Tag: Women in the Arts

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Women in the Arts

This will be the third Women in the Arts. (Photo: Courtesy Dixon Gallery & Gardens)

For a third time, the Dixon Gallery & Gardens and Theatre Memphis will cohost the annual Women in the Arts, a day dedicated to, as you may have ascertained, women in the arts, with panels, demonstrations, classes, performances, and more.

“We have such a rich arts community in Memphis,” says Karen Strachan, youth programs coordinator at the Dixon, “and while women are fortunately starting to get more of a nod in other industries from engineering to business to medicine, the case isn’t the same for women who are creatives.” In turn, this event hopes to rectify that gap by supporting and highlighting the women makers, arts administrators, actors, singers, writers, musicians, dancers, florists — basically any kind of artist you can think of.

Split between the Dixon and Theatre Memphis, with shuttles going back and forth between locations, the day will cater to all ages, artists and art lovers alike. The schedule for the day is truly packed, so choosing which bits to attend will be the hardest part of the day, says Kristen Rambo, the Dixon’s communications associate. “We try to cover all the things, but you can participate as much or as little as you like.”

At the Dixon, attendees can chat with several visual artists and perhaps even get a chance of some hands-on experience during artist demonstrations. Plus, guests can check out the make-and-take stations, hosted by Hutchison School teens, who will also facilitate a poetry corner. The galleries inside will also be open, with Jeanne Seagle’s “Of This Place” and “American Made,” a survey of American art curated by Diane DeMell Jacobsen, on display.

Also on display is “What Is That Artist?” with art by Johana Moscoso, Karla Sanchez, and Danielle Sierra — all of whom will be present at the event on Saturday. Sierra will be part of the artist demonstrations, Sanchez will facilitate a large-scale collaborative mural activity, and Moscoso will be a part of a panel, titled “Made In,” which will feature women who are artists and immigrants speaking on their experiences.

Meanwhile, at Theatre Memphis, there will be a panel featuring women directors as well as an artist market. Theatre Memphis will also host various performances and drop-in dancing, acting, and yoga classes.

All in all, the event, Strachan says, hopes to “connect new artists and performers with the community because there is certainly no shortage of talent here. You may see some familiar faces but also some new ones. You might even be introduced to a new art form.”

Rambo adds, “I am a woman in the arts and have been working here for a long time, and every year I am amazed how many people I meet. … So we hope a lot of people will come out and see something that might be out of your comfort zone.”

Women in the Arts, Dixon Gallery & Gardens and Theatre Memphis, Saturday, March 4, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., free. A full schedule of the day’s events can be found here.

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Dixon and Theatre Memphis Host Women in the Arts

(Photo courtesy The Dixon Gallery & Gardens)

With March as Women’s History Month, The Dixon Gallery & Gardens and Theatre Memphis are bringing together dynamic Memphis women in the arts for a day of performances, demonstrations, and discussions. 

“The Dixon and Theatre Memphis are two very established organizations,” says Claire Rutkauskas, Theatre Memphis’ director of outreach and engagement. “We have access to a lot. Part of our mission with this is to make sure we are reaching artists who are trying to get started and provide them with a network and a way to celebrate their work and to be seen and be heard.”

This will be the second time the two organizations have hosted this event, called Women in the Arts, with the first time being in March of 2020 right before lockdown. “Our objective is to have it every first weekend in March moving forward,” Rutkauskas says. Unlike its inaugural year, which, due to renovations at Theatre Memphis, was hosted solely at the Dixon, this year Women in the Arts will be celebrated at both campuses. Admission to the family-friendly event is free, and shuttles will be available to travel to and from the locations.

At Theatre Memphis, guests can view a costume design exhibit; sample lunch and treats from Good Groceries Mobile Dining, Dim Sum Mem, Cousins Maine Lobster, El Mero Taco, and MemPops; and shop from local artists and makers at the artist market (the list of vendor booths can be found here). At 11:30 a.m., Marianne Bell from the Hot Foot Honeys will lead an all-levels tap class (no tap shoes required), and throughout the day, local women filmmakers will screen shorts, with most presenting a Q&A following their film. (A schedule for film screenings can be found here.) Plus, the members of the technical team at Theatre Memphis will have a half-hour panel discussion about the intersection between technical theater and gender. “Most of our technical team is women and that’s not usual for theater,” Rutkauskas explains.

Meanwhile, throughout the day, the Dixon will have pop-up performances throughout its galleries and artist demonstrations in its education building, and guests can get a little creative, too, at the Make and Take Art station. At 10:30 a.m., Mia Henley, the executive director of Creative Aging, will moderate a panel discussion celebrating women in the arts, during which Amanda Willoughby from Indie Memphis, Bethania Baray from Opera Memphis, sculptor Brittney Boyd Bullock, and artist/actor/dancer/youth Harper Steinmetz will speak about the tools they’ve used to navigate the arts world in Memphis.

“We just wanted to make sure we were providing a visible platform for women in the arts,” Rutkauskas says. “A lot of what we believe in is collaboration. We’re definitely stronger in numbers.”

A full schedule of Women in the Arts can be found here. 

Women in the Arts, Saturday, March 5th, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., free. The Dixon Gallery & Gardens, 4339 Park Avenue | Theatre Memphis, 630 Perkins Extd.

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Dixon Hosts Women in the Arts Event

CREDIT: Dixon Gallery and Gardens

Dixon Gallery and Gardens has partnered with Theatre Memphis to honor women who have contributed to the local arts during its first Women in the Arts event this weekend.

The two-day event will bring together women from all walks of life in the art world who focus in all media, including makers, painters, actresses, dancers, musicians, and more, and they’ll lead performances, demonstrations, and dialogues.

Dixon Gallery and Gardens

Women in Arts

Margarita Sandino, director of education at Dixon Gallery and Gardens, says the inspiration for this event came from a brainstorming session between Karen Strachan, Dixon’s youth programs coordinator, and Claire Rutkauskas, community engagement coordinator of Theatre Memphis, who decided it was time to show appreciation for women, who are often under-recognized in the local arts community.

“We loved the idea so much, and it’s gotten really great support,” says Sandino. “It’s important to highlight all their successes, but also, this is a great time to talk about the challenges that women in the arts have in Memphis, from balancing life and work to opportunities. Having all of those things and having a conversation about it is important. So we thought this would be a really great opportunity to do that.”

Sandino says the idea of this event is to talk not only of obstacles, but also to discuss solutions — and it’s important to work from the ground up to get some forward momentum going.

“It starts at a very low level where you have the conversation,” she says. “You meet with people in the community, you listen to what their needs are and try to accommodate them. It’s a slow process, but you have to start.”

Women in the Arts, Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Friday, March 6th, 5-8 p.m., and Saturday, March 7th, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., free.