Final project

 

 

Final Intervention: Identity Exhibition

 

For my final intervention project for this semester, I decided to curate an exhibition, I chose to title the exhibition "Identity"  because I was inspired by women's identity and women empowerment. I chose these topics for my finale intervention because throughout the semester women equality, empowerment, and rights have been topics I feel very strongly about, and topics I relate to. Women inequality has been an ongoing issue in society. Through the cultural beauty of the works, each piece shows the strength, intelligent, and power of women while still discussing the problems we still face in society today.

 I took many inspiration from people like Kimberly Drew.  In her book This is What I know about Art she says  "During my meeting with Thelma she told me about the consequences of my actions, and generously taught me that my voice was a powerful one. Instead of leading with rage she helped me understand this difficult crossroads, by the end of the meeting she asked me to think deeply about what I wanted to say and more importantly how I wanted it to be interpreted. It was not just enough to be angry, I had to be strategic." In My Work Titled Oppression and Obstacles  I wanted to convey the same concept that although society tries to quite us our voice is our power and when we use our voices we interpret how we want to be seen and the important our message is.

 

Although we have obstacles that we as women only faces and understand, we still break those obstacles and barriers down. World wide women are told what to do with there bodies and face unfair pay. The inhuman practice of genital mutilation is still being conducted in many countries. 

Women are not seen as equal but as less than, even though we bring life and generations into society we are label as the lesser sex. We are often over looked and over turned by jobs that are seen as male positions and we are harassed in work places.

 In the exhibition I wanted to create art that spoke out about women’s oppression and rights while still celebrating women and women empowerment. I believe that through the gallery it will actively bring awareness to these issues while. The purpose of the exhibit is for viewers  to grasp a deeper understanding, and even an emotional sense of connection to the topic and works as they interpret the piece themselves. I chose to incorporate facts about some of the issues we face under each of the work’s titles. While developing the idea for the gallery I took inspiration from the Burn exhibition. Dr. Antoinette Ellis-Williams and the Burn exhibition played a major role as to why I chose to do my intervention in the form of a gallery. Her work  ultimately spoke to me and her message was empowering. Another artist who inspired me to create purposeful work that conveys a message was Julie Green and they’re impactful contribution to prison reform. Through they’re various exhibitions Julie's work  spoke out about inmates on death row through there last meal and through the first meal of an exoneree.

During the gallery many who passed it took interest in the factual captions placed under each title. Many were also surprised to see the unfair treatment we receive written under the title. Many were captivated  by the work and bright colors.

One quote I found connected very well to the exhibition was “The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of those depths.” -Elisabeth Kubler-Ross “. The main message that I wanted to convey to the audience through the gallery was although we face a large degree of patriarchy in society, we are not fragile.  I wanted to showcase the authenticity, identity, beauty, and strength of women while still actively bringing awareness to challenges we face.

Kimberly Drew states in her book This is What I know About Art  " Simply, I want to share my stories with the hope that you may find your own journey and make the change that you want to see in the world", as women we can offer knowledge, wisdom, and better advice through our experience to the next generation of  young women by creating this gallery as a portfolio  I want help the next  generation of women find their barring in a patriarchal society with patriarchal views.

throughout this semester I found people like Julie Green, Kimberly Drew, Dr Antoinette Ellis- Williams, and  Kia Labeija. These activist take pride in actively wanting to make change through there talents, experience, and through the experience of others. Being active advocates rather than by standers these Women, ultimately impacted me to curate the gallery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Artist Statement 

This exhibition digs deeper into identity. A person’s identity is form through their experiences, background, origin, and how they face there struggles and challenges. Everyone has an origin story which dates back to even before them.  Everything that forms identity ultimately encompasses the value a person holds and the choices a person makes; Its untimely what makes you, you. My origin story begins in a beautiful town called Guayailla, Puerto Rico. It is located on the southern coast of the island. The island borders the Caribbean Sea. 

 

 

Surrounded by mountains and beautiful seas. My origin story goes back to my great great grandparents, Leonesio and Maria Roman. They met in Guyaillia where they raised 6 children together. Leonesio was of Native descent, He was very tall, lean, with dark brown skin, and straight black hair. Maria carried strong Hispanic features. She was short, with light skin, and soft yet ferocious curly hair.On January 16 of 1934, in their small home in Guyaillia Maria gave birth to her first child on their kitchen table and named her Miriam. On that day my great grandmother was born. After having their 6th child, the couple decided to move to Bronx, New York to give their children a better life with more opportunities. 

As they began to grow and experience life outside of Puerto Rico in what seem like a whole new environment, they began to set new roots and ventured out. Later on, Miriam met Isael and they began a family of their own. The two had 5 children of their own. On December 13, 1967 Miriam gave birth to her eldest daughter Maggie, my grandmother. Who later began setting her own roots and had her first child Alice, who later had me.

 Even as a person seen as a minority and is label as a lesser sex It gives me pride and power to know where my traditions as well as heritage comes from which for me began in a small home in Guyaillia, Puerto Rico. I am proud to be an American Latina even though we face challenges. Our struggles,environment, stories and backgrounds, and how we advocate and face our challenges  molds our identity and how we face them    will ultimately mold the next generations like a chain reaction. Our history is our identity and culture.

RESOURCES 

Kimberly drew This is what I know about Art

 5 Top Issues Fueling Gender Inequality, By Julie Wilson, January 25,2019.

 https://www.asyousow.org/blog/gender-equality-workplace-issues

Gender Justice and Women's Rights. Oxfam International.

https://www.oxfam.org/en/what-we-do/issues/gender-justice-and-womens-rights 

Last Supper, Broad And High, Dec 18, 2018

https://youtu.be/uf4EN7EPnTk

Understanding patriarchy, Bell hooks

 

 

 

Gallery works and caption’s 

                                                                            Self Image