FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
STEPHENVILLE, Texas — The Tarleton State University Department of Fine Arts presents Perform La Femme, a collaboration between artists Angilee Wilkerson and Jana C. Perez, on view at the Clyde H. Wells Gallery of Art in Stephenville.
The free exhibition opened Sept. 16 and runs through Oct. 4. The gallery is open 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. weekdays.
Perform La Femme is a series of performative self-portraits delving into the psychological states and cultural interpretation of female identity. The artists enact roles, using their own bodies as models to emphasize the dualities and entanglements in their lives as women.
Similar in some ways to “playing dress-up,” each scene depicted transports the artists to a state of imagination where both find the freedom to act out an evolving story. In becoming each other’s muse and teacher — all under the gaze of the lens — their exhibit deconstructs cultural ideals and empowers experiential knowledge of female identity in a predominantly patriarchal society.
Perez holds a master’s in graphic design and an MFA in photography with a minor in graphic design. Her work has been featured nationwide, including at The Houston Center for Photography, Woman Made Gallery in Chicago, Art Basel Miami, and at The Fitton Center for Creative Arts.
She has presented and published research at the 7th Annual Hawaiian International Conference on Arts and Humanities, National UCDA Design Education Summits, Texas Association of Schools of Art, and The International Conference on the Image.
Wilkerson holds an MFA in photography and a minor in intermedia. She is an artist, adjunct professor and professional editorial photographer. Her work has been honored by jurors from The New Museum of Contemporary Art, NY; The Guggenheim Museum, NY; The George Eastman Museum of Photography and Film, NY; and others.
In addition, her photographs have been featured in many publications, including The Photo Review, Photo District News, Photographer’s Forum and The Wall Street Journal.
Both artists will soon present their work on campus.
Tarleton, founding member of The Texas A&M University System, provides a student-focused, value-driven education marked by academic innovation and a dedication to transform today’s scholars into tomorrow’s leaders. It offers degree programs to more than 13,000 students at Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Midlothian, RELLIS Academic Alliance in Bryan, and online, emphasizing real-world learning experiences that address societal needs while maintaining its core values of tradition, integrity, civility, excellence, leadership and service.
Contact: Phil Riddle, News and Information Specialist
817-484-4415
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