ESTROGEN PATCH : A tapestry of artwork on women, by women.

Exhibition runs from August 12th to September 12, 2004
Opening Reception: Thursday, August, 12, 2004 from 7pm to 10pm at
Hygienic Art Galleries 79 Bank St. New London, CT. 06320 860.443.8001
Gallery Hours: Thurs. 11-3, Fri. 11-9, Sat. 11-9 and Sun. 12-3

Estrogen Patch is an exhibit that focuses on women through imagery realism, abstraction and symbolism. Navada Swan, Tekla Zweir and Julie Wright DelPrado have worked together on numerous community based art projects. All three women are active committee members and teachers, running the Hygienic Art Galleries most successful program Women’s Voices (WV), now entering it’s fifth year. (WV)A community based art program which was created to inspire, enrich and develop ideas through artist expression. By providing affordable opportunities for women to explore their own diverse, ethnic, cultural and generational backgrounds through the creation of contemporary art forms. Together Navada, Tekla and Julie have influenced and inspired one another through their own artwork and friendship.

Navada Swan is a Hygienic cooperative artist and organized Estrogen Patch to highlight the rich artistic concepts inherent to herself, her female friends and peers. Twelve women were asked to participate in this show, all of whom Navada has felt artistic enrichment, influence and support from. Each women was give a form and the guidelines were simple, create a corset out of anything you want. Navada has been highly influenced by the artist Frida Kahlo. The idea of corsets stems from Frida Kahlo’s own medical corsets which have encapsulated the feminist philosophy and connection women have with art. Space, time, body and mind are intertwined in many ways in Frida’s life and her artwork was derived from her experiences as a women. Swan says, “Frida’s body imprisoned her, but in the imaginary, there she felt no bonds or limits, there she could be strikingly honest, fearless.”

For her own part of the show, Navada has created a series entitled, Joy in repetition, that highlights the female figure. She describes her work as “Figurative landscapes, realism, enhanced and abstracted through colors and shapes.” Each figure is mapped with lines constructing the relationship each part of the body has to one another. Exploration of the form through gesture lines heighten the emotion and tension of the movement and position of the body. The works vary from charcoal, pastels, watercolors to mixed media.

Tekla Zweir will exhibit a variety of works on paper inspired by quilts. " I feel that the quilt is a very female tradition, rich in symbolism and important in many cultures to celebrate important events in one's life. Quilts embody the fabric of a family and even thread together its unique history." For Estrogen Patch, Tekla Zweir has created artwork in watercolor, ink, copper and silk, blending pattern and print with color and texture, weaving a tapestry of female issues. Tekla also collaborated with her mother Tina Kamercia, a quilter and photographer, to create quilted fabric wall hangings.

Julie Wright DelPrado has been exploring her own views and feelings on pregnancy. Julie’s work explores printmaking, mixed media and lamps constructed with handmade papers. Her work is visually and emotionally striking, as she also uses words and poetry. All Julie’s work was created during her pregnancy, she is currently enjoying motherhood with her first son, Juan Diego.

So, why Estrogen Patch? Well firstly, Estrogen is the principal female sex hormone produced by the ovaries and other adrenal glands and affects many aspects of the female body, including sex characteristics like breasts, menstrual cycles and pregnancy.

Secondly, Estrogen is produced by both female and male human bodies, which is important for the maintenance of normal brain function and development of nerve cells.

Once again, why Estrogen Patch? Well, why not. I (Navada) am a woman, estrogen influences my body and mind. I am an artist, female and so are my friends.

Viva la Frida y todos mujeres!!!!

Navada Swan