“Seen and Heard: An Active Commemoration of Women’s Suffrage,” a new group exhibition at the Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse, features work by current School of Art faculty member Yvonne Buchanan, former School of Art faculty member Jessica Posner, both in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, and recent visiting artist Cassils.
Yvonne Buchanan, “Polaris” video still
On view through Aug. 27 and curated by DJ Hellerman, “Seen and Heard” explores the use of the arts as a catalyst for social change. Artists have played key roles in social and political movements throughout history, altering the ways in which people view and think about the world. Whether performance, music or visual, art of any medium has the power to challenge assumptions and inspire passions as nothing else can, and artists harness that power to analyze humanity, initiate tough conversations, protest injustice and effect emotional and systematic change.
Initially inspired by Barbara Kruger’s “Who Speaks? Who is Silent?,” a monumental work in the Everson’s collection that addresses the implication of silence and representation for women, “Seen and Heard” features the work of nine contemporary artists alongside key works from the museum’s permanent collection. Through this presentation, the exhibition considers the history of social and political activism in the arts and invites visitors to participate in a timely conversation about equal rights and civic engagement. The nine artists, who also include Mildred Beltré, Lionel Cruet, Stella Marrs, Jessica Putnam-Phillips, Kevin Snipes and Holly Zausner, share a passion for social equality and justice, and their work builds upon the extensive history of art as a form of activism. Working in sculpture, installation, printmaking, ceramics, photography and video, each artist explores the language and tactics of protest in both subtle and overt ways.
Cassils’ work on view includes “Resilience of the 20%,” the monumental bronze sculpture created in the School of Art’s Fall 2016 SCU 300/600 Atelier: Cassils’ course, co-taught by Cassils, Tom Hall and Posner.
The Everson Museum is located at 401 Harrison St., Syracuse. Learn more about the exhibition and related events on the Everson’s website.
