In celebration of International Women’s Month, Gallery 33PA, an offshoot of 33 Contemporary with locations in Chicago and Miami, has chosen “feminism” as the theme of its March online exhibition hosted by Artsy.net.
On view for the entirety of March, the exhibition features 20-plus female artists from the international arts collective PoetsArtists who wield their power with a brush.
Amy Gibson, In Retrospect, oil on aluminum panel, 14 x 11"
“This is a yearly group show we have dedicated to International Women’s Day,” says curator Didi Menendez. “We try to highlight works from our community which deal with identity on what feminism represents today.”
For talented figurative artist Amy Gibson, “feminism means equality of rights, pay and opportunities, while dismantling the barriers that restrict our ability to make decisions about our own bodies.” Her show piece In Retrospectfeatures a woman in a dystopian landscape gazing out from under a futuristic “bonnet.” “By wearing the tin foil hat, she is refusing to conform to mainstream societal norms,” explains Gibson. “Even through times of uncertainty, she is strong, determined and confident, while remaining empathetic, graceful and elegant.
Elena Caravela, Psyche Contented, oil on linen, 24 x 36"
“This work was inspired by the confusion and uncertainty that is in the world today,” she continues. “Not only politically but also socially and what it means to be a woman. The tin foil hat is symbolic of a shield that protects against manipulations and outside influences.”
Art provides Gibson with a platform to be seen, heard, heal and inspire. “Often times, women feel invisible, especially as they age,” she says. “Art provides a community that empowers and connects everyone.”
Having witnessed many decades of progress and backsliding when it comes to women’s rights, Elena Caravela doesn’t hesitate for a beat when asked if she considers herself a feminist. “Some of the change has been gratifying and freeing, and some stalled and terribly disappointing,” she says. “Feminism is simply respect for the other half of humanity. The cultural and lawful expectation that women can choose their options in all aspects of life without judgement or inequality. That’s the dream.”
Pippa Hale-Lynch, Self Portrait with Jam, oil on panel, 16 x 12"
For Caravela, her piece Psyche Contented represents the culmination of the feminist ideal. “Psyche has reached the height of her potential, has found equality in her love relationship with Eros in her earned immortality,” she says. “Psyche remains the powerful, self-realized symbol of the human mind and soul. The images of art that we view enter into our own individual psyches, but also contribute to the collective human experience. The cumulative human ‘psyche.’”
Narelle Zeller, Through My Eyes, oil on ACM panel, 18 x 14"
Feminism, to artist Narelle Zeller, means believing in and advocating for equality and a more just society for all genders. “When depicting women in my paintings, one of the key elements of beauty I wish to capture is their inner strength and power,” she says. “It is a powerful thing for women to speak up and show what they can do. The more women artists are represented, highlighted and celebrated in our industry, the more women will feel empowered to believe that they can make a successful career in art. I hope that I can help make a positive impact through my career in art, and encourage and inspire other women to do the same.” —
33PA Zhou B Art Center, 4th Floor • 1029 W. 35th Street • Chicago, IL 60609 • www.poetsandartists.com • www.artsy.net/show/33-contemporary-feminism-2024
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