ReachArts in Swampscott is celebrating International Women’s Day with an upcoming exhibit on Saturday, March 9 and Sunday, March 10.
“Inclusion” will feature the works of local artists Ghufran Al-saegh, Sammia Atoui, Karin Marleen Dijkstra, Helene Falcon, Maureen Holub, Cathy Marie Michael, Amy Mathews, Hannah Sharpless, Tereza Swanda, Stefanie Timmermann, and Cynthia Zeman.
“We wanted to showcase female performers and also be a bit educational as far as what women have done in the past, how they contributed, and the kinds of things they did,” Agatha Morrell, the exhibit’s organizer, said. “It’s just about a celebration of women in the arts.”
Swanda, who also serves as the community art center’s curator, used her resources as an educator to have student-artists included. Marisa Orlando of Salem State University, Elexxus Ryan of Roxbury Community College, and independent student Rory Torstensson will have their work on display as well.
“We are working on the following themes: gender economic inequality, human and non-human kinship, gun violence, nature as the ground, non-domination, reproductive labor, failing, responsibility, and interconnectedness,” the group of artists said jointly in a press release.
The two-day event is being funded by a grant of $2,500 from the Mass Cultural Council. The festivities will begin on March 9 with two public workshops on pottery and printmaking at 1 and 2:30 p.m., respectively. Artist Stephanie Moriarty will lead the pottery workshop, while Atoui will teach the printmaking session.
The opening reception will begin later that evening at 5 p.m. Sunday’s sole event is a “walk and talk” of the gallery with Swanda. The discussion will focus on how the featured artwork aims to “shift focus from known paradigms to new possibilities in the current era.”
“Moving away from patriarchy to a Mother Earth-centered approach, and adopting values of caring and respect, are urgent. It is a commitment that needs to start now with each of us,” Falcon said.
