“Paper Routes: Georgia Women To Watch” is an exhibition that showcases how the humble material of paper can be crafted to extraordinary levels.
The exhibition is currently at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia and was developed for the National Museum of Women in the Arts.
Two of the five “Georgia Women To Watch,” Jerushia Graham and Lucha Rodriguez, joined “City Lights” senior producer Claire Reynolds to speak about their work. They began by discussing the need for a National Museum of Women.
“There’s this imbalance when you see that there are so many male artists being promoted everywhere in all the museums. It’s sad that we need it, but until we have this balance then can’t move forward,” said Rodriguez. Graham continued, “Representation is important, whatever group you belong to. Women have a unique perspective that should be heard and seen as well.”
The five female artists showcased at the exhibit are:
Jerushia Graham: Her “Undercurrents” series explores the unrest and tension felt by many in an increasingly polarized society. Her paper creations are formed into figures that are immersed in our current socio-political climate.
Sanaz Hagani: Her “Forgotten Identity” installation showcases women’s role in society. She uses hand-made rag papers from cotton fiber extracted from the Chador River. The paper sheets are then dried and shaped into female figurines.
Imi Hwangbo: Her “Sanctuary” installation is made out of archival ink on hand-cut mylar synthetic paper. It’s then turned into three-dimensional models that create the illusion of depth.
Lucha Rodriguez: Her paper creations are made out of tiny, intricate cuts and watercolor that form a beautiful picture from afar. You can see the dimensions of depth when light is shed over the surface.
Whitney Stansell: Her “An Imagined History” series, she uses white plain paper to create ideas of memory. She has created doll-like characters in a two-dimensional environment and setting.
The exhibit is on view now at MOCA GA through March 7.
