Eleven University of Rochester undergraduate students whose artwork raises questions about the depiction of gender are featured in an annual exhibition at the University of Rochester.
The juried exhibition of 14 works, titled "(en)GENDERED: identity, gender & art," is on display through Friday, Feb. 2, in Gallery at the Art and Music Library, located on the ground floor of Rush Rhees Library on the River Campus. The exhibition is sponsored by the Susan B. Anthony Institute for Gender and Women's Studies. On Tuesday, Jan. 23, an opening reception will be held in the gallery at 4:30 p.m. and will include a talk by Marjorie Searl, chief curator at the University's Memorial Art Gallery, at 5 p.m.
Three works were chosen for the Susan B. Anthony Institute Jurors' Choice Prize, which carries an award of $150 each: "Memories of My Culture, My Identity in Harlem," a painting and collage by junior Pamela Reese Smith; "Decay," a three-dimensional piece of cloth and leaves by junior Shannon McCarter; and "Access," a sculpture of acorns, rice, and wood by junior Kristin Costin. The pieces were judged by a panel composed of Susan E. Gustafson, director of the Susan B. Anthony Institute for Gender and Women's Studies; Joan Saab, associate professor of art history and of visual and cultural studies; and Margie Searl, chief curator at the University's Memorial Art Gallery.
Other works selected for the exhibit are: "A Quick Guide to Feigning Sophistication," a digital print by freshman Wendy Epstein; "Faces in Steel," steel sculptures by senior David Fersh; a two-part charcoal-on-wood piece titled "I Thought You Were Ready," by junior Chase Henson; "Identity Is," a series of acrylic paintings on canvas by freshman Mary McGowan; a series of digital prints titled "Doll," by Deste Relyea, a student who is spending a year on interdisciplinary research as a Take Five Scholar; and a canvas painting titled "The Real American Girl," by Shirley Zimmer, a part-time undergraduate student. In addition, freshman Jennifer Burger has three works in the exhibition, two untitled sculptures as well as a yarn sculpture titled "Pods," and senior Laura Teicher has untitled sculpture and an untitled charcoal-and-gesso on paper in the exhibit.
Admission to "(en)GENDERED: identity, gender & art" is free and open to the public. Hours of the Art and Music Library are 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; noon to 5 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 10 p.m., Sunday. For more information, contact (585) 275-8318.