Upcoming Exhibitions
Art in Education Spring Exhibition: Shared Spaces
Opening Reception April 26th, 2-5PM
On view until May 2nd
Women’s Studio Workshop is proud to host the Art-In-Education (AIE) exhibition Shared Spaces with 4th and 8th grade students from Kingston City School District. Over four weeks, students produced this body of work in WSW’s Papermaking, Intaglio, and Silkscreen studios, exploring the foundations of these artistic processes.
Classes led by artists SR Lejeune, Celia Shaheen, Gil Dickinson, and Paria Ahmadi explored central themes of collaboration and duality. The teaching artists incorporated these concepts in each studio in their lesson planning. This is exemplified by how studios are shared spaces or by experimenting with the varied uses of each studio’s materials.
This session of AIE marks the 40th year of WSW’s partnership with Kingston City School District. Since 1985, we have devoted several weeks a year to providing in-depth, day-long experiences for students. The program offers students the opportunity to work alongside practicing artists and learn some of what it means to be an artist in today’s world. Kingston High School students come to WSW to work on projects to enhance their college application portfolios, and elementary and middle school students focus on projects to complement their classroom studies. AIE sessions always culminate in an exhibition, allowing students to experience showing their work in a professional gallery.
Meet the Artists
4th grade students from George Washington Elementary School (left), 8th grade students from J. Watson Bailey Middle School (right)
You Deserve Your Flowers
Opening Celebration, May 17th 4-7PM
On view until September 19th
Healing comes in a multitude of ways through spirituality, action, listening and engaging with complexity. Although these journeys are different for everyone, healing is the response to adversity all while redefining what normal is. Through thoughtful intention and presence, understanding oneself aids in building stronger connections to each other. During a time of immense social-political violence against people of color, women, disabled and LGBTQIA+ communities, this exhibition offers a place of respite and recognition. With access to information becoming less available, it is the voices of marginalized communities that need to be protected now more than ever. In solidarity and celebration, our communal growth needs to be prioritized. Through all the labor of healing, we must pause and reflect on how far we’ve come and how many possibilities are still open to us through our continued efforts.
While the world has been unkind to so many, through the exemplary work of artists such as Laura Casas, Isissa Komada-John, S.Lantz, Vanna Ramirez, Sam Shamard, Viv Siqueiros, and Alexis Tellefsen; this exhibition celebrates artists who use their practices to process, find their voices, and uplift themselves and their communities. Realized through their journey, we are supplied with profound narratives celebrating the nuances of our experiences and finding that we grow closer when we trade anxiety for creativity.
Through the lens of contemporary ceramics, “You Deserve Your Flowers” features emerging artists of color exploring themes of identity and healing. Acknowledging the labor that goes into healing; confronting hardship, uncertainty and melancholy is only an aspect of their journey. While working in their studios, these artists are embracing their authenticity and honoring their communities. This exhibition is meant to celebrate the catalyzing nature of these artists whose works deserve “flowers” for their vulnerability and bravery.