Artists and activists making space for womanist perspectives, projects, and action in their communities.
The Re|Marking group began with a collection of female identifying artists and friends discussing their interest in body-based practices. Recent events, politics, and legislation made the female body a contested site. There are so many forces literally and figuratively tugging at the body, and so we felt compelled to take action with the body as a central tool of resistance.
In our formative stages, we have come to realize we must support a broad spectrum of responses in the same way we support the full spectrum of bodies. Essentially, we agree that there is no one “right way” to do what must be done – in society, in our communities, or in our bodies.
With that in mind, we are producing our first Re|Marking arts event in the Detroit-Shoreway community on Saturday, April 30th from 2-6pm. Twenty Northeast Ohio artists are showcasing works that range from movement performance to video projection, performance art, social practice gathering and more. Works will be showcased in the private spaces of W 50th and W 52nd, Guide to Kulchur Bookstore, Gypsy Beans Café, and several 78th Street Gallery Studios. We are also hosting a distinguished guest artist from Chicago, Victoria Bradford, and her project, titled Neighborhood Dances.
Community members and guests are invited to view the works, contribute to projects, take part in a workshop led by Bradford, and enjoy discussions with the artists. This is a place to meet others, engage in conversations, and build a foundation for activities going forward.
Funds raised will first go toward the artists participating in the April 30th 2016 event. They have dedicated their time and talent to ensuring this group and project get off the ground, but they should be compensated for their work and supplies.
After meeting the minimum artist stipend threshold, funds will be applied to the amount owed for event marketing and supplies.
After the April event has been fully funded, the remaining funds will be used to guarantee artists participating in the next event are fully supported. (Any funds raised during the next event will be applied forward and so forth). The goal is to develop a self-funding, annual community arts event.
The art world is notoriously male dominated. Fifty-one percent of visual artists today identify as women, but only around 28% of museum solo exhibitions feature women. (The Reckoning: Women Artists of the New Millennium, 2013). The statistics are staggering as you can see for yourself online atwww.nmwa.org.
Re|Marking features womanist perspectives in community art projects and provides a literal and digital support space. Artists, activists, and enthusiasts can be part of the Facebook group – Re | Marking, take part in planning future events, or submit to have their work included.