By: Shanelle Haile, PhD Student in the Department of Sociology and Grad Parent Coordinator at the Sarah Doyle Center
We received 23 submissions during our open call for feminist art from the youth in the Brown community. Children were asked to create feminist works of art. The open call’s interpretation of “feminist art” includes abstract art submissions, such as the epic Dibble Dibble Dap Dap by Winter (age 3); depictions of historical figures Frida Kahlo, Harriet Tubman, and Annie Oakley in The Dessert Party by Lola (age 7); and a Lego sculpture by Milo (age 5). I was particularly inspired by the work of our teenage artists, Bella (age 15) and Natalia (age 16), who submitted thematic pieces (Grow Further and Crying), which invite us to reflect on varied gendered experiences. For example, when I look at Grow Further I think of the liberating nature of knowledge. Crying makes me think of the complexity of social norms surrounding femininity. I don’t know whether these interpretations are what our two young, talented artists had in mind but this is the beauty of art. Each of us take from a piece what speaks to us.
I hope you also enjoy this virtual exhibition of children’s artistic expression. The children in our community are certainly a creative group of budding young artists. Cultivating their talents continues our work at the Sarah Doyle Center to foster community and encourage the next generation of potential feminist thinkers and artists.
Note: Five submissions were selected at random to win one of our art kits. The winners are: Claudeline Chery, Chantel Pheiffer, Regina Peick, Laura Stokes, and Isabel Mattia! Winners will be contacted via email.
“Find the Dots”, Eva Galatro, 7 (Jess Galatro) “Rubber Band Art”, Afsanah Chery, 5 (Claudeline Chery) “splotches”, Christof Chery, 7 (Claudeline Chery) “Abstract #2”, Julia Stokes-Marks, 2 (Laura Stokes) “Grow further”, Bella Santos, 15 (Kathy Santos) “Blue Macaw”, Milo, 5 (Meredith Carlone) “Girls Can Do Anything They Want To”, Elsie Cheng, 8 (Courtney Cheng) “Portrait of crying”, Natalia Zenit, 16 (Roberto Zenit) “The Toys”, Shoshana Fine, 10 (Aryn Fine) “Mystery Hearts”, Hannah Galatro, 10 (Jess Galatro) “Girl and Moon”, Leonora Pressly, 2 (Regina Pieck) “Happy Banana”, Hailey Wilson, 9 (Tara Greenwood) “Otoño”, Rumi Dueñas-Fernández & friends, 2 (Isabella Dueñas) “The Dessert Party (with Frida Kahlo, Harriet Tubman, and Annie Oakley)”, Lola Featherstone, 7 (Gabriel Rocha) “Rainbow World”, Amelia Turbitt, 4 (Jillian McGuire Turbitt) “As told by Scarlett”, Thessaly Garcia, 9 (Rosey Taveras) “The Wolf Queen in her cozy den at night”, Isabella Warrington, 7 (Jessica Warrington) “The Great Wall of Women”, Alma, 10 (Rebecca Taub) “Women Can Do Anything!”, Annie Haverland Morley, 7 (Isabel Mattia) “Halloween”, Alexander, 2 (Justin Uhr) “Providence Bridge Abstract”, Maeve Santos, 8 (Sarah Santos) “Self-portrait”, Sophie Shammas, 5 (Abigail Peterson) “Dibble Dibble Dap Dap”, Winter Maguire, 3 (Chantel Pheiffer)
Wonderful idea and wonderful submissions. Girls and women must change this world!
What a wonderful exhibit! Their use of color and form is delightful. So many talented participants…Thank You Sarah Doyle for combining the concept of feminist art with the broad range of children/ young women artists. It really nourished my spirit…