April 1st is the date for the MUJER-ERES Exhibition at the Brownsville Museum of Fine Arts. April 1st? Well supporting women and those who identify as "fem" and non gender conforming individuals because this space, this exhibition put together by Sam and Ruby @la_chicharrra the curators of MUJER-ERES Exhibition as Eva Ryan says "It's a space for women and non-gender conforming people because the art world is dominated by the male voice." A male dominated art world and MUJER-ERES Exhibition pushed past the boundaries of international women's month to showcase that it shouldn't be just for moment in time as Alejandra says "We make celebrations and bring awareness, but in the future I hope we can normalize anyone being in a space and mean it." Being able to have a platform such as MUJER-ERES Exhibition is important to allow established and emerging artists come together. It's important to showcase "brown women, women with disabilities, different types of people that have been marginalized for their significant identities that coexist with them" as Alejandra states in their interview. With all this, speaking to Sam one of the curators of the exhibtion; Sam @samrawlsart, and 3 artists showcased at the exhibition Michel Tavizion @michel.flores.tavizion, Eva Ryan @papercaperco, and Alejandra Martinez @44waterlilies as they express the importance of spaces, empowerment, and identity at the MUJER-ERES Exhibition.
The Exhibition runs until April 22nd at the Brownsville Museum of Fine Arts!
Before we Begin here is some info about the MUJER-ERES Exhibition First!
From their Instagram post
"MUJER-ERES is an exhibition highlighting the artwork made by women artists to showcase their expressions through art from different perspectives. This exhibition is co-curated by Samantha Rawls and Ruby E. Garza. Rawls is a recent Masters in Fine Arts graduate from the University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and she specializes in painting figurative artwork with oil, gouache, and watercolor. Garza owns La Chicharra Art studio, specializing in printmaking and painting. This year's exhibition comprises thirty-one emerging and established artists from the Rio Grande Valley. The collection will include diverse media such as oil paintings, sculptures, etc. This year's exhibition will inspire more women artists to participate in showcasing their artwork in the years to come.
This year the exhibition consisted of 31 RGV artists: Gina Gwen Palacios, Kim Sandoval ,Leila Hernandez, Eva Ryan ,Cecilia Sierra Jesmil M Maldonado Rodriguez, Avril Godoy, Carla Hughes, Souther Recio, Anaia Irish, Alejandra Martinez, Ruth Kietz, Marcelina Gonzales, Andrea Hempstead, Rocio Lopez ,Amalia Gonzalez, Alexandria Canchola, Cynthia Vazquez, Pat Borosky, Sara Barriera Mariana Prado, Clarissa Martinez, Celina Robledo, Michel Flores, Nancy Miller, ,Anavaleria Gonzalez. Kathy Bussert Webb, Valerie Serrano, Alpha Rodriguez, Nancy Fly, Natalia Salinas"
Ruby and Sam the curators of MUJER-ERES Exhibition
Sam, Michel, and Ruby in front of the MUJER-ERES Exhibition logo a the museum
Sam Rawls - When it comes to the Mujer-Eres what was the drive or interest to put this together? "When we started in 2015 it was to celebrate women's month. Since then we've done it in San Benito every year until at one point where we just couldn't. Searching and thinking on what opportunities should we keep doing. We've continued by being in Harlingen and certain museums. We try to locate different locations to showcase women's art, which slowly transformed into not necessarily being themed on women art, but having women showcase their ideas, their unique styles, bringing women nationally/internationally, to bringing together artwork in one exhibition. While it may not be women's month today, but I feel since we're here in April it goes beyond that. Just having it go outside the month to celebrate it further especially with valley artists!"
How does it feel seeing all the artist applications of those wanting to participate in the exhibition "It's crazy! Seeing all the women that want to participate. Knowing that there's so many artists wanting to put their work out there. It can be overwhelming, but it is also encouraging to keep this exhibition going!"
How is to create a space, using any space in the valley and transforming it into a place of empowerment for women in general. You're allowing these women to come in and showcase their work, a space filled with different mediums "So this museum is mostly runned by women. So it feels amazing. Having the opportunity to open these doors being the museum. For me I never thought I'd be in a museum back in 2015 as an undergrad student. Having art under looked as just a hobby, but having a space like who may have felt the same way in their artistic career. It's great and It's an honor to be apart of this. May I be encouraging to other women to send in proposals and just participate when the opportunity is there especially to museums."
