MUSCATINE, IOWA (January 10, 2020) — The year 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote. The Muscatine Art Center will open three exhibitions that bring women’s voices to the forefront. A local committee selected 24 women artists to participate in the “Hard Won, Not Done: Eastern Iowa Women Artist Invitational.” Muscatine Art Center staff coordinated with Cedar Rapids artist Tara Moorman to present “Letters to My Ancestors” and with Susan Lenz of South Carolina to exhibit “The Feminist To Do List.” All three exhibitions will be on view from January 18 through April 12, 2020.
For “Hard Won, Not Done,” the artists selected for this invitational represent a wide range of mediums as well as backgrounds and experiences. Some of the works of art are deeply rooted in tradition while others spotlight current issues, and many both reference the past and voice modern-day concerns. The committee included artists from different generations, ethnicities, and races, and also balanced considerations such as urban/rural, within/outside of university setting, and native Iowan/Iowa “transplant” from another state or country.
In conjunction with the “Hard Won, Not Done” exhibition, the Muscatine Art Center will host two panel discussions — Sunday, February 9, at 1:30PM, and Thursday, March 26, at 5:30PM. In these panel discussions, artists will share their life and studio experiences as they continue to develop skills and ideas, build community, and navigate a livelihood in the visual arts. Attendees are encouraged to come with questions or to share their own experiences. A list of panelists for each discussion is provided at www.muscatineartcenter.org. A public reception is scheduled Sunday, April 5, 1:30-3PM.
“Letters to My Ancestors” presents a series of paintings celebrating Tara Moorman’s maternal grandmother’s lineage and inspired by family photos from the 1860s to the 1960s. Visitors to this exhibition can connect to the past and encounter Moorman’s ancestors, including Carrie Nation. When looking at family photos, most people have old, faded photographs that capture a fleeting moment in time. Artist Tara Moorman takes her family history a step further with her paintings.
On Sunday, January 19, 1:30-3PM, the public is invited to meet Tara Moorman, hear from the Muscatine “Hard Won, Not Done” committee, and learn about the many Muscatine area activities, events, and celebrations planned for 2020 in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote.
“The Feminist To Do List” is a collection of forty-two altered, vintage quilt blocks presented in 10” diameter wooden embroidery hoops. Fiber artist Susan Lenz hand stitched call-to-action phrases inspired by the early suffragists and in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment. The use of decades-old Sun Bonnet Sue quilt blocks recalls the years of struggle before women were granted the right to vote and serves as a reminder that gender equality is still an ongoing issue. Lenz’s exhibition can be seen in the Stanley Gallery linkage at the Muscatine Art Center.
“As we planned exhibitions and events for 2020, we wanted the Muscatine Art Center to be a gathering place for discussing and considering how far women have come in the last 100 years and what challenges women continue to face,” explains Melanie Alexander, Director of the Muscatine Art Center. “Along the way, our staff has been able to form stronger relationships with women artists living and working in Eastern Iowa.”
Important Dates:
Sunday, January 19, 1:30-3PM: Opening reception for Tara Moorman’s “Letters to My Ancestors” and hear from “Hard Won, Not Done” committee about events and activities planned for 2020 in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment.
Sunday, February 9, 1:30-3PM: “Hard Won, Not Done” panel discussion. Panelists are Miriam Alarcon Avila, Cecile Houel, Nancy Purington, and Kristin Quinn.
Thursday, March 26, 5:30-6:30PM: “Hard Won, Not Done” panel discussion. Panelists are Jean Berry, Rose Frantzen, Monica Leo, Elizabeth Shriver, and Jo Myers-Walker.
Sunday, April 5, 1:30-3PM: Reception for “Hard Won, Not Done” and demonstration by Truc Deegan.
Thursday, April 9, 5:30-6:30PM: “Booked on Art” Public Book Discussion for “Broad Strokes: 15 Women Who Made Art and Made History (In That Order)” by Bridget Quinn.
The Muscatine Art Center is located at 1314 Mulberry Avenue in Muscatine, Iowa. Hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10AM-5PM, Thursday evenings until 7PM, and Saturday and Sunday, 1-5PM. Admission is free. Donations are appreciated. Visit www.muscatineartcenter.org for more information about programs and events and to download a class brochure.
