Projecting Identity

Projecting Identity

Anderson Gallery on Drake Campus

Last Friday night I took my parents to Drake’s current exhibition opening: Projecting Identity at the Anderson Gallery.  When we left I asked my parents what they thought of the show and they both said “That was weird.”  So you all will LOVE it!  The show is comprised of several video installations which explore ideas of identity.  The works range from Asian hookers in a bathroom putting make up on, to army tankers plowing over electronics.  The overall theme however felt very feminist.  Perhaps this is due to the almost all female class who assisted their professor in curating the show. 

My parents spent most of their time in a cocoon shaped room seated on throw pillows, watching a video about two old lesbians who were being compared to silk worms.  I didn’t get to catch this one, but my dad said the narrative and biography were interesting.   As I was wandering around what felt like a haunted house of secret rooms at a carnival, I stumbled upon a Marina Abramovic video.  For those of you who might not be familiar with her performance art, look it up – she is amazing and to quote Lady Gaga “The woman is limitless.”  Fans of Abramovic’s work won’t be disappointed as they watch herself and lover, ULAY, steady a bow and arrow between them.  One hesitation or quick release would result in ULAY shooting Marina through the heart with an arrow.  My parents comments throughout the 4:17 video were “How long do they do this for?” and “I want to see if he strikes her with that arrow.”  I believe Andy Warhol said something like “Waiting for something is what makes it exciting.”  This is exemplified in Marina’s piece.

The piece that spoke the most to me was Kate Gilmore’s “Standing Here”.  It is one of the first videos you encounter when entering the show but easy to miss because like many other videos, it is hidden behind its own curtain.  The video is 3 minutes and 45 seconds long and shows a woman escaping through a small drywall box by kicking and punching climbing holes to reach the top.  The woman is wearing a bright red dress, tights, maybe heels?  We watch her enter by literally busting through the bottom panel of the drywall box and climbing in.  She progressively works her way up to the top of the “box”.  I think what the piece is saying about identity is that for women sometimes an identity is created by breaking down barriers.  Think about if our subject had been a man in overalls and boots, bashing away drywall with a sledge hammer.  The same effect could not be reached.  The subject’s identity as a woman is in a sense the struggle to the narrative.  She seems to have no problem breaking through the walls to her escape using only brute force.  The only thing giving her problems is that damn dress she has on!  It prohibits her from fully bending & extending.  The female identity – pretty red dress – is what is holding her back.  We watch her pause and hike her dress up, exposing more leg, and think – “Man this would be easier if she had pants on!”  

My dad watching "Standing Here"

In my head I heard myself playing cheerleader for the girl in the red dress, “You go girl!” And in fact I’m sure a lot of other female viewers feel the same.  We (women) can all identify with this Rosie the Riveter concept and all guys know some bad ass girls out there who can use power tools or take karate.  I think the video is more than acknowledging a woman’s power to break down barriers.  The camera angle is looking down at the woman as she climbs up (brilliant idea of the artist by the way).  Immediately I thought of the “Glass Ceiling” theory.  The artist seems to be saying: “Us women are rising up!  We’re coming up to your level, and going to pass you!”  Is this idea maybe a little too 1960’s?  I think so, but it’s still a reminder that girls kick ass. 

I don’t really know what a feminist is in the 21^st century.  I think this is because I was brought up with two head strong sisters and a mom and dad that never made me feel like I could do anything less without a penis.  All of my girlfriends are independent women who can be identified as strong without breaking boards with their bare hands. But if this is what feminist feel speaks for them –then I’m happy to join the fight.  Show me the room and I’ll be glad to punch the wall!  It looks like fun and I have some aggression to get out.

In conclusion – PLEASE GO SEE THE SHOW.  There are artists worth acknowledgement that I can’t give justice to in this blog.  Show ends December 14^th !!!