 16, 2011
WHERE: International House, University of Pennsylvania
CALL FOR ART: http://wcainternational.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/38135768/Philadelphia-WCA.htm
UN ISSUES: Gender Equality, Global Partnerships
DESCRIPTION: Art Exhibit by the Philadelphia Chapter of the Women's Caucus for Art , Sponsored by: University of PennsylvaniaPROGRAM: http://phila-wca.blogspot.com/2011/03/program-for-our-international-womens.html
PARTICIPATION: 40 exhibiting, hundreds attending
CONTACT PERSON: Bonnie MacAllister
DOCUMENTATION: International House Guide and Website
SOURCE OF DOCUMENTATION: http://www.una-gp.org, http://ihousephilly.org, http://phila-wca.blogspot.com
PUBLICATION CIRCULATION: 300+
SUMMARY:
Event Sponsors: Penn's Provost Office for the "Year of Water," Penn Women's Center, Center for East Asian Studies, Middle East Center, South Asia Center, African Studies Center, United Nations Association of Greater Philadelphia & International House Philadelphia
http://phila-wca.blogspot.com/2011/03/women-and-water-opening-at.html
http://ihousephilly.org/events/art-womens-caucus-for-art-women-and-water/
http://mandismag.wordpress.com/2011/03/02/women-and-water/
http://www.phillyfunguide.com/event/detail/63521
http://www.womenscampaigninternational.org/?m=201103&cat=3
Show: International House Philadelphia, 3701 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Opening for International Women's Day celebration
Sponsored by: Penn's Provost office for the "Year of Water," Penn Women's Center, Center for East Asian Studies, Middle EastCenter, South Asia Center, African Studies Center, United Nations Association of Greater Philadelphia & International House, Philadelphia.
And here is additional info:
Women, Water & The World
Join us for the 3rd Annual International Women's Day Celebration. This year we examine the connection between water and women's lives across the globe. Event will include a reception with a performance by the Anna Crusis Women's Choir an art exhibit by the Women's Caucus for Art Philadelphia Chapter; a poster session, highlighting student projects and Philly organizations doing work here and abroad; and a panel session, featuring local and international academics and activists.
RUNS MARCH 9-APRIL 8, 2011
Wed March 16th, 2011, 7:00-9:00
FREE
Contact: Anastasia Shown shown(at)sas.upenn.edu
Exhibiting Artists: Qaadira Allen, Joan Arbeiter, Alison Altergott, Cynthia Back, Rosalind Bloom, Ellen Bonett, Rachel Citrino, Katrina Carroll, Danielle Ferrell, Pamela Flynn, Michelle Frazier, Joanna Fulginiti, Gesshel, Veronica Gledhill, Marilyn Hayes, Martha Knox, Bonnie MacAllister, Virginia Maksymowicz, Marcelle Harwell Pachnowski, Jean Plough, Cherie Redlinger, Ruth Schanbacher, Rachel Udell
http://phila-wca.blogspot.com/2011/03/women-and-water-runs-march-9-april-8.html
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Regional WCA
Art and Social Justice Conference
WEBSITES: http://wcaartsocialjusticeconference.eventbrite.com (includes programs, speakers, etc.)
POSTCARD TEXT:
The midwest region of the Women's Caucus for Art
Art & Social Justice Conference Friday, July 22, 2011 8AM-4PM
Regional Arts Commission 6128 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis MO 63112
The midwest region of the Women's Caucus for Art invites you to
Art & Social Justice Conference
Friday, July 22, 2011 8am-4pm
Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar Blvd. St. Louis MO 63112
For a complete list of panels, presenters, bios and to register visit: http://wcaartsocialjusticeconference.eventbrite.com/
General registration fee - $45 Student registration fee - $25 (both fees include lunch)
The conference is open to women and men; artists, activists, art historians, curators, community organizers, educators, arts administrators, students, and anyone interested in how art can be a catalyst for positive change.
The WCA's mission is to create community through art, edu- cation, and social activism. We recognize the important role that the arts play in all our lives and acknowledge the power of the arts to affect positive change.
