Flirtation by Aleksandra L Mears. (Photo by Katy O'Dwyer)
Kangaroos made of rubber and wire, ethereal scenes, and oil paintings with disguised meanings greet those attending Delaware County Community College's new exhibit.
The exhibit features the work of 24 members of the National Association of Women Artists, and celebrates 120 years of advancing female artists.
The entrance to the gallery just has its name in plain white letters, with the art showing itself as soon as you turn a corner.
Each piece has a significant space to itself which allows you to take in what unique aspects it has to offer.
For example, “flirtation” by Aleksandra L. Mears is at first look simply an oil painting of a sullen woman holding a fan, but on a second look one sees that the fan displays her with no clothing on her upper body.
The show is full of clever little gems like this one, and is accompanied by a soundtrack of female composers playing in the background.
NAWA has given women artists places to show their work, when it would otherwise go unseen.
They have fought to help female artists in a business where they have been often overlooked, or underestimated.
The DCCC art gallery puts on about 7 shows a year, which usually feature student artwork and are all decided ahead of time by a committee.
“People think we just slap stuff on a wall,” DCCC Gallery Director Richard Johnson said. It takes a lot of work.”
The pieces shown at DCCC vary from oil paintings, sculpture, to mixed media. Each piece was selected by a NAWA committee for the exhibit.
According DCCC art teacher Bertha Gutman, the competition to be in this gallery was high, and many artists submitted their work for the exhibit, with only these 24 making the cut.
Many of Ms. Gutman’s and other art students came to the opening, including Julianne Weingart, 19, Liberal Arts Major.
“I like coming to art galleries,” said Weingart. “I love coming and seeing what other people can do.”
“NAWA allows women to exhibit their work that otherwise could not,” said Gutman, an artist and long time NAWA member.
Gutman teaches painting and art history at DCCC, and has been featured by exhibits formed by NAWA.
The NAWA 120th anniversary exhibit runs from the February 16 to March 13, and is recommended to all ages and walks of life.
