Skidmore art exhibit explores the 100 years since passing of the 19th Amendment
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Victories are not always triumphs.
For example, in 1920 the 19th Amendment to the constitution was passed giving women the right to vote. In the 100 years since, progress in women’s equality has improved, but no reasonable person would claim that in 2020 women have achieved total equality with men.
Skidmore College is, today, opening a new exhibit “Never Done: 100 Years of Women in Politics and Beyond.” The purpose statement of the exhibit which includes 100-paintings (99 by female artists and one non-binary artist) states it hopes to reflect and explore the issues and challenges women in the United States have faced and continue to face in politics and society.
In a joint telephone interview with the co- curators Rachel Selgman and Minita Sanghvi, they make it clear the exhibit is not an in-your-face angry display about injustice. Instead, they have tried to select work that they think represents contributions women have made to the discourse through their art over the past century.
Selgman, the Assistant
Director for Curatorial Affairs and Malloy Curator at the Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College, says, “It is our intent that the works speak for themselves.”
Sanghvi, an Assistant Professor of Marketing who specializes in gender in politics, expresses her passion for art and elaborates on Selgman’s statement. She says she has discovered many artists included in the exhibit “who are political without my being aware they were political.”
To support Sanghvi’s point, Selgman points to an abstract work by Joan Mitchell (1925-1992) that is included in the exhibit. “Her success was well- deserved. When you consider that is was earned while competing with the male artists of the 1950s, it was a really remarkable achievement,” says Selgman. “Viewing the piece, you appreciate her talent, but you also understand what it took in that era just to be recognized. That’s a political statement by itself.”
Ironically, the overt political statement that might have been made with an exhibit was denied them. The concept for an exhibit honoring the 100th anniversary of Women’s Rights began in 2015. At the time it was a strong possibility that Hillary Clinton would be our sitting president in 2020.
With this in mind, the exhibit might have focused on how celebrating 100 years women’s power grew to include the country being governed by a woman.
However, they both agree Clinton losing in 2016 changed the focus of the exhibit. In terms of the exhibit, maybe for the better, says Sanghvi. “What started as a potentially celebratory moment didn’t turn out. The disappointment turned us to thinking about the barriers women face in many situations. We decided to focus on and examine the circumstances of what women have to overcome in all walks of life.”
Seligman picks up her thread, adding, “We realized we didn’t have the answers. It turned us to asking questions, many of which also have no answers.” This, she says, leaves it to the viewer to think about the complexities of the issues surrounding equal rights. She emphasizes the concept of equal rights, by saying when you think of equal rights, it should mean equal rights not only for women, but for every member of society.
The pair say they tried to put together a variety of work from many diverse artists. Some are famous, others under-recognized. They are from many different races, social backgrounds and various economic levels. Though most are still living, they are not restricted to contemporary thinking. “Our hope,” Seligman says. “is the work of the artists in the exhibit uses the past to understand the present and will help shape our vision for the future.”
“Never Done: 100 Years of Women in Politics and Beyond” will be available online through June 6, 2021. Because of the long run, it is hoped that it will eventually be available for a live audience to experience it live at the Tang Museum, where it is currently hung and available to Skidmore students.
The two curators express every confidence that the online experience will be nearly as satisfying as would a trip to the Tang, located on the Skidmore College campus in Saratoga Springs.
One reason is the ease of seeing the 100 paintings in the exhibit. More to the point, the ease of returning to a work or two that lingers in your mind for further examination. Sanghvi explains, saying, “I think we all have attended an exhibit and a few pieces stay in your mind days later. You often wish you could have a chance to revisit to study certain works. Online gives you that opportunity.”
To add to the depth of each painting, each work will contain a statement by the artist about the work. The goal of which is to give added insight to the artist’s creative process.
There is another bonus. There is also available, starting today, a concurrent online exhibition, “We’ve Only Just Begun: 100 Years of Skidmore Women in Politics.” It explores the history of Skidmore women and their contributions towards the advancement of Women’s Rights.
The project was organized by Professors Kate Graney and Natalie Taylor along with their spring 2020 Political Science Class “Never Done.”
It was done in collaboration with Seligman, who says, “Because of the many voices involved in the overall exhibit there are questions being explored that I would never have thought of. This wonderful collaboration represents the thinking of women of every age and background. It should have wide appeal,” she concludes.
For access to the exhibit and supporting documentation go to tang.skidmore. edu