Last night, the Women's Initiative celebrated the contribution of women in the arts with an event titled "Just like my Momma made it" in the Katzen Arts Center.
Originally designed as a study and snack break from midterms, Ashley Evans, a sophomore in the School of International Service and the director of Women's Empowerment for WI, decided it was the perfect time to highlight the accomplishments of AU's female artists.
"Women make such great artistic contributions, and, like in so many areas of life, those contributions are often overlooked," Evans said. "This seemed like an opportunity to celebrate those contributions."
All-female a cappella group Treble in Paradise performed works by female musicians, including Annie Lennox's "Walking on Broken Glass," Sarah McLachlan's "Building a Mystery" and KT Tunstall's "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree."
AU art history professor Helen Langa gave a speech about women artists and the way women are portrayed in the visual arts and author, director and Department of Performing Arts professor Caleen Jennings led a discussion about the role of gender in the upcoming DPA production "Elsewhere in Elsinore." The play focuses on the women who must have lived in Shakespeare's classic "Hamlet," but who are largely ignored in the play.
"I actually went to Elsinore Castle, and I know there were women there and I know they did incredible things," Jennings said. "I like to focus on the unseen in Shakespeare and it is very interesting to put the focus on the women."
The event also provided students with basic art supplies to give them the chance to make their own art and encouraged members of the AU community who sing, play an instrument or write to recite or perform as well. Afterward, attendees were invited to accompany Jennings to an open rehearsal of the play, which will open April 27.
"I think art is really a huge outlet for social expression," Julie Rogers, a freshman in SIS, said. "It is important that women are able to present their view of the world and how it affects them through the arts because it is easier to digest and it reaches further into your heart."
"It's nice to see women in art with their clothes on for a change," joked Danielle Geong, a junior in the School of Public Affairs and director for campus outreach in Women's Initiative, a co-organizer of the event. "Women are usually only featured as subjects of art, as the inspiration for art, not its creators. We take great pride in the talented students, staff and faculty on this campus."
"I think it's really important to have events like this where women are the main show, because it shows that women can hold their own and fill an entire program with women artists and women's art," Danielle Giusto, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, said.
"It is so nice to give people exposure to these artists so more women can be considered mainstream and classic. Women artists are not the exception, and they shouldn't be treated like that."
Giusto, a music major, also organizes an event titled "Music, she wrote" as her senior recital. Scheduled for March 31 in the Katzen Arts Center, Giusto's performance will include a full program of works by female composers.
