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Art of the Feminist Identity

tbarryfigu's picture

Please find the works of Elizabeth Cantanese, Sarah Lindberg, Gail Chavenelle, and myself in our attempts to illustrate feminism. We are two alum and two current students, each with our own account of what it means to be a feminist in today's world.

In reaction to each piece, please do one of two things: Either (a) compose a list of 5 individual words/piece which describe the work or the feeling emotion that they inspire OR (b) write a few sentences describing the illustrated definitions of feminism. If you were to look up feminism in the dictionary and find these paintings/sculptures, what would you take away?

My Olympia, Sarah Lindberg ('10)My Olympia, Sarah Lindberg ('10)

Violin, Elizabeth Cantanese ('06)Violin, Elizabeth Cantanese ('05)

Violin, Elizabeth Cantanese ('06)Violin, Elizabeth Cantanese ('05)

Violin, Elizabeth Cantanese ('06)Violin, Elizabeth Cantanese ('05)

The Exhale, Tamarinda Barry Figueroa ('08): The words and images which compose the corset are those which apply to the gender rolls assigned to women and feminists.

Feminism, Gail ChavenelleFeminism, Gail Chavenelle ('67)

Feminism, Gail ChavenelleFeminism, Gail Chavenelle ('67)

Feminism, Gail ChavenelleFeminism, Gail Chavenelle ('67)

 

Comments

Rhapsodica's picture

Now that I'm home and not

Now that I'm home and not going absolutely insane...

My Olympia - Confused, withered, dim, trapped, weary
Violin - Movement, vibrancy, progress, empowerment, boldness
The Exhale - Lifelike, ghostly, constrained, peaceful, transcendent
Feminism - Connected, cooperative, inclusive, celebratory, open (space for others to join in)
Mary Clurman '63's picture

The art!

My Olympia:
Picasso, Manet, TV, unhappy, starved

Violin:
dramatic, suprisingly mature/coherent, good!

The Exhale (w/ corset imagined)
cool, concise, elegant, somewhat bloodless

Feminism:
photos inadequate to judge from

So great to see such confidence in undergraduate art; wish BMC had offered Fine Arts when I was that young!

Beatrice Nava (1943)'s picture

Tamarinda's Exhale

I love the flavor of the fruit of the Tamarindo and am intrigued by Tamarinda's name as well as this fruit of her work: curious about the title, the image on the breast, the overall grace.

gail's picture

adjectives

MY OLYMPIA

            Gnarled

            Complex

            Past

Uncomfortable

Vulnerable

 

VIOLIN

            Jumble

            Energetic

Flowing

Discordant

Bold

 

THE EXHALE

            Contrast

Broken

Inescapable

Wrenching

Feminist

 

FEMINISM

            Simple

Flowing

United

Positive

Idealistic

 
gammyflink's picture

Your Artwork

   Tamarinda..........what a lovely name!  Your piece is decidedly my favorite.  I'm sure it will be even more exciting when the corset image is added.  I love the way you have drawn the female figure so strongly yet you retain a sense of feminine curves.  I am especially intrigued by the inserted figure for which I have my own interpretation.  I see it as a symbol of connection among the generations of women.  On the one hand its posture suggests a child in the womb, while the flowing hair speaks to me of an older woman, perhaps a tribal ancestor.  I'm curious about the title "Exhale".  Thank you for sharing this beautiful piece with me. 

   Barbara  '57

Abby's picture

collage-like layered

collage-like

layered

sharp

smudgy

dimly lit

anxious

fun

raw

hidden

puzzle

llauher's picture

violent fluid bright a

violent

fluid

bright

angular

linear

stark

inclusion

vivid

tone

identity

passion