Has any body part been as fraught with meaning and tinged with eroticism as the female breast? OK, there are a few others that we’ll keep those under wraps for the moment.
Still, it’s safe to say that the breast has been a not so obscure object of desire ever since the Venus Willendorf. This month, it is the focal point of Breast Cancer Awareness, a subject honored in the New York Arts Exchange show “Bosom Bodies,” at SIA Gallery in Peekskill, Saturday, Oct. 7 through Sunday, Oct. 29.
Here’s what the organizers had to say about it:
“Bosom Bodies” celebrates the beauty, power and sensuality of the female breast through a wide range of artworks, including paintings, sculpture, photography, origami and mixed media. Either as symbol, metaphor or iconography, the breast offers a bountiful number of meanings and innuendos, from maternal to erotic, serious to humorous, personal to universal, poignant to irreverent. Our exhibition highlights these numerous interpretations. Among the artists are Roni Ben-Ari, Lynn H. Butler, Marcy B. Freedman, Kathleen Gilje, Nadine Gordon-Taylor, Wilhelmina Obatola Grant, Grace Graupe-Pillard, Clarity Haynes, Carla Rae Johnson, Barbara Lubliner, Sasha [Alexandru] Meret, Ioana Niculescu-Aron, Toni Quest, Ruby Silvious, Christina Thomas and Tricia Wright.
“…We thank artist/educator Nadine Gordon-Taylor for generously donating her School of Intuitive Art gallery space, and artist Wilhelmina Obatola Grant, two-time survivor of breast cancer and founder of SISTAAH: Survivors Inspiring Sisters through Art and Advocacy for Health, for inspiring this show. We dedicate this exhibition to SISTAAH and all survivors of cancer or someone who has or had cancer. “
There’s an opening reception from 3 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7 and a closing one with artists’ performances and a panel discussion 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 29. On Oct. 22 at 2 p.m., exhibit curator Beth S. Gersh-Nešić, owner and director of the New York Arts Exchange, will present a lecture on “The History of the Breast in Art.”
Gallery hours are noon to 5 p.m. Fridays through Sundays.
For more, email nyarts.exchange@verizon.net .
