Athens, Ga. – In celebration of Women’s History Month, The Institute for Women’s Studies and many departments and divisions on the University of Georgia campus are hosting events honoring women’s achievements and contributions.
Inspired by this year’s national theme, “Women’s Art: Women’s Vision,” many of the events focus on women’s contributions to many different art forms. From gallery exhibits at the Georgia Museum of Art and ATHICA to film festivals and a discussion of women in hip hop, Women’s History Month 2008 will highlight the many ways women create, interact with and deconstruct art.
The Lamar Dodd School of Art will host a talk and exhibit opening by artist Libby Black on Tuesday, March 4 at 5:30 p.m. in room 102 of the Student Learning Center. Black is known for her replicas of high-end consumer products like Kate Spade handbags that question ideas of status symbols and consumer mentality. Her talk will be followed by the exhibit opening and reception at 7 p.m. in The Broad Street Gallery. Call 706/542-0069 for more information or visit www.art.uga.edu.
The Department of Theatre & Film Studies is bringing famed film, television and stage actress Cloris Leachman to UGA for two events. On Saturday, March 22, she will perform her one-woman show Cloris at 8 p.m. in Ramsey Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center. Tickets for the show will be available through the Performing Arts Center box office, 706/542-4400. Perhaps best known for her role as Phyllis on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Leachman will also give a free colloquium talk on Monday, March 24 from 12:20-1:10 p.m. in the Balcony Theatre of the Fine Arts Building (third floor). Call Theatre & Film Studies at 706/542-2836 for more information.
On Thursday, March 27, IWS and The Institute for African American Studies will present “Women, Hip Hop and Social Change” at 7 p.m. in room 171 of the Student Learning Center. The event, a follow-up discussion to last fall’s “Hip Hop and Social Change,” will feature a keynote address by Layli Phillips, assistant professor of women’s studies at Georgia State University, and a roundtable discussion featuring scholars and students. An after-party (location TBA) will follow with local and Atlanta-based performers and an open mic.
IWS and the UGA Libraries’ Media Department will continue their Women’s History Month tradition of hosting a film festival including feature films and documentaries highlighting women directors and stories about women’s issues. The film festival will kickoff on Monday, March 3 at 7 p.m. in room 248 of the Student Learning Center with the documentary, I Had an Abortion. Kelly Happe, assistant professor of speech communication and women’s studies will lead discussion after this film that showcases interviews with a diverse group of women sharing their abortion experiences. On Monday, March 24, All My Babies, a 1952 Georgia Health Department training video for rural midwives, will be shown at 7 p.m. in room 248 of the Student Learning Center. The film follows African American midwife, Mary Coley as she prepares to help two mothers through childbirth. Juanita Johnson-Bailey, professor of Adult Education and Women’s Studies, will lead a discussion following the film.
For a complete list of Women’s History Month events and film festival line-up go to www.uga.edu/iws and click on “events.” The Institute for Women’s Studies is a unit of UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences that brings together multidisciplinary perspectives on women and gender from across all schools and colleges at UGA. For more information about the Institute or Women’s History Month, contact Molly Moreland Myers at 706/542-2846 or momolly@uga.edu.
