Thursday, August 9, 2018

In the Company of Women


I stopped in to see a new exhibit at the Phoenix Art Museum called "In the Company of Women".  It features artworks that are currently in the museum's collection but that are all created by women.  The museum staged to show because of recent events including the #MeToo movement and the growing awareness of gender inequality.  Almost all of the pieces in the show were familiar to me.  I've seen them many times before but, I have to admit that in this context they had a greater appeal to me.  I've posted a photo of the unattired fellow above before but, it's been a long time ago.  He's called, strangely enough, "Nude Man" and he was created in ceramics by Viola Frey.


I've gazed upon this piece by Lilianna Porter many times but, for some reason I totally missed the little guy standing on top of the painting.  The piece is called "The Traveler" and since this little guy is obviously the namesake, I was surprised that I had not noticed him before.









This piece is a tapestry/quilt by Faith Ringgold.  It's called "The Bitter Nest #1, Love in the Schoolyard".



This last piece has a profound message.  The artist Angela Ellsworth was raised in the Mormon Church and her great-great-grandfather was the fifth prophet of the church and he had nine wives.  Ellsworth has created nine bonnets, each one with it's own individual design representing each of the wives.  Each one is created with pearl-tipped corsage pins pierced through the bonnet with the sharp ends on the inside.  It's called "Seer Bonnets: A Continuing Offense".

There was a lot to think about in this exhibit and a new way to look at some art that I had seen and enjoyed before.

8 comments:

Billy Blue Eyes said...

Interesting exhibition though the bonnets at the end have an underlying meaning with the pins sticking through

biebkriebels said...

Those bonnets are very confronting, didn't know the men could have nine wives. Fundamental people have strange ideas about women...

Kate said...

Very powerful exhibit. I am pleased that textiles (quilt) was also included because not everyone classifies them as real items of art. I'll bet that you get lots of comments about them. Nude Manis also interesting. I'd like to see this one, for sure!!

RedPat said...

These are all fabulous pieces, Sharon! I really like the Traveler.

William Kendall said...

It's the tapestry that particularly draws my eye.

Bill said...

An interesting exhibition, I do like the traveler piece on top. I can see how you can miss it, it' so small.

peppylady (Dora) said...

I have to wonder if people actual wore that type of beaded hat.
Coffee is on

zerry ht said...

Hey, this is pretty awesome post. I am always a fan of artwork. I do some artwork in my free time as well but now was just thinking to sell out some of the pieces for the help of poor kids’ education. I want to host the expo at one of the outdoor Venues in NYC. Do you have any ideas on how to invite people to this event?