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Empty spaces
Seventy-five percent of normal weight women think they are overweight. Eighty percent of women are dissatisfied with their appearance. In 1920, women established the right to vote. 1920 was also the first year of the Miss America Pageant. These are among the quotes that greet visitors on the walls at the Empty Space Theater in Fremont. They lead to the bodyBODY: You Can't Tell By Looking exhibit, a multimedia collaboration of artists that explores women's body-image issues. The exhibit, which runs through Feb. 12, is based around You Can't Tell By Looking, an original play by Vanessa McGrady, which examines the complex relationship between family dynamics and self-perception, including issues related to body image. During the course of the play, clips from the video documentary What a Body! by Kathlyn Albright are shown in which women from around the world discuss how their families and cultures influence their feelings about their bodies. "I've spent my entire life since I was five being put on a diet, resenting my body and resenting the circumstances of my body, like there was a mistake," said Simi, a woman featured on the film. The issue of weight and body is also explored in the context of how different standards influence women's perceptions of their own appearance. "The Japanese standard of the body ... If your height is like 5 feet 3 inches, like me, you are supposed to [weigh] 110 pounds, or 100 pounds is better," explains Michi, a Japanese woman living in the United States. These topics are discussed through a wide variety of lenses, differing by race, parental influence and personal experience. It is revealed that, while women possess many unique traits, there exists one universal characteristic: the body, and the array of concerns that accompany it. The play itself examines an even wider variety of issues, such as trust, power, control and intimacy. These are intermixed in a well-written performance that is both tragic and hilarious. In addition to the play and documentary, a photography exhibit by Amanda Koster, entitled This Is Beautiful, surrounds the lobby. Women of all ages and sizes are captured in their natural states, displaying refreshing confidence and dispelling stereotypical ideals of beauty. The works of the three artists complement each other seamlessly and come together for an intriguing and thought-provoking exhibit. It becomes apparent listening to the women's stories, viewing the pictures and watching the plot of the play unfold that women all over the world draw much of their self-worth from the value they place upon their outward appearance. This exhibit explores the results of this phenomenon and the inspiring potential for women to see themselves as more than moldable figures. The merging of these talented artists results in an emotional, psychological and spiritual journey through the psyche of women. Women and men wishing to gain a deeper understanding of women will undoubtedