MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL: REFLECTING FEMALE INTERPRETATIONS OF BEAUTY March 2- April 5 Opening reception March 2, 5-8pm Closing reception/Wearable Art Performance and poetry slam April 5, 7pm This exhibition looks at the forms used to teach children the expectations & standards of female beauty and sexuality such as dolls, nursery rhymes and fairy tales. Artists in this exhibition include: Claudia DeMonte, Nicky Kriara, Rebecca Pearson and Della Wells. For the last thirty years New York artist, Claudia DeMonte's work has dealt with the roles of women in contemporary society. This work has evolved from single sculptures to installations of as many as 175 pieces. “Because of America's obsession with beauty and my own interest in the issues of beauty and women's self perceptions, I have developed this complex installation of dolls from over eighty countries from all corners of the earth that represent particular standards of beauty”. Nicky Kriara, an artist from Portland, Oregon creates paintings that feature child-like symbolic imagery centered on female role models. These paintings depict the struggle to identify with stereotypes and role models that have been provided by mainstream culture. “Growing up in America I watched as televised, advertised, and idealized images of mothers were portrayed gleefully cleaning households across the nation. Because I could not relate to these images I was forced to search out non-traditional role models to redefine personal boundaries”. Rebecca Pearson from Appleton, Wisconsin creates installations and fiber-based sculptures that reflect themes of fairy tales and romance novels, exploring elements of innocence and awareness. Pearson's research into fairy tales, Jungian psychology, and feminist ideology informs her work, which is meant to play with the idea of childhood innocence in transition. Her investigations manifest through the story of Little Red Riding Hood and the wolf where she works to maintain the rich foundation of the fairy tale motifs while abstracting them. Della Wells is a self-taught artist residing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her work is woman-centered and revolves around her own folklore, which she feels is a powerful tool to explore the cultural implications of beauty for African American women. In her ink drawings and doll forms Wells explores certain beauty aesthetics and how they are transmitted into American culture through each generation. The common figure in these artworks is the little colored girl, a heroine who overcomes society's normative judgments of beauty. An Installation by Peck School of the Arts students will be on view in the Atrium Gallery (across from the bookstore) Click Here for Official Invite   ADDITIONAL EVENTS: MARCH 9 BARBIE'S B- DAY Celebration 11-4pm Union Concourse Barbie was born on March 9, 1959, when her mass-production officially began and she was introduced that day to buyers at the Toy Fair. In recognition of this cultural icon, we take the day to reflect on who Barbie is and where she is going. This celebration will include a workshop by Jean Woodmansee where participants will be able to recreate a Barbie doll in an image of their choosing. Jean's reconfigured Barbie dolls, which she calls ReImagining Barbee , will be on display during this event. There will also be a screening of the videotaped performance of Postmodern Barbie by Elizabeth Whitney, and a screening of the film I, Doll: The Unauthorized Biography of America's 11 ½” Sweetheart . Please call the UAG for more information 414.229.6310. * View the comments about Barbie left by attendees of this event * MARCH 12 Sister to Sister Union Art Gallery, 12pm Free and open to the public In conjunction with the Union Art Gallery's exhibit Mirror, Mirror on the Wall , UWM Sociocultural Programming will explore women's issues relating to body image . Sponsored by UWM Union Sociocultural Programming and the Union Art Gallery. For more information, contact UWM Union Sociocultural Programming, 414-229-6998. MARCH 15 Interpreting Beauty Film Screenings & Discussion Fireside Lounge 7pm With screenings of the following films: Bionic Beauty Salon A film by Gretchen I Stoeltje This film addresses the insecurities in women of all ages who learn to place their self-worth in the measure of their beauty. Overseeing these struggles, the Bionic Woman, TV's first cyber-Barbie, recharges in luxury at her Bionic Beauty Salon, a toy marketed to TV-watching girls in the '70s. Slim Hopes by the Media Education Foundation This award-winning video offers an in-depth analysis of how female bodies are depicted in advertising images and the devastating effects of those images on women's health. Your Name in Cellulite A film by Gail Noonan A wickedly funny satire about the disparity between a woman's natural beauty and the ideal promoted by the mega-billion dollar advertising industry, this animated film shows us how far we will go to change the shape of our bodies to meet the demands of an impossible image. Seeking Beauty A film by Laj Waghray , Q & A with the director to follow Local filmmaker Laj Waghray interviewed local Milwaukee middle school students and asked them to talk about their notions of beauty .  Images of artwork made by the students are integrated with the filmed interviews and other video footage creating a documentary-style video. MARCH 31st Susanne Carter's Improscaping performance 8pm Ballroom ImproScaping is dance improvisations based on body image to create a visual landscape. This performance includes six solos. These solos are woven together into a sixty minute piece using humorous recorded anecdotes about Susanne's body. APRIL 5 th , 2007 Wearable Art Performance, Spoken Word poetry & Runway show 7pm Ballroom To close Mirror, Mirror on the Wall , the UAG will host a wearable art and performance extravaganza. The event will showcase over-the-top wearable art displayed on the bodies of choreographed dancers. It will also have performances by some exceptional spoken word poets. This event will feature two contests that feature prizes for the winners. The first is a Project Runway-like challenge for artists to create costumes that are based on the themes of fairy tales. The second contest challenges poets to create a poem using popular children's nursery rhymes as the inspiration. Please contact the UAG for more info 414.229.6310. (.pdf Invite) A doll making workshop will be taught by Mirror, Mirror artist Della Wells in the Studio Arts and Crafts Centre. Please contact 414.229.5335 for more info. A wearable art workshop will be taught in the Studio Arts and Crafts Centre. Please contact 414.229.5335 for more info. An Installation by Peck School of the Arts students will be on view in the Atrium Gallery (across from the bookstore) Union Art Gallery Campus Level, Room W199 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd. Milwaukee, WI 53211 414.229.6310 Hours: Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri & Sat 12-5pm; Thu 12-7pm www.unionartgallery.uwm.edu     Here are some higlights: And some more images from Openning Night: