By Terry Baraldi
In 1987 the United States Congress declared March as Women’s History Month. As if we needed to be reminded. But I guess we should take advantage of the spotlights we are given. So…
Here’s to the Creative Women of Lansdowne! And here’s to the 20*20 House Gallery for using our special month to host a brilliant exhibit of just some of the creative energy of just some of the creative women in our midst.
This year the women of Lansdowne took March seriously. Seriously. Because the women of Lansdowne had something to say. And they said it with art…with paint and canvas; clay and camera; threads, yarn and yard goods; with the written word, flowers, and even fondant.
So many women… Strong, smart, sophisticated and surprising. Funny, female and feminist…names I already counted as friends, and some I hope to add to my list in future. I left feeling uplifted and blessed to live among them.
Me Too;
Time’s Up;
Nevertheless, She Persisted;
Reclaiming My TimeHEAR US ROAR!
It wasn’t until looking back later that the little voice that lives in my head started asking “Why?”. Why a special month? Why a special exhibit? And exactly when is Men’s History Month and art exhibit? And yes, that’s a rhetorical question.
Don’t get me wrong…I loved this exhibit and the unique perspective that women bring to the table, no less in art than in problem-solving. I look forward to seeing more.
But women don’t need, don’t want, and shouldn’t be relegated to a special day or month to be recognized for all that we give, do, are. We are artists, we are athletes, we are scholars and doctors and lawyers 24/7 and 365. We’d prefer that we and it be taken for granted that we are all that, all the time!
You see where I’m going with this, right? Here in 2018, we still need to remind everyone once every 12 months (!) that we are here. We’ve come a long way, baby, but lordy…aren’t we there yet?
No, but I have a growing optics that maybe, just maybe, no…I think definitely that we’re on the final approach and coming in for a landing.