Lectures:

Artist Talk: The Face of Feminism Now

The Artist’s Reception will feature a slideshow and talk by the artist about the making of the photo documentary project, The Face of Feminism Now and offer the audience a closer look at the process that went into creating the portraits, providing observations and conclusions about the final project and presenting additional words from the participants. There will be time for Q&A following the presentation.

Art and Mental Illness: Creating to Survive/Surviving to Create

The effects of mental illness are often profound and life-changing. As artists living with mental illness, Pope Jones and Phoenix Mayet have expressed these effects through their individual creative work. In this presentation, each will offer a view into their work as it relates to this issue. How does mental illness effect the creative process? How do the experiences of depression and mania manifest themselves in the artwork of those who live with bipolar disorder? How can art speak to and witness for the powerful after effects of trauma? Join these two artists as they present their work and reflect upon the process that has enabled them to create within the context of chronic mental illness.

If You Put a Bag Over His Head: Objectifying Men in the Age of Terror

In its simplest form, objectification is regarding someone as a thing. In the case of sexual objectification, it begins with a gaze, one that consumes and obliterates the individual. The person is reduced, dehumanized, and made an item of erotic pleasure and/or repulsion.

Many feminists have explored the notion of the 'female gaze' and how it relates to the seemingly universal default 'male gaze'. If You Put a Bag Over His Head began with a desire to identify my own unique gaze as a woman and feminist artist.

I began by placing an ad for male models on Craigslist. I invited the men to my studio where I photographed them, nude, wearing handmade bags over their heads. With their faces covered, I was free to gaze at their bodies according to my interest and desire. As I worked, some questions arose:

How is male-dominance expressed and supported by our culture?
What function does sexual objectification serve?
What is terrorism and how does it differ from war?
How do we define torture and who are its victims?

For this presentation I will offer images and ephemera from the making of this zine along with some of the source material that informed my process. In addition, I hope to offer some thoughts about these questions and talk about ways in which individuals can examine their own personal gaze and its repercussions with others and the self.

Growing More Radical with Age: A History of the Feminist Movement

In recognition of Women’s History Month in March, I have crafted four 45-minute talks on the history of Feminism which can be held on a weekly basis throughout the month, or in a more condensed form in a 90 minute presentation. Each of the four lectures focuses on the history of the feminist movement as reflected in the wave metaphor, which is used to delineate major shifts in the development of feminism. The slide presentations include an examination of the significant individuals and events that shaped the period in review. The lectures can also include time for Q&A and discussion.

A History of Guerrilla Theater for Artists and Creative Activists

Inspired by events at the UNH - Durham campus, A History of Guerrilla Theater for Artists and Activists is a brief look at political theater from the Greeks to contemporary theater activism. We will cover the early twentieth century agitprop movement and the development of Epic Theater, along with work of RG Davis and the 1960’s San Francisco Mime Troupe. Finally, we will review the work of current-day theater groups like The Guerrilla Girls, EastSide Arts Alliance, and Pussy Riot.

The 45-minute presentation will include slides, images, and video clips. After the talk, there will be time for participants to meet and share information with the hope of creating a theater event.

Phoenix Mayet Photography