For some, March is the beginning of Spring. For others, March is the month after February. For others, a large portion of others, March is Women’s History Month. Although the first International Women’s Day in the US dates to 1911, it was not until 1987 that Congress declared March as National Women’s History Month. The National Women’s History Alliance deemed 2023 the year to “Celebrate Women Who Tell our Stories.” What a better way to tell a story than with art.
This March, Gallery500 is celebrating Women’s History Month with an exhibition of female artists, hosting Florida Women’s Arts Association’s Member’s Showcase. The gallery will display over 50 unique pieces, created, and presented by women. Not only is the exhibition focused on female artist and art, but Gallery500 is a woman owned and woman run business, a unique experience even in 2023.
Women have been telling their story with art for generations. Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1653) is said to have used art as therapy, telling the story of her rape by a fellow artist in her multiple depictions of Judith and Holofernes.
Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun (1755-1842) was able to put her sitters at ease, visually telling their story through her revolutionary portrait paintings. Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) left art school due to the restrictions put on female artists at the time. Cassatt spent her esteemed art career pursuing equality for women, participating in exhibitions in support of women’s suffrage.
The iconic Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986) fought to be considered as an artist, separate from male or female biases. O’Keeffe argued that female painters can create art just as powerful as men, free from gender stereotypes. Lenore “Lee” Krasner (1908-1985) continued this, penning the artist’s name Lee rather than the more feminine Lenore.
Florida Women’s Arts Association (FLWAA) is an outgrowth of The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA), incorporated in November 1981 as a private, nonprofit museum. The NMWA is the first museum in the world solely dedicated to championing women through the arts. Today, FLWAA hopes to make an impact in the community and inspire all female artists to create and display their work. The Member’s Showcase will be on display at Gallery500 March 3 – April 2, 2023. Please join us Friday, March 3rd at the opening reception from 5 – 7 pm at Gallery500.
We look forward to seeing you in the gallery soon!
-your Gallery500 team