University News
Women's Art Exhibit Opening Monday, March 3
February 29, 2008
MACOMB, IL - - The public is invited to an opening reception for the Western Illinois University Women's Center's "Women's Art: Women's Vision" exhibit from 3-5 p.m. Monday, March 3 in the café area on the first floor of the Leslie F. Malpass Library.
According to Jennifer Howard, a sophomore art major (Bushnell, IL) who works in the Women's Center and is coordinating this year's exhibit, the reception will provide an opportunity for campus and surrounding community members to meet some of the artists whose works will be on display, along with local artist Sam Parker, who served as juror for the exhibit.
"The purpose of this exhibit is to bring recognition to established artists and to encourage beginning artists to keep pursuing their talents," Howard said. "The exhibit also 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."
Artists who submitted works for this year's show include students, faculty, staff and community members. Mediums include oil, acrylic, silkscreen, pastels, photography, watercolor, woodblock print, 3-D with beeswax and dye, 3-D with clay, pine and glass, and mixed media.
Works by 13 artists were accepted by the juror, in addition to four others whose works were selected for inclusion in the "Women's Art: Women's Vision" Women's History Month display on the third floor of the Leslie F. Malpass Library. Prizes will be awarded to:
Phyllis Martin, first place, for watercolor collage, "Snippets of the Past";
Debbie Lutz, second place, for beeswax and dye, "Pysanky Ukrainian Ostrich Egg;" and Jacquie Brattain, third place, for photography, "Lake McDonald."
Other artists whose works were selected for the juried exhibit are Melissa Hauge, Pam Helms, Patricia Hobbs, Diana Ibragmova, Crystal Kepple, Kara Kinder, Helen Thomson and Agnieszka Tyl. Honorable mention was given to works by Phyllis Martin, Traci Heffelbower and Janice Rockwell.
"I've juried a lot of shows, and from what I've seen, there are some very talented people here," Parker said. "This is very creative work. There are some beautiful pieces."
According to Women's Center director Janine Cavicchia, women's studies major Rachael Lane initiated the exhibit as her internship project in the Women's Center during the fall semester.
"Jennifer worked with Rachael and has done a wonderful job of implementing the exhibit this semester," Cavicchia said. "We are pleased with the number, diversity and quality of artwork submitted, and we appreciate everyone who has helped with the exhibit, including University Libraries Dean Phyllis Self and her staff."
Lane and Howard each have some of their own artwork on display in the circular showcase on the third floor near the library's southeast entrance as part of the Women's Center's Women's History Month display. The showcase also will feature artwork by Hauge and Helms, as well as Sharon Keeling and Maddie Ramsey.
For more information, contact the Women's Center at 309/298-2242 or visit www.wc.wiu.edu.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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