An artist statement is an artist’s written description of their work. This brief text is in support of their artwork to give the viewer an understanding and to connect with the context of the piece. Most juried exhibitions request an artist statement when you submit your work. As my piece on Rosie the Riveter was my first piece in my “Women’s Equity” series, it is also the first Artist Statement I am posting on my blog. I have entered it in the Artist Collective of Spartanburg, SC juried exhibition. I’ll be notified about whether it has been accepted August 21. Here’s hoping!
ARTIST STATEMENT FOR “STEM STRONG”
I have begun working on a series of tapestries focused on gender equity and women’s rights. I discovered weaving tapestry, rather than cloth, better expresses my emotions about the inequalities for women around the world. I have seen these inequities myself in the workplace and have many stories from friends as well.
As a retired aerospace engineer, I wanted my first tapestry in the series to be Rosie the Riveter to represent women in STEM careers. STEM industries have the lowest gender pay gap and often outstanding benefits and salary. Yet women are still wildly underrepresented. Statistics show that in the US less than 20% of working engineers are women.
STEM STRONG