`A WORD ABOUT WOMEN'
March show celebrates International Women's Day
Art Center Ukiah is celebrating International Women's Day (IWD) for the entire month of March. The official announcement for this worldwide celebration states that “IWD sees a number of missions to help forge a gender-equal world. Celebrating women's achievements and increasing visibility, while calling out inequality, is key.”
They continue, “IWD belongs to everyone, everywhere. Inclusion means all IWD action is valid.” They encourage people all over the planet to “celebrate women's achievement. Raise awareness about discrimination. Take action to drive gender parity. Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated.”
Art Center Ukiah wanted to include local artists in this important conversation, as well as encourage community members to examine their own beliefs and experiences on the subject. One way to facilitate communication is the use of words in addition to images, and that is exactly what artists were challenged to do.
Each artist was asked to “witness your own story of womanhood in the 21st Century; in any medium that incorporates the use of printed WORDS as an important focus of your art. Have your say in two or three dimensions, in any kind of text, any size of graphic, in one or many words.”
We are looking forward to seeing what people have to say about how they are affected by gender-based disparities in power, self determination and well-being that continue to affect women worldwide in overt and covert ways.
A free paper collage workshop with Elizabeth Raybee has been scheduled on Saturday, March 18 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Art Center Ukiah. It is open to the public and appropriate for anyone aged 10 and over.
Making collages can be a fun and easy way to combine various materials and images to get across complex ideas such as those outlined in the theme of this show. The inclusion of words — as story, hints, poetry or humor — can bring out your thoughts more clearly than many other forms of visual art.
Elizabeth will bring a variety of art supplies to work with and lots of letters and words cut out of magazines to use, but if you've got your favorite personal photos or other things you'd like to incorporate, feel free to bring them.
Please sign up early for the class as space is limited. You can drop by the Corner Gallery during business hours, call them at 707-462-1400 or sign up online at acuentries.com.
The First Friday opening of this show is today, from 5 to 8 p.m. in the ACU space in the back of the Corner Gallery (201 S. State St. in Ukiah). Live music will be provided by Steve Winkle.