RIGHT TO VOTE Juried by: Lauren Szumita
& RADical Women presented by Women’s Fund of Rhode Island
October 17- November 14, 2020
In celebration of the 100th year anniversary of women’s suffrage in the United States, Hera Gallery and Educational Foundation is partnering with Women’s Fund of Rhode Island to host a dual exhibition at Hera. In conjunction with the national juried show Right To Vote, Women’s Fund of Rhode Island will be presenting RADical Women, a collection of banners with a narrative timeline of historically significant women of Rhode Island and contemporary information about wages, women’s rights and advocacy and how these are affected by such factors as race and socioeconomic context
Right to Vote examines artists’ perspectives on the continued importance of strengthening voting rights in our democracy. Hera Gallery seeks artwork addressing the multiplicity and diversity with which the democratic process in America is experienced. Who decides who gets to vote? Why is the concept of one person one vote so important? Why does America have such low voter participation rates compared to other democratic nations? What does disenfranchisement and enfranchisement look like along racial, economic, gender, ethnic, religious, and environmental lines? What types of barriers exist to voting and how do these in turn affect disparate populations differently?
Download PDF of Women’s Fund Banners HERE
-> Vimeo Link to Artwork: “Good Trouble Bucket” by Joan Baron and Gloria Martinez-Granados, AZ
About Juror Lauren Szumita:
Lauren Szumita is the Curatorial Assistant of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs at the Worcester Art Museum. There, she oversees the Central Massachusetts Artists Initiative (CMAI) rotation for contemporary, regional artists. She also currently serves on the Arts and Culture Committee at Anna Maria College. Previously, she was the Koch Curatorial Fellow at the Fitchburg Art Museum. She received her MA in the History of Art and Architecture from the University of Oregon.
“The 100-year anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote, takes place at what will undoubtedly become a watershed moment in modern history. In today’s political climate, the growing demands for justice and equality knock loudly on the door of the establishment. But the fight for women’s suffrage has taught us that these changes evolve slowly. Champions for women voters carried out decades of organized action before the 19 th Amendment passed. We are incredibly fortunate to be able to celebrate these milestones in women’s rights, but the works in Hera Gallery’s RIGHT TO VOTE exhibition remind us that the fight is not over.
I am so impressed with the quality, diversity, and overall spirit of the artworks submitted to RIGHT TO VOTE. The scope of media presented—including fiber arts, digital prints, paintings, and sculptures—reflects a varied set of technical skills and craftsmanship. Each artist’s unique point of view is clearly visualized, yet as a whole, the works touch upon a universal experience. The works in RIGHT TO VOTE reflect on historical victories, discourage complacency, and examine the link between identity and constitutional right.” -Lauren Szumita