On Art

 

This past Sunday I went to the ArtsWestchester exhibition SHE: Deconstructing Female Identity . Being new to Westchester and Yonkers I wanted to start exploring the local arts scene, and I’m glad I did. SHE is a wonderfully curated event of NY artists, all who happen to be women. Let’s be honest they are the only ones who should be deconstructing female anything. A few of the artists whose work spoke to me were Debbie Han, Mari Ogihara and Laurel Garcia Colvin.

Debbie Hans large format photos melding classic faces with current bodies create a fascinating commentary on body identity and how we have been taught to see our bodies as women in a world so diverse with an ideal that is so limiting.

Mari Ogihara’s Mannequin pieces, ingeniously layer what appear as dissected layers of body parts reconstructed; it is both beautiful and discomforting. Her piece Strip and Dismantle is made of a row of legs on tip toes as if in heels. The legs appear to be broken and yet still hold their shape. One side is carved with beautiful patterns that though visually pleasing, somehow seem to expose an internal rawness. The other side is porcelain white with  delicate designs like fashionable hosiery. My mind immediately connected the concept of fashion and pain. As women we wear high heels to enhance our features and in turn suffer pain and discomfort. It is acceptable and often expected that we be willing to endure the breakdown of our bodies for an aesthetic. I’m not quite sure that was her intention, but I personally visualized the pain I feel in a pair of heels.

The piece that sparked something in me as an activist artist was Laurel Garcia Colvin’s, Beyond a Room of Our Own. The installation is set in the far back corner of the gallery. It immediately catches your attention from across the room. The walls are covered in that stark blue and white toile wallpaper in the patterns so many of us recognize seeing in our grandparents’ home, it draws you in. What is most successful is that when you enter the room, you become a part of the fabric of the piece surrounded by words, books, quotes and the powerful women who have and are changing the world. Feminist books and stories about strong women and girls line the walls screaming READ ME. I wanted to just sit down and take note of all of them, or plop down in the beanbag chair and have a good read. Each piece of furniture there for you to sit on meant something, even the wallpaper speaks to you with compelling words of formidable women etched into its design. My favorite component was the small table covered with purposefully created baubles, letters and photos. I wanted to bring the glass covered chair home. This is a sincere and theatrical installation that invites the viewer to be a part of it. It was inspiring.

The SHE exhibit runs though June 25th at ArtsWestchester.

Namastè

Author: Finding True North

Nichole Donje is an interdisciplinary artist, activist, and leader. A philosopher and self-exploration addict, Nichole is currently working on two books of art and poetry FINDING TRUE NORTH and LIFE POEMS. She is a visual artist and photographer. Nichole founded and ran the highly regarded New York City based independent theatre company TAPT from 2006-2016. Serving as TAPT’s Artistic Director, Nichole worked diligently to support new and forgotten works that help shape the way we view the world around us. A recognized leader, Nichole served three terms as Vice President of the Board of Directors for The Players. Currently, she chairs both the Communications and Theatre Committees which she established. The Players celebrates the rich cultural life of New York City with exclusive member-only events that include live performances, readings by leading authors and playwrights, film screenings, and dining in its famous Grill Room. More information about The Players may be found at theplayersnyc.org. A key influencer of the Players current revitalization she has become an advocate for the art and livelihood of a social club. The Players not only honors yesterday’s and today’s luminaries of the performing arts but also reminds us of the necessity of building face to face relationships. Nichole is a member of SAG-AFTRA, LPTW/League of Professional Theatre Women, LeanInNYC, and The Players.

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