March 2021-In these unprecedented times of political shifting and a worldwide pandemic, women continue to lead the way by shedding light on important issues, building bridges, questioning boundaries, and envisioning a better world.
The artworks, created in a variety of media and styles, explore social gender constructs while honoring the struggles, triumphs, and contributions of women in our world today.
A year into the Pandemic lockdown and as we find ourselves still in confined spaces, artists find freedom in their creativity, showing us the light -and the art- at the end of the tunnel.
Enjoy, and be inspired.Andrea Arroyo, Curator
Abre Camino (2010) by Leenda BonillaNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Abre Camino
"My bicultural world is expressed with my process that starts with the moment of taking the photograph. This is the first step of empowerment of discovery and how to understand, register and speak to the world around me." Leenda Bonilla
Truce (2017) by Lilia LevinNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Truce
"Truce" is a vision of a fragile, wounded post-war space. We are nowhere near understanding or feeling the terror that many places are living under -- that of an ongoing war, terror, and economic catastrophe." -Lilia Levin
Chaos or Control (2021) by Cathy O'KeefeNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Chaos or Control
"Painting is a joy! I listen to music and let my mind be quiet. The process is much the same as musical improvisation. First you learn the chords and scales, then you “forget” them and simply play." -Cathy O'Keefe
53rd St The Halal Guys (2021) by Lyndel Brookhouse-GilNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
53rd St The Halal Guys
"I have always been drawn to the direct statements and narratives of the Ashcan School. My work uplifts visual narratives that nuance collective and individual subjectivity and is dedicated to observers that also see these moments of shared humanity." - Lyndel Brookhouse-Gil
Hierophany 1 (2021) by Denise PenizzottoNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Hierophany 1
"I work in series, often creating work that uses hues of one color per series. I like the synergy that color creates between the work. As a realist painter, I use existing objects found in the real world to create paintings that narrate surreal fantasies." -Denise Penizzotto
Find out what this painting means to Denise Penizzotto!
Black Beauty (2021) by Julann GebbieNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Black Beauty
"Delivering water - which represents life - through this tripod ewer. Life is delivered through this vessel of total darkness." -Julann Gebbie
Reparations
"I founded SISTAAH, Inc. an arts-based non-profit organization which seeks to facilitate access to early detection of cancer by connecting the underserved to free screening services information through community projects." Wilhelmina Grant-Cooper
Intimacy (2021) by RoughAcres/ RL McKeeNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Intimacy
"The past 15 months have been a sinkhole into which everything - my art, laughter, optimism, creativity - slowly disappeared... life itself was suspended." Rough Acres/RL McKee,
Uncle and The Kid
"As an African American Woman, I feel there is a responsibility to bring attention to the glory and grace of women that may not be immediately evident. This includes the joy of family, and the beauty of everyday life."-Taeesha Muhammad
How does this image portray innocence and wisdom? Find out why by watching NoMAA's discussion with Taeesha.
Crossroads (2019) by Sally FisherNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Crossroads,
"I am a painter and printmaker based in Scotland. I paint with acrylics, layering paint to create texture and develop an impressionistic paintings." -Sally Fisher
What made Sally Fisher take this photograph? Be sure to watch to find out why!
Red
"I never grew up thinking I wanted to be an artist, deep down inside I always knew I was." -Lee Ann Cadiz
Watch to find out how Susan attempts to create a world of order through geometry!
Keep reading with Part 3 of In/Out – Light/Dark: Women in the Heights and Art in Our Time