Funding provided by: Artwork: Under the Gun. mixed media by Angeles Jonske , St.Louis Chapter Art Dept/ STLCC-FV 3400 Pershall Rd. St. Louis MO 63135
www.wca-stl.org www.nationalwca.org
DATE: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, MARCH 16, 2011
WHERE: International House, University of Pennsylvania
CALL FOR ART: http://wcainternational.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/38135768/Philadelphia-WCA.htm
UN ISSUES: Gender Equality, Global Partnerships
DESCRIPTION: Art Exhibit by the Philadelphia Chapter of the Women's Caucus for Art , Sponsored by: University of PennsylvaniaPROGRAM: http://phila-wca.blogspot.com/2011/03/program-for-our-international-womens.html
PARTICIPATION: 40 exhibiting, hundreds attending
CONTACT PERSON: Bonnie MacAllister
DOCUMENTATION: International House Guide and Website
SOURCE OF DOCUMENTATION: http://www.una-gp.org, http://ihousephilly.org, http://phila-wca.blogspot.com
PUBLICATION CIRCULATION: 300+
SUMMARY:
Event Sponsors: Penn's Provost Office for the "Year of Water," Penn Women's Center, Center for East Asian Studies, Middle East Center, South Asia Center, African Studies Center, United Nations Association of Greater Philadelphia & International House Philadelphia
http://phila-wca.blogspot.com/2011/03/women-and-water-opening-at.html
http://ihousephilly.org/events/art-womens-caucus-for-art-women-and-water/
http://mandismag.wordpress.com/2011/03/02/women-and-water/
http://www.phillyfunguide.com/event/detail/63521
http://www.womenscampaigninternational.org/?m=201103&cat=3
Show: International House Philadelphia, 3701 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Opening for International Women's Day celebration
Sponsored by: Penn's Provost office for the "Year of Water," Penn Women's Center, Center for East Asian Studies, Middle EastCenter, South Asia Center, African Studies Center, United Nations Association of Greater Philadelphia & International House, Philadelphia.
And here is additional info:
Women, Water & The World
Join us for the 3rd Annual International Women's Day Celebration. This year we examine the connection between water and women's lives across the globe. Event will include a reception with a performance by the Anna Crusis Women's Choir an art exhibit by the Women's Caucus for Art Philadelphia Chapter; a poster session, highlighting student projects and Philly organizations doing work here and abroad; and a panel session, featuring local and international academics and activists.
RUNS MARCH 9-APRIL 8, 2011
Wed March 16th, 2011, 7:00-9:00
FREE
Contact: Anastasia Shown shown(at)sas.upenn.edu
Exhibiting Artists: Qaadira Allen, Joan Arbeiter, Alison Altergott, Cynthia Back, Rosalind Bloom, Ellen Bonett, Rachel Citrino, Katrina Carroll, Danielle Ferrell, Pamela Flynn, Michelle Frazier, Joanna Fulginiti, Gesshel, Veronica Gledhill, Marilyn Hayes, Martha Knox, Bonnie MacAllister, Virginia Maksymowicz, Marcelle Harwell Pachnowski, Jean Plough, Cherie Redlinger, Ruth Schanbacher, Rachel Udell
http://phila-wca.blogspot.com/2011/03/women-and-water-runs-march-9-april-8.html
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Regional WCA
Art and Social Justice Conference
WEBSITES: http://wcaartsocialjusticeconference.eventbrite.com (includes programs, speakers, etc.)
POSTCARD TEXT:
The midwest region of the Women's Caucus for Art
Art & Social Justice Conference Friday, July 22, 2011 8AM-4PM
Regional Arts Commission 6128 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis MO 63112
The midwest region of the Women's Caucus for Art invites you to
Art & Social Justice Conference
Friday, July 22, 2011 8am-4pm
Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar Blvd. St. Louis MO 63112
For a complete list of panels, presenters, bios and to register visit: http://wcaartsocialjusticeconference.eventbrite.com/
General registration fee - $45 Student registration fee - $25 (both fees include lunch)
The conference is open to women and men; artists, activists, art historians, curators, community organizers, educators, arts administrators, students, and anyone interested in how art can be a catalyst for positive change.
The WCA's mission is to create community through art, edu- cation, and social activism. We recognize the important role that the arts play in all our lives and acknowledge the power of the arts to affect positive change.
Funding provided by: Artwork: Under the Gun. mixed media by Angeles Jonske , St.Louis Chapter Art Dept/ STLCC-FV 3400 Pershall Rd. St. Louis MO 63135
www.wca-stl.org www.nationalwca.org
Conference program cover
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Conference promotional image
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