What would you say is the mission statement behind MUJER-ERES Exhibition? "For me it's to bring in different mediums and perspectives of different women in the valley. To showcase their personal work, to showcase established artists/emerging artists. To see the difference where people stand, to see where/how people can grow/go."
Michel Tavizion - Were you asked to be a part of this exhibition or? "I saw the flyer and I applied. This is my 2nd time, my first time was in Harlingen? Brownsville? Well now this year ahuevo I submitted and now I'm here."
What was your drive to want to submit to the exhibition? What made you interested in participating? "Just a show of just women is empowering! I mean women are often overlooked in the art world. An exhibition of just women is powerful."
What would you say is the importance of an exhibition or an event that allows the empowerment of women through different mediums/crafts? "It is important to let people know that they are welcome. It's important to have events like this especially being in exhibition with MUJER-ERES when I was a student. I remember the first one I was in was in a small gallery and now we're here in a museum. It's a great platform and a great show. It's great to have these women have a place in the art world. There's a lot of established artists at the moment, but also emerging artists. It's important to give them a space shared with these artists."
Any final thoughts?
"I'd like to add in to just apply and to be discouraged! I applied again and I didn't think I'd be accepted, but here I am."
Alejandra Martinez - What made you interested in wanting to submit to the MUJER-ERES Exhibition "I think that my work has a very significant narrative when it come to identifying as a 'fem.' I sometimes struggle with the word 'mujer' to use for myself due to my own identity. I wanted to show that 'mujer' can mean different things depending on your expression and the way that you identify."
What does it mean for an event like MUJER-ERES Exhibition to allow a platform to showcase empowerment in one space? "I think for the artists that are here today, it allows it to kinda see your work in a different environment. I know we shouldn't see it that way but I think that sometimes establishing a sense of validation with ourselves. It allows to see or ask 'what does it mean to call yourself an artist' I think this allow the artist to also see themselves reflected in an institution that back then wasn't available for people such as myself when it comes to identity and 'fem' ect. for example."
What would you say is the importance of the empowerment of women? "I'd say to this day there is sexism in the art community. Since it's easy to dismiss the efforts of a 'women artist.' To this day y'know pieces are sold more by male artists than women artists, but in terms of pieces don't necessarily attribute to a certain gender, but it's also important/significant to see certain genders/identities being celebrated in certain spaces. Especially when it comes to brown women, women with disabilities, different types of people that have been marginalized for their significant identities that coexist with them."
While the MUJER-ERES Exhibition was supposed to be an exhibition to be during women's international month, but here we are on April 1st. Even though we are here on April 1st it showcase that we don't need to be on certain month to celebrate/empower women y'know because it should be in general "Yes, I hope one day we don't have to categorize these things as 'women artist' because you never see something as as 'male artist' because you never see an issue for them to get into a space. We make celebrations and bring awareness, but in the future I hope we can normalize anyone being in a space and mean it. We like to think that's the case, but we are still living in a machismo dominate culture in some areas especially growing up 'fem' that there's families that don't believe you even be an artist."
Eva Ryan - What made you want to submit your application for the MUJER-ERES Exhibition "I've been following Sam's work for a long time and she's one of the curators for the exhibition. Before covid hit a couple of years ago I submitted a piece to the MUJER-ERES Exhibition and it was the first time I ever showed in Brownsville. So it's meaningful to me that I got to show again."
How does it feel to be in a space full of women artists, but not just that, but a room full of empowerment for you? "It feels amazing! Sometimes you walk into spaces and sometimes you feel like you don't belong. Being in a room full of empowerment and love with these powerful women is just so nice. Especially when there's women you admire and follow here, it's just great."
What would you say is the importance for events like this for artist to come out and showcase their work? A space not created by men, but a space created by women for women and well for people, a safe space in general as she says "creating a space for people, it's amazing for me. It's a space for women and non-gender conforming people because the art world is dominated by the male voice. Spaces like these, where we can create a space for one another and vocalize with one another is important. Sometimes I walk into a space and I don't feel comfortable, but for example today this is comforting."
Final comment, by Eva
"I think that Sam and Ruby did an amazing job curating this in my hometown. I never knew that the valley would be so excited and open for more art. I knew it would happen eventually, but I'm glad that it happened now."
コメント