The Homage to Women Artists Exhibit at the Chase Gallery featured shrines created by Palouse Women Artists that honor the women artists who have inspired them. The significant variety between the shrines and the medias, each shrine unique to itself, increased the intimacy of the exhibit, displaying personality of each artist, while the relatively small size of each shrine pulls the viewer in for a closer look into personal inspiration of each artist, making the exhibit even more intimate.
My favorite shrine was Patricia Wallace’s in honor of her grandma, Ruth Ann Gray. The shrine pops and grows with simple yet beautiful paper roses and a drawing of working hands. The vine pops off a collage in a quilted fashion of pictures and elegant cursive writing. Wallace says, “She filled the world with grace and love, and created beauty out of the simplest things. Her life’s work will trickle through the generations. And thus, I consider her a great artist and her life a masterpiece that continuously inspires.” This shrine originally grabbed my attention due to the visual appeal, but became increasingly more beautiful when I read the artist’s statement. The work is so personal and intimate that the viewer experiences the love and beautiful life of this woman throughout interacting with the shrine.
Even though this exhibit’s goal is to honor women artists, my favorite thing about this exhibit is how it’s intimate invitation into these artist’s lives inspires the community to be more open and personal throughout the opening of these women’s lives unto the community. If we were more open and personal, would that increasingly unite the community?
2 comments:
Wow - this exhibit looks awesome! Its crazy how art can leave artists so vulnerable, eh? I think being that open is often a sacrifice. A sacrifice and risk - trusting that the audience will respect the artist and their work. But yes, when these risks are taken, I think it can provide a powerful way for the community to identify, unite, and converse.
Also, Wallace's piece reminds me of a piece that I saw at PNCA (Pacific Northwest College of Art) last spring (http://www.pnca.edu/pdf/catalog/viewbook2011.pdf on page 11 on the left). Artist Samantha Almanza made a tribute to her grandmother with hundreds of Polaroids covering a wall.
This display sounds neat! I particularly like the thought of having local artists featured. I also like seeing the artists express and honor the artists that have inspired them. And the ability to create a shrine from various mixed media sounds like a great way to pay tribute.
I think often times we forget that many artists are influenced by other artists and if we don't initially see the influence then we can easily overlook an indirect connection. I do however think it is important for us to see the diversity in artists we see depicted in the shrines to better understand the artist paying tribute. I think it's a great idea for a show.
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