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She Says: Women, Words and Power presents a broad range of approaches contemporary women artists are using with the incorporation of text as an essential part of their artistic practice. Each artist creates and reflects the written word as a formal building block: as way to convey trauma, to assert sexuality, or to investigate power structures on all levels. The artists come from a wide range of backgrounds and are at different stages of their lives and careers, yet, for each one text acts as a powerful visual punch. Their use of text navigates a delicate balance between image and language, personal and universal, or politics and poetry. In their investigations and declarations, we find connection, identity, and a mirror reflecting not only ourselves but the world in which we live.

Featured artists for this exhibition include April Bey, Zoë Buckman, Lesley Dill, Meg Hitchcock, Sandra Ramos, Hadieh Shafie, and Betty Tompkins.

EXHIBITION SUPPORT PROVIDED BY: PRA Group with additional support from Arleen Cohen, Susan and Andy Cohen in honor of their mothers Irene Fritsch and Lolly Cohen, Jodi and Jay Klebanoff, Southern Bank, and Kaufman & Canoles, P.C.

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Amplify focuses on the experiences of woman-identifying artists in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, and Washington, D.C. Virginia MOCA curators have connected with curatorial colleagues and asked them to share their recommendations of woman-identifying artists who are exploring identity and the gendered roles of women. Constructs regarding a woman’s identity can be complicated and loaded with political agendas and nuances; yet they are also fascinating, beautiful, and filled with joy when embraced in all their forms. Through a variety of media and approaches, the artists in Amplify explore some of the many aspects of what it is to be a woman. They reveal common themes from an intersectional, and deeply personal lens.

EXHIBITION SUPPORT PROVIDED BY: PRA Group with additional support from Arleen Cohen, Susan and Andy Cohen in honor of their mothers Irene Fritsch and Lolly Cohen, Jodi and Jay Klebanoff, Southern Bank, and Kaufman & Canoles, P.C.

COMMUNITY GALLERY

Everyday Magic features a selection of recent photographs by Lauren Keim celebrating and exploring the vitality and beauty of overlooked moments in everyday life. Morning light illuminating a bedroom window, dishes at the kitchen sink, and a slept-in bed reveal intimate spaces in the artist’s home. Keim’s presence is evident in these photographs even if her body is absent. Her reverence for family can be seen in the heirlooms tucked into various corners of the interiors. Like the artist, we surround ourselves with everyday spaces and objects whose small details often unveil who we truly are. The nature of noticing is intuitive to Keim. She is most comfortable when she has a camera in her hand and is fascinated with making images that reveal simple moments that cannot be repeated. She pays attention to how light shifts throughout the day, often planning an image in advance and waiting in a particular location of her home to achieve her vision.

EXHIBITION SUPPORT PROVIDED BY: PRA Group with additional support from Arleen Cohen, Susan and Andy Cohen in honor of their mothers Irene Fritsch and Lolly Cohen, Jodi and Jay Klebanoff, Southern Bank, and Kaufman & Canoles, P.C.

Image: Lauren Keim, Free for the Strangest Adventures, 2020. Photography. Courtesy of the artist.

FLEMING GALLERY & SATELLITE GALLERY

The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (Virginia MOCA) presents its first teen juried exhibition in conjunction with the Summer of Women suite of exhibitions, which provide a platform for the exploration of the rich and complex lives of women of all ages.

This juried exhibition was open to young women ages 13-19. The entries were reviewed by a committee of their peers, who worked closely with Virginia MOCA staff to curate a selection of artworks that displayed creativity and vision.

Works from this exhibition are also on display in the Fleming Gallery at Virginia MOCA and Satellite Gallery at Towne Pavilion II.

We would like to thank each of the participating artists, the jurors Aubrie Cook, Chloe Quiambao, and Nadia Msalek, and The Runnymede Corporation for their help in realizing this exhibition.

For over 25 years, we have maintained a strong tradition of celebrating regional artists through our annual juried exhibition, New Waves. Our story finds its roots in a concerned and connected artist community. Virginia MOCA has never lost the goal of keeping ties with the talented artists who live close to our doors.

As our community evolves, so will the museum and its traditions. This year, New Waves has become Made in VA. The new title reasserts our commitment to Virginia artists. We will continue to bring together jurors who are at the top of their field with the talented contemporary artists found in the Commonwealth. With the new name come changes intended to strengthen our award program and provide opportunities for the growth and professional development of the selected artists.

COMMUNITY GALLERY

What does a face say about one's character? Artist Agnes Grochulska considers this in her new series entitled Archetypes. According to famed psychologist Carl Jung, humans have a universal character, or archetype, within them. There are twelve primary types, and each one has its own set of values, meanings, and personality traits. They are the Sage, Innocent, Explorer, Ruler, Creator, Caregiver, Magician, Hero, Outlaw, Lover, Jester, and Everyman. Grochulska explores the relationship between her perceptions of these traits and those of her viewers. The artist painted a portrait, interpreting how each character type appears in her own imagination. She challenges the viewer to navigate the portraits to see if their own ideas match those of the artist.

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The power of memory is immeasurable. Our individual recollections help define our sense of self, while our collective memories help define our culture. In this exhibition—Shaping Memories: Expressions in Clay — 6 artists explore this power through clay sculptures inspired by formative moments in their own lives, inherited stories passed down through generations, meaningful objects, and significant historical events. In the process, they invite us to think about the uniqueness of every individual, elements such as race and regional identity that bind us to groups, and the universal human condition that we all share.

Featured artists for this exhibition include Pattie Chalmers, Roberto Lugo, Hollie Lyko, Jiha Moon, Rae Stern, and Ehren Tool.

Organized by the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art
Curated by Alison Byrne, Deputy Director, Exhibitions and Education.