by Tammy Taylor
Staff Writer
The Women’s Center of Jacksonville is opening its third art exhibition titled “Art Lives On!” Friday, April 2. The showing is part of the ongoing “Art & Soul” arts program.
“Art Lives On!” will feature several local and regional women artists. The exhibit will feature art created by women who have survived some ordeal within their lives such as breast cancer, sexual assault and domestic violence.
“We are being very liberal with the term ‘survivor’,” said Ellen McAnany, grants and human resource director for the Women’s Center. “I think all women are survivors, and this shows that women are not only surviving, but thriving.”
Each piece will include a written or voice–recorded statement by the artist explaining their tale of survival.
Robin, an artist featured in the exhibition, submitted a statement explaining her childhood in a home with an alcoholic father. She said art helped her, because she could always go into her room and draw to feel safe.
Another feature of the exhibit will be masks created by a group of women with AIDS. Concealed behind each mask will be a speaker box with recorded personal statements. Each woman will give her story involving her personal struggle with AIDS.
“This is not the kind of art you would find in a gallery,” said McAnany. “A gallery would not touch this.”
In recognizing March as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the Women’s Center of Jacksonville will have 430 teal ribbons hanging in the center courtyard during the opening reception. The ribbons represent the number of rapes reported in Jacksonville in 2003.
“With this show, I feel like it shows what women survive all the time,” said McAnany.
In conjunction with the art exhibition, educational workshops concentrating on art therapy and self-expression as a healing tool are conducted.
The first workshop, scheduled for Saturday, is entitled “Mask the World in Me”. It will last from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Women’s Center. Artist Ashley Payne will teach the technique of making a mask of participant’s faces. The masks will be decorated according to the tastes of their creators.
Julisa Delamar will speak at a luncheon May 7. Her topic “Women in Film” will coordinate with the kick-off of the Jacksonville Film Festival.
“From the Inside Out” will also be offered along with “Art Lives On!”. The May 8 workshop facilitated by psychotherapist Bobbie O’Connor will concentrate on discovering one’s body and self-image.
Although the art series focuses on women artists, men are encouraged to attend the gallery and educational workshops.
“Our mission is to promote women artists. Anytime we can give women artists a chance to show and sell art, it betters them in the field,” said McAnany. “We’re not about excluding men, but including women.”
“Art & Soul” began when McAnany and local artist Stephanie Sipp wanted to bring art into the Women’s Center. The theme of all shows highlight the Center’s mission to nurture mind, body and spirit.
Funding for the art series comes from donations and commissions the Center receives from gallery sales. The first show generated $10,000. The Women’s Center of Jacksonville received 30 percent of the revenue.
“Art promotes healing. You can use it to connect on different levels,” said McAnany. “It allows you to communicate with people in a way that’s acceptable.”
The gallery housed within the Women’s Center of Jacksonville is located at 5644 Colcord Ave. in the Clifton area of Arlington. Viewing hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. The “Art Lives On!” exhibit will run until June 22.
For more information on the “Art & Soul” art series, contact Ellen McAnany at 722-3000.