From January 16, 2010 to february 14, 2010

Women by Women (group show)
San Diego Art Department

This mixed media exhibition explores the contemporary vision of the Southern California woman. We ask ourselves the following questions: How do we see women differently than men see us? How does our specific Southern Californian culture and identity affect how we portray women? Can the erotic, the feminist, the feminine, and the working artist/woman be reconciled?

The San Diego Women’s Figurative Group is a collective of women artists who share a common interest in new feminist figuration. We meet each month to critique work, see local exhibitions, and support each other in our careers as artists and educators. We work across a variety of media: drawing, painting, mixed media, photography, sculpture, installation and new media.

This exhibition features the following artists: Irene Abraham, Jocelyn Duke, Jeanne Dunn, Michele Guieu, Misty Hawkins, Daphne Hill, Maura McHugh, Amy Paul, Ginger Rosser, Therese Rossi, Anna Stump, and Marcella Villasenor.

Walk and Talk - Saturday, February 13, 2010 - from 6:30 to 7:30pm

ABOUT MY PIECE


Fatima (A Blanket for Michel)
NFS - the blanket will be given to Fatima for her son at the end of the show
2010
50x60"
woven blanket - cotton

I met Fatima in 2009 at the park in my neighborhood. She is a fellow immigrant and comes from Ankara, Turkey. Like me, one of the reasons she likes California is because it reminds her of her native country’s weather. She is a California woman, and like many others she is coming from far away, living here for a while, may be forever. Each time I meet an immigrant, I am always curious to know what made her or him leave their country, although I never ask the question. But the fact that they come from abroad always echoes in me.

Here are the notes I took just after our conversation at the park:

I am at the park with the kids. I am taking pictures. A woman that I did not see coming says to me:
"Take me picture!"
I see her, a smiling woman.
"Hi! You want me to take a picture of you?"
"Yes, take me picture!"
"Ok!"
"For my daughter. I am Fatima. Me from Ankara, Turkey. Turkey, Istanbul. You know Ankara?
"No, I've never been there."
"Beautiful. San Diego beautiful too. I love San Diego. My son in Utah, very cold. Very cold. Him not happy. too cold."
"How long have you lived here?"
"Ten years. And you? You from...?"
"France, I live here now. I arrived in San Diego 4 years ago."
"Hooo, France beautiful too! Tickets too expensive to go there. Me not see my family in Ankara."
"My mother is coming to visit soon."
"Very good! You lucky. We can take the picture now. Here."
"OK".
I take a photo, and another one.
"Good, good, that's good."
"How will I give you the print?"
"Me come every day."
"OK, I will leave an envelope at the office of the recreation center for you, Fatima, with your name on the envelope."
"Good, good, you kind, very kind."
"Maybe I will see you around but I prefer to leave the photo at the office because I do not come very often to this park these days."
"good. Your name?"
"Michele."
"Oh, Michele! My son is Michel! Michele, Michel, beautiful! Me go now. Bye Bye. Thank you."
"Bye Bye Fatima."
Fatima puts her hand on her heart, says something (I do not understand), and leaves, still smiling.

PHOTOS OF THE SHOW

San Diego Art Department
Andrea Chamberlin
(619) 299 4278
3830 Ray Street
San Diego, CA 92104