Solo exhibition featuring the work of Babette Shaw.
January 21 – March 2, 2019
Artist Lecture January 31 6pm, Natural Science Rm. 326
Reception February 1, 6 – 8pm
Babette Shaw Artist Statement
As human beings, we communicate through language, visual and verbal. We have within us an innate desire to connect with one another, yet our language, essential to communication, often serves to polarize us both interpersonally and through the maintenance of institutionalized systems of dominance, oppression, and coercion. Inherent within our language are misogynistic words, phrases, and ideals that inform us and affect the way we interact with one another.
Inception of this work began with a certain group of political leaders speaking mis-information about womxn’s bodies; as a consequence, most womxn, regardless of party alignment, voted against their interests. Yet, statements and occurrences made public throughout the recent United States election processes reveal what low-base views we are willing to accept about womxn, however damaging or oppressive to the potential growth beyond them. Misogynistic language, gendered ideals, gendered scripts influence our politics, our laws, our institutions, the wage gap, our public and personal spaces, our social and interpersonal relationships. These bodies of work are representative of personal narratives and of individual womxn who have chosen to share their stories.
Babette Shaw Bio
Babette Shaw, native to California, is an exhibiting photography-based social practice artist whose work includes photography, sculpture, fiber art, installation, and the written or spoken word.
She received her MFA in Photography from The University of Memphis with undergraduate academic pursuits in fine art photography, creative writing, and gender studies. As an artist, she addresses issues concerning gender and race constructions and disparities in contemporary culture, as well as their historic and archaic underpinnings. Shaw currently teaches at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. Alongside her art practice and her teaching, she has served on numerous panels for organizations, including the National Center for Research on Women (CROW), and has given lectures at various academic and community-based institutions. Her work is in public and private collections across the country.
Shaw is here to engage the Michigan State University campus as Visiting Artist and Scholar to invite students, past and present (as well as other members from the community), to participate in one of her social practice projects, The Panty Project, which is designed to help individuals and communities heal from gendered and sexual trauma and abuse. While on campus, Shaw will be meeting with womxn from the greater MSU community who have chosen to share their stories as part of this ongoing work. If you are interested in participating in The Panty Project, please email b@babetteshaw.com.
