from the juror

As the juror of "Feminist Interrogations" this past month at A.R.C., I am very grateful for Karen Washington's observations. The parallel she draws between J.J. Barrington's Have I Done the Right Thing and "Have You Ever" by the eight-year old girl participating in the Vantage Point project is a very powerful one. It is an example of what I hoped the exhibition would do and that is raise questions and awareness about issues that remain silenced in many sectors of society, as well as point to the fact that sexual violence against women cuts across generations, ethnicities, race, class and religions. From Barrington's piece, my eye (and mind) began conversations with many other works in the show, prompting further reflection on this content. Sabba Syal's installation brought a transnational viewpoint to the issue by exploring her grandmother's history of survival in conjunction with missing women across Pakistan after the fall of British rule in 1947 and the split of the Punjab province. Kathleen Madigan's Let Me Show You Door used the door and text set against a beautiful quilt, making clear that the domestic space does not guarantee a place of safety. Theresa A. Anderson’s Autobiography: the Drawing Series/ Better Homes and Gardens utilized drawing and collage to interrogate the intersection between domestic violence and adoption into a family that silences her Indian background within a Swedish, German and Irish community; in many ways creating a virtual connection with the eight year old originally cited by Karen Washington. While I'm only addressing a select group of works in the show (I hope people write more!), what each piece held in common in “Feminist Interrogations” was its ability not to impose ideology or a specific point of view but instead collectively they introduced viewers to a range of feminist perspectives that allowed for contemplation and further consideration of difficult issues beyond the gallery visit that are unlikely to disappear anytime soon.

Thanks again for sharing your views,
Joanna Gardner-Huggett, DePaul University