Show I I Women show artistic talent in art show Terry Dillon Contributing Writer HE recent showing of T THE Womans Woman's Art b by SL CC faculty and staff was inspired inspired inspired in in- and organized by Sarah Smith an academic and career advisor Smith is also a member of the womans woman's Issues committee but she says she regards herself as a humanist more than a feminist She explains explains explains ex ex- plains that the showing of womans woman's art was to increase exposure of womans woman's talents with the hope of stimulating awareness of women as ar ar- ar- ar The exhibit and performance performance performance mance had no political focus per se perhaps subtly in the act itself of having the theart theart theart art be woman If we were looking for political art it would have been radical says Smith The women were merely sharIng sharing shar shar- sharing ing their artistic artistic artistic ar ar- talents Nothing was either radical nr T m a H rl A t lat L r kY T f T-T T M. M ill aaa VI U vt u U g political statement Smith explains that because because because be be- cause women historically have been denied access to participation in the art world it is important to encourage womans woman's achievements Inthis in inthis inthis this field Women have not been educated enough in the past to excel in art or to become literate or to study art as ap ap- f prentices to the masters as have men Women have been disadvantaged in educational educational educational social political and cultural opportunities across the board she explains Although political sensitivity sensitivity sensitivity sen sen- and art with a message message message mes mes- sage is the theme of most feminist art Smith says wom womans woman's ns n's art is generally about creating beauty There are probably two main divisions of worn women en artists artists- political and 0 aesthetic aesthetic aes- aes says Smith Some women conscientiously do political cal commentary commentary- for example Maxine Maxi- Maxi ne Kingston Hong-Kingston and Toni Moro Mor Mor- o rison other women make social and political statements with the breakthroughs they have made art doesn't necessarily have to be feminist art I wouldn't personally personally per per- personally read anything that thatis Is is male-bashing male she says Smith says the purpose of art is to give life significance and to infuse meaning where there may be a lack She explains explains explains ex ex- plains that for her doing art such as performing with the symphony or writing prose gives her a spiritual high The doing part of art is the same for both sexes she says When one is immersed in the throes of inspiration inspiration- the magic creative moment when the heavens open up up- then you get to glimpse at a world where no one else has ever been because you alone created it That's what doing art is all about and although some people may consider art frivolous it is actually very important Smith adds Smiths Smith's conviction is that not only is art important but also it is important for women's art to be acknowledged acknowledged acknowledged ledged and for women's achievements to be taken seriously not only by men |