This past Friday, April 2, the Her Art: Who Does She Think She Is? group art exhibit kicked-off at the Leedy-Voulkos Arts Center (2012 Baltimore, downtown KCMO). The show is an examination of the multiple roles women play as they balance motherhood, family, careers, and their artistic fulfillment. Artwork by some of Kansas City’s most talented women artists are on display. The works are as va
ried and diverse as the group of artists that created them. They range from images such as Nicole Emanuel’s Balancing Act and Nedra Bonds’ The Birth of Jazz that are figurative interpretations of the exhibit’s theme, to images like Anger by Ritchie Kaye and Separation by Holly Swangstu, where the artists’ creative process makes them relevant to the exhibit. The exhibit will be on display until May 28, so if you missed the First Friday opening, don’t worry, because there is still time to check it out!
This Wednesday, April 7, don’t miss the lecture to be given by UMKC Assistant Professor of Film & Media Arts, Caitlin Horsmon, From Guy-Blanche to Bigelow: Women Behind the Camera in Hollywood Cinema. If this kind of event is right up your alley, you’ll also want to be sure to attend the screening and subsequent panel discussion of the documentary Who Does She Think She Is?, which focuses on five particularly bold women artists, each radically different in background, race, religious creed and choice of artistic field, who share the common challenge of making careers in various art worlds. This event will be held at the Tivoli Theatre in Westport, and tickets are available at their box office for $4 (free for UMKC students, staff, & faculty).
The month-long celebration of women in the arts wraps up on Tuesday, April 27. Renee Blanche, host of Night Tides on KCUR, 89.3 FM, will facilitate a discussion on the state of women in the arts in Kansas City. Artists, musicians, dancers, actors, and anyone who loves the arts are invited to join the discussion. The event will take place at Diastole (2501 Holmes, KCMO), and there will be a reception starting at 6:00 PM hosted by local artist Sonie Ruffin prior to the discussion.
The Women’s Center is also collaborating again this month with the Miller Nichols Library to present the Women Artists Book Display, which will be on display April 1 – April 30. Again, you can read more information about all of these events by going to the Her Art page on the Women’s Center website. Enjoy!