Alien She at YBCA
Allyson Mitchell
Ladies Sasquatch by Allyson Mitchell really rocked. YES! I am WOMAN! I am BEAST!
I had a great time at the opening of Alien She at the Yerba Buena Center of the Arts last week.
"Alien She is the first exhibition to examine the lasting impact of Riot Grrrl, a pioneering punk feminist movement that emerged in the early 1990s in reaction to pervasive and violent sexism, racism, and homophobia in the punk music scene and in the culture at large. Emphasizing female and youth empowerment, collaborative organization, creative resistance, and DIY ethics, Riot Grrrl helped a new generation to become active feminists and create their own culture and communities that reflect their values and experiences, in contrast to mainstream conventions and expectations." YBCA
Here are more of my favorites from the show:
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Strolling along through the section showcasing the work of Faith Levine I was SURPRISED to discover that I was represented - albeit three degrees of separation - in the book she coauthored in 2008, Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft, and Design. The book documents the marriage between historical technique, punk culture, and the D.I.Y. ethos by profiling 24 artists working in that arena, including artist Sabrina Gschwandtner.
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When I turned to the section featuring Sabrina's work it included several covers of her zine KnitKnit one of which featured my 1998 installation at the Headlands Center for the Arts, The 20th Century Comfort Room. So there you go! It's exciting to find my work situated in a historical, cultural movement and community, even if it is on the fringe.
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Alien She continues at YBCA in San Francisco through January 25, 2015. More on the 20th Century Comfort Room in my next post!