March is celebrated as Women’s History Month. OCU, a campus with many women in leadership positions, on staff and faculty, and in the student body, will honor the month and the impact of females historically and in the present.
The Norick Art Center, part of the Nona Jean Hulsey Gallery with the OCU School of Visual Arts, will be celebrating Women’s History Month through several exhibitions and panel discussions. Currently, the exhibition “Do They Make a Sound” featuring the work of Jessica Lichtenstein may be viewed by students during all hours that the building is open. The art display, a creation of vinyl and paper that shows women’s bodies shaped into forming a large tree.
A poster for the art explained, “Using the female body as a mechanism to explore deeper themes of power, female representation, fetishism and objectification, this work plays with the boundaries of power, commercialization, consumerism, fantasy and propriety, provoking tensions that challenge the viewer.”
Heather Lunsford, Chair of Studio Art & Design and curator of the Lichtenstein show, spoke with MediaOCU about this exhibition. Lichtenstein’s art was influenced by the #MeToo movement.
“One of the best ways to raise awareness on college campus about appropriate behavior and consent is to have better discussion and make it more open and accessible and comfortable to talk about these things. One of the ways to talk about these things is through art.” Lunsford explained this exhibition is meant to examine how women are sexualized in modern times. Lunsford said “Contemporary art in the world is discussing what is happening in society,” Lunsford said.
Lichtenstein’s art, which will remain viewable until April 10, will also be the topic of the Panel 9 discussion on March 3 at 6 p.m. in the Norick Art Center. The panel will feature curator Lunsford and artist Lichtenstein, two speakers from the YWCA, Chief Officer Angela Beatty and Senior Director Amanda Kemp, and OCU Criminal Justice professor Beth Green. This panel discussion is free for students to attend. The speakers have experience with domestic violence, sexual assault, and prevention of such crimes. The artist, Lichtenstein, will be flying to OKC from New York to participate in this panel.
The Norick Art Center will also feature an art exhibition from photographer Sam Charboneau. The exhibition, titled “Domestic Inquiries,” includes images taken by the fine arts photographer, and was described by Lunsford as being specifically aimed toward commenting on women’s rights. The photography show will be displayed from Feb. 23- Aug. 12 at the Norick Art Center, and is open for students to view at all times the building is open.
On March 24 at 6 p.m. the artist Sam Charboneau will speak at an Artist Talk about “Domestic Inquiries.” This event, also free for students to attend, will include some food and refreshments, as the artist explains the work and its meaning.
Students do not have to RSVP to the March 3 Lichenstein panel discussion or to the March 24 Charboneau Artist Talk. Both events will occur at the Norick Art Center. Both exhibitions are viewable now.
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