CHICAGO —Woman Made Gallery (WMG) is proud to present its 20th International Open, an exhibition that explores conceptual and material boundaries. Juried by Sharmyn Cruz Rivera, the 20th International Open will be the first exhibition at WMG’s new location in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, at 2150 S. Canalport #4A-3.
“Woman Made Gallery’s 20th International Open gives a generative view of the work being made by female-identified artists across art disciplines and conceptual imperatives,” writes Sharmyn Cruz Rivera in her juror’s statement. “This exhibition portrays a comprehensive exploration of contemporary formal experimentation complicated through themes of cultural history, gender expression, femme kinship, and body politics. This supple group of artists successfully pose exercises in materiality, humanity, and vulnerability – a testimony of the potent production of women artists.”
The 20th International Open includes works by 30 artists working across a variety of disciplines: Tracie Battle; Catalina Bellizzi; Jan Brandt; Shenequa Brooks; Cathleen Clarke; Stephanie Cunningham; Hanna Dausch; Susan Dwyer; Jessica Ferrer; Silvia Gonzalez; Katie Hargrave; Margaret Hart; Lisa Bergant Koi; Nataliya Kotlova; Sue Kay Lee; Shannon Molter; Abbey Muza; Lovie Olivia; Roni Packer; B. Quinn; Mohadeseh Rahimitabar; Preetika Rajgariah; Farah Salem; Carryl Sher; LaNia Sproles; Claire Stankus; Liza Sylvestre; Ioana Turcan; Ariana Vaeth; and Julia Victor.
Juror: Sharmyn Cruz Rivera
Sharmyn Cruz Rivera is a Puerto Rican curator based in Chicago whose practice examines the intermedial qualities of sound art, contemporary dance, installation, and performance art. Her interest and research depart from meditations on human geography, radical manifestations of identity and methodologies of collaboration. She holds an MA in Arts Administration and Policy from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a dual BA in Art History and Modern Languages from the University of Puerto Rico.
Cruz Rivera has held positions at El Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, (San Juan, PR), THE MISSION (Chicago, IL) and Lampo (Chicago, IL) and currently works as an independent curator. Recent projects include INSIDE VOICE: a sound art program at Threewalls and La Vista: mamihlapinatapai at The Franklin. She was a 2015-2016 HATCH Projects Curatorial Resident at the Chicago Artists Coalition where she curated for no space, Exhaustion and Exuberance and Fiction Within. She is a recipient of the 2017 Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation Curatorial Fellowship. For more information visit http://sharmyncruzrivera.com
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The opening reception for the 20th International Open is on Friday, September 22, 2017 from 6 to 8 p.m. Works are on display through October 19, 2017. All events are free and open to the public. Donations are always welcome and appreciated.
Woman Made Gallery
2150 S Canalport #4A-3
Chicago, IL 60608
312-738-0400
general@womanmade.org
(Banner Image: artwork by Shenequa Brooks)
