(En)Gendered (In)Equity: The Gallery Tally Poster Project
Organized by Micol Hebron
Opening Reception March 9, 2016
Exhibition Dates March 10 – April 17, 2016
LACE presents a retrospective of all Gallery Tally posters created to date – including over 400 original, artist-designed posters that visualize gender ratios in the contemporary art world. Since 2013, Gallery Tally has collected and visualized data pertaining to the radical underrepresentation of women in all facets of the art world and beyond.
Women are underrepresented in the art world, but how bad is it, really?
Why is there still such an imbalance between the role and support of men and women in the art world? Why is the art of female-identified artists still valued so much less than that by male-identified artists?
Using the power of the community, and the passionate vision of hundreds of artists, Gallery Tally seeks to address these questions and more.
Gallery Tally is a crowd-sourced, social engagement art project in which 2000+ artists from around the world have joined the effort to collect and visualize statistical data regarding ratios of male and female artists in top contemporary art galleries. Artists have been invited to make one poster for each gallery, in whatever style or medium they chose. All posters are 24” x 36”. The project started with galleries in Los Angeles, and is now deep in data, with a collection and visualization of gender statistics from cities around the world.
The need for a clear and open dialogue about the underrepresentation and undervaluing of women in the art world was the initial impetus for Gallery Tally. The project has also been inspired by social media and ubiquitous trends in collecting and visualizing Big Data; by the histories of punk, propaganda and politics that the poster format has; and by the activism and social practice of artists such as the Guerrilla Girls, Suzanne Lacy, Judy Chicago, and Andrea Bowers.
Started by Micol Hebron in 2013, Gallery Tally is designed to examine and question the ongoing gender imbalance in the art world.
RELATED PROGRAMS
Building upon the role of Gallery Tally to promote dialogue and consciousness-raising about contemporary gender issues in the artworld, LACE will be hosting several events during the exhibition that will help build community and conversation.
Tuesday, March 15, 7-8pm – Teenage Feminists
Students from Hollywood High discuss their experiences and ideas regarding feminism, what feminism is, and why it’s important for boys to be feminists too. An unprecedented conversation from the mouths and minds of the youth who hold the future of gender equity in their hands. Featuring a special live performance of an original feminist rock anthem, as well as short video documentaries about feminism and the ERA, created by Hollywood High students. We encourage all members of the community to attend and participate in this discussion, and would be especially happy to hear from other teenagers, parents, and teachers.
March 18, 2016 – Feminist Friday
Feminist Friday is a drop-in gathering for all ages, genders and species. It provides a fun, safe, and thought-provoking space to be feminist, meet other feminists, and talk about contemporary feminist issues. It is Consciousness-Raising-meets-Happy-Hour! Topics are offered as suggested talking points, but usually conversation evolves organically, according to attendees’ needs and interests. Drinks and snacks will be provided, but additional contributions are always welcome.
March 20, 4-6pm – Cixous Reading Group
Cixous Reading Group began in January 2013 as part of Alexandra Grant’s Forêt Intérieure / Interior Forest. The monthly meeting is a kind of pop-up seminar investigating feminism and female narratives from historic and contemporary writers. Meetings are 4-6pm one Sunday afternoon a month and new members are always welcome. https://cixousreadinggroup.wordpress.com
Thursday March 24, 8pm- Transfeminist Discussion
This event considers how many feminists are unaware of the long history of vicious extremism carried out by Trans Exclusive Radical Feminists (TERFs) against trans women under the banner of feminism. From armed militias threatening to kill trans women to stalking, harassing and releasing personal information of trans women online, TERFs have relentlessly and successfully fought to keep trans women out of feminist spaces. This conversation will focus on how the feminist movement continues to harbor this type of hatred and what can be done about it. This event is organized by Addie Tinnell, who also organizes a twice-monthly transfeminist potluck at Women’s Center for Creative Work (WCCW).
May 24–April 17 – Femmes’ Video Art Festival 2
A series of video artworks from around the world will be featured in an ongoing screening from May 24–April 17. Each video is created by a female-identified maker, and was produced within the last 3 years. Providing a survey of contemporary female perspectives and approaches from around the world, FVAF2 is curated by Micol Hebron.
SUPPORT
This project was made possible through the generous support of the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Arts.
All photos credit Annie Martens.
