A new Arlington Arts Center (AAC) exhibit will explore “shifting contemporary perceptions of women’s bodies, gender roles, and identities through the lens of sports spectacle.”
“She Got Game,” as the exhibit is being called, will hold its opening reception tomorrow night (Jan. 13) from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. It will feature “painted murals, larger-than-life-sized photos, videos, and installations depict[ing] women in professional tennis, bodybuilding, cheerleading, and even competitive eating.”
Among the male, female and transgendered artists whose works will be displayed are Holly Bass, Tara Mateik, Kristina Bilonick, Dewey Nicks, Sarada Conaway, Cory Oberndorfer, Jenny Drumgoole, Martin Schoeller, Nancy Floyd, Moira Lovell.
“Some of these artists offer iconic images of strong women athletes; others use the trappings of sport as a framework for performances about competition, objectification, and popular culture,” AAC noted in a press release. “The show opens just a few months shy of the 40th anniversary for Title IX, the historic legislation that leveled the playing field for women athletes-increasing their participation in college athletics some 450% over four decades.”
The exhibit will run through March 18. A “performance event” scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 11 will feature artist Amber Hawk Swanson performing her work “Online Comments.”
“While completing a grueling three-hour CrossFit workout, [Swanson] will read every anonymous online comment she has ever received for her previous projects-including her controversial ‘Amber Doll Project,’ in which the artist commissioned the creation of a life-sized sex doll that resembled her exactly,” AAC said.
Arlington Arts Center is located at 3550 Wilson Boulevard in Virginia Square.
