Not So Fragile
An exhibition
Colorado Women’s College, University of Denver
October 11 - December 5, 2014
Curator’s Statement
The contrasts generated by this show have served as an inspiration for me, creating
new perceptions about dialogue. Also causing me to ponder the ebb and flow of
human expression and its effect upon everyday life.
The mere reflection upon the determination and commitment it takes to make art and
to chart a path of personal expression consumes me. Considering how artists walk a
line of truth, honesty to self and work, through continual self-reflection, balancing
opinion, moderating norms and maintaining their desire for success or acceptance
generates a personal perception. That perception seems to mirror the journey of
womanhood and the complexities of choices facing women in the modern world.
Women still bound by historic sentiment, together with notions of roles and
responsibilities face uncharted paths from birth. As each day passes in life, full of
expectations yet abounding with new freedoms. Manifestations of choices have
presented with dramatic and rapid change. How could those changes not result in
perceptual changes and expressive endorsements of those changes? The task at hand
has caused me to once again reflect on life pre-suffrage, pre ability to own property
and pre personal choice as never before.
The complexity of womanhood is as fantastic as the sun rising every day. This show
celebrates that complexity, while calling attention to work that revolves around it. It is
my hope viewers are able to discern the contrast of approaches and representations
within this exhibition, while reflecting upon the historical confinement women have
experienced.
Laura Phelps Rogers
John Berger – is quoted from his art criticism essays - Ways of Seeing:
“Seeing comes before words…which establishes our place in the surrounding world.”
Opening Reception October 17th 4-8 p.m.
Artists:
Kay Juricek – Colorado Artists Guild
Title: Dr. Florence Sabin
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Bobbie Shupe – Colorado Artists Guild
Title: Pink Panther
Medium: Mixed
Renee Ziccardi – Colorado Artist Guild - Renee is committed to the arts, constantly
engaged in teaching and process, working at the Arvada Center – warm and inviting
Renee knows art is a commitment – living, drinking, feeling and making art.
Title: That’s What She Said
Medium: Ceramic Tile - raku
Title: The Kiss
Medium: Ceramic Tile - raku
Leslie Aguillard – Colorado Artist’s Guild – Leslie’s work embraces and spans
generations of feminism. Bodies of work include her Noir series and most recently her
Washington Park series. Her work is a continual surprise, as is her outlook and
viewpoint. No one could hope to have a better friend and supporter of the arts.
Title: Allegory of a Women’s Life – from the series Allegories of Women’s Lives
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Stanley Schwartz – Colorado Artist Guild
Title: Before There Was Texting
Medium: Oil on Board
Title: Lost In Thought
Medium: Oil on Board
Pushpa Mehta – Colorado Artists Guild
Title: Mother and Child - Medium: Acrylic
Ference Gyulafia – Colorado Artists Guild
Title: Behind the Veil
Medium: Archival Print
Title: Guess
Medium: Archival Print
Title: Transfiction
Medium: Archival Print
Fred Lunger – Colorado Artists Guild - Working primarily in bronze. Fred brings a new
look at the permanence of a material that has the ability to romance us. Through his
visualization and talent he continues an active leadership role with the Guild.
Title: Aerial Silk
Medium: Bronze
Laura Phelps Rogers – A prolific local contemporary artist exhibiting internationally,
nationally and locally – Using sculpture, Photography and Installation she works from
her subconscious integrating a memory based approach into her visual narratives.
Tile: Not So Fragile
Medium: Bronze - Digital Photographs of Bronze Sculptures
Rian Kerrane – A well known local contemporary artist exhibiting internationally,
nationally and locally – Irish born – she uses her unique visual narratives, to show us
there is more than meets the eye. Professor of Sculpture at the University of Colorado
Denver, she uses her conceptual foundry based approach in her work while
influencing her students approach through her strong knowledge of the art world and
process.
Title: Dichotomous Relationships
Medium: Pronto Plate Prints with Found Objects on Paper
Kayo Peeler – A newcomer to the Women’s Art Caucus, Kayo is producing work with a
strong dialogue about women’s roles and the perceptions that surround those roles. A
long time painter - she works in Northern Colorado
Title: The Geisha
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Viviane Le Courtois - Viviane received her MFA in Art History at the University of
Denver. Active in the art world with her food and environmentally based approach.
She has exhibited at the Denver Museum of Contemporary Art, Boulder Museum of
Contemporary Art as well as many other prominent contemporary art venues.
Title: Venus
Sculpture - Crochet and Silicone
Medium: Yarn and Silicone
Title: Potato
Medium: Hardground Etching and Watercolor
Sarah Rockett – A local artist with a strong commitment to contemporary art –
President of Ice Cube Gallery, she also teaches drawing at Metropolitan State
University. Interested in fear and working from a strong female based approach, she
delved deep in her recent solo show at Ice Cube. The work exhibited here was a part
of that body of work.
Title: Heebie Jeebies
Medium: Fabric and Found Object
Heather Doyle Maier – is a local artist recently finishing a stint at RedLine – she
focuses on women’s roles. Contemporary interpretations of women’s roles are
evident in her work. Focused and committed, to her message within the
contemporary conceptual sector – Heather’s work continues to empower women and
those who take the time to view her meticulous approach.
Title: Pricked
Medium: Pillowcases and Pins
Nichole Hongchang – Associate professor of art at the University of Colorado – Nichole
continues to expand and stretch the boundaries of art. Championing artists such as
Francis Bacon – Nichole embodies work generated from the identity based approach.
Leaving social conventions behind Nichole is true to her vision.
Title: Untitled
Medium: Pencil
Kim Henkel – Is a naturalist who has dabbled in everything – A sculptress and
photographer – her commitment to alternative process and methods in photography
(such as pinhole photography) earned a place in this show. I breathing example of
challenging her gender to do more - she is a champion of showing women that there is
more than one way to live. Her studio lifestyle facilitates her doing it all herself
approach to life.
Title: Bug Eyes/Goggles
Medium: Pinhole Photography - Wet Plate Encaustic Collodion on glass / Wet Plate Collodion
Title: Witch
Medium: Wet Plate Collodion
Title: Mine is Bigger Than Yours
Medium: Wet Plate Collodion
Curator’s Note: The show suffered a censorship of a work by the venue. The work
addressed violence perpetrated against women by Linda Gleitz a Northern Colorado
artist. At the artist’s election the work was withdrawn.
Contact Information:
Please contact the show curator for prices or further information about artists or the
exhibition.
Laura Phelps Rogers
303-641-3472
lauraphelpsrogers@hotmail.com