University News
Women's Art Exhibit Seeks Entries
February 17, 2015
MACOMB, IL - The Western Illinois University Women's Center is seeking entries for the March 2015 "Women's Art: Women's Vision Art Exhibit." Female artists wishing to participate must complete and return submission forms by noon Wednesday, Feb. 25.
Female students, staff, faculty and alumni, as well as women from the community, are invited to participate, whether established or beginning artists. Accepted works will be displayed on the second floor of the Multicultural Center, throughout the month of March.
Any medium may be submitted. Entries may, but are not required to, relate to this year's University Theme of "Ethics: A Foundation for Personal Growth and Social Responsibility," or tie in with this year's National Women's History Month theme of "Weaving the Stories of Women's Lives."
A maximum of three works may be submitted per person. Complete submission guidelines and entry forms are available at wiu.edu/wc. The entry fee is $3 per submitted work, which will go toward supplies purchased for the art show, program expenses and future art-related activities.
Artwork should be submitted ready to be displayed, including being matted and framed with hook for hanging or stand accompanying it.
The public is invited to attend a Meet the Artists Reception for the exhibit from 3:30–5 p.m. Monday, March 9, on the second floor of the Multicultural Center. The reception will provide an opportunity for campus and surrounding community members to meet some of the artists whose work will be on display.
According to Women's Center Director Janine Cavicchia, this is the 10th women's art exhibit sponsored by the Women's Center since it was founded in 1986. The exhibit is held in March in recognition of National Women's History Month.
Cavicchia said she always has been impressed with the diversity and quality of artwork submitted.
"The purpose of this exhibit is to bring recognition to established artists and to encourage beginning artists to keep pursuing their talents," she said. "This exhibit provides an opportunity to pay tribute to all of the women throughout history who, because of their gender, were denied admission to art academies; were not acknowledged for their talents and were not included in art history books."
According to the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the gender gap in salary, in math and science fields, and in leadership, is well-known, but the longstanding gender gap in the art world is not as well-known.
"For centuries, women artists were unrecognized, unencouraged, or even discredited simply because they were not men. Today, things have changed … some," according to AAUW's website (AAUW.org). "Still, only 5 percent of the art currently displayed in U.S. museums is by women. There remains just one major museum in the world dedicated solely to women artists. That's why, working with the National Museum of Women in the Arts, AAUW hosts an annual Art Contest to get women artists the equal attention they deserve."
Members of the campus and broader community may visit WIU's Women's Art: Women's Vision 2015 exhibit Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. throughout March.
For more information or to submit artwork. contact the Women's Center at womenscenter@wiu.edu or at (309) 298-2242.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing
Connect with us: