MONDAY, JULY 21, 2014
PAGE 12
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WOMEN ARTISTS
Exhibit addresses gender imbalance in art galleries
ANNUREET KAUR
news@kansan.com
After seeing imbalance in the ratio of men-to-women artists with work on display in galleries, Meredith Moore, owner and director of Wonder Fair, brought together 16 women artists younger than 50 to display their work in the Young Women Artists exhibit at the six-year-old gallery at 803 Massachusetts St.
my expertise."
Moore said she wanted to create an exhibit to feature and empower women artists after she found a 7:3 disparity between men's and women's art shown in galleries.
Shelby Keierleber, a senior from Olathe, portrayed her views of life and dreams of a better workplace in her painting "Cubicles." Keierleber said she normally opposes the idea of an all woman show because she doesn't think art should be bound by gender. However, she said the exhibit serves a good cause and makes the audience aware of the imbalance of gender statistics in galleries.
"I don't think it's the fault of the art world, it's the fault of the world," Moore said. "There's many worse problems in the world and in society, but I happen to work in the arts, so this is a problem I can address with
JAMES HOYT/KANSAN
Wonder Fair's "Young Women Artists" exhibit at 803 Massachusetts St. displays artwork made by female artists to address a 7:3 gender disparity within art exhibits.
"I was really excited for the opportunity because all those artists are people I respect," Chin said. "The artists' work who was right above mine was my mentor while I was at KU."
Alicia Kelly, a 2010 University graduate, used patterns, shadows and flower cutouts in her artwork. Kelly said she used her skills in printmaking to create her piece.
"I think the research serves as a valuable reminder that although [women] may be underrepresented in galleries, a group of women can put on a strong, cohesive show in a gallery too." Keierleber said.
"Most of my work is just how it's displayed—the shadows, the patterns, the flowers," Kelly said. "There's a message of fake versus real."
Grace Chin, a 2012 University graduate, has her artwork "Odyssey" on display. Chin used traditional patterns from her Korean heritage to display cultural imagery in her artwork.
Moore said the exhibit showcases work of women who want to pursue a career as artists, not just hobbyists. She chose some women artists that are passive to help them learn to be more proactive and competitive with their work.
"I hope that this exhibition helps some women artists to try harder and
succeed more, or maybe it'll make a gallerist in Kansas City look at his roster and decide he needs to pick up a couple of extra women artists to balance things out," Moore said.
Wonder Fair will host the exhibit until Aug.24.
— Edited by Ashleigh Lee and Emma LeGault
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