Art Space
Feminist Art
The Women's Studies suite offers our walls for University of Houston students to display their work. This art must deal with gender or feminist issues. One artist displays his/her work for the duration of the school year and may provide purchase information for each piece. Women's Studies holds an art opening for the artist in the Fall.
Current Exhibit
Lindsay Fyffe and Ana Villagomez, Dismantled
Lindsay Fyffe Artist Statement:
"For this piece I felt compelled to share my experience as a woman who has felt objectified. Whether used, sat upon, or just looked at, a chair is just a mere object for others to do as they please. I often feel the media reduces a woman’s worth in society by portraying her to be a mere object of sexual desire. The arm cutouts are unique in that they were extracted directly from a model in a women’s magazine. At second glance, the pattern on the chair transcends from just decorative roses to a complex arrangement of parts. As with objectification, the woman’s thoughts, emotions and self as a whole are lost."
Ana Villagomez Artist Statement:
“To me, one of the most overwhelming feelings of joy comes from being able to decide what two things should be nailed together and which should not. From a young age I started taking things apart. I broke furniture, toys, cups, plates, movies, anything. I did with these pieces whatever I felt like; I put them together however I wanted, and I’ve been doing that ever since. When I come across an object that gives me an irrepressible feeling of sadness, I take it apart. I cut them, shape them, and change their surface. I use these scraps to build entirely new and large scale objects; objects that are created because for whatever reason I decided that they should be. Whether the pieces I create are representational or abstract, they are all part of uncontainable feelings within me from thoughts of the present or past memories, and particularly memories that were abandoned for too long. My work is the only successful outlet I’ve ever had for these feelings. When I make these pieces I am the one in control. When I see them complete in their large scale and I reflect on the arduous physical process of making them, I don’t feel small or weak or inferior, and, for me, this is the ultimate feeling of comfort and happiness."
Previous Exhibit
Angela Whitford, Interconnectivity
Artist Statement:
"My recent work has focused on exploring the possibilities of collage
and various found objects. This technique provides texture to the
painting and adds depth to the concept of the work. These collages
relate to women in that they each have unique material elements such
as beads, buttons, thread, and needles. Before the feminist movement
these items were written off simply as 'crafts.' These were all things
that were used to define and limit women’s skills, and I think that they
are an important symbol to their struggle. The different orifices within
some of my paintings can be read as wombs. For example, Conch and
Orchid displays an orchid growing out of a conch. I associate this image
with rebirth and the concept of motherhood. A woman figure in another
painting displays a sense of introspection. Many symbols of
womanhood appear in Interconnectivity. I believe that the relation of
these different symbols shows through in my work. These pieces each
contain femininity as one of several themes."
Interested Artists
If you are interested in showing your work in the Women's Studies suite, please contact Maria or Elsa at wost@uh.edu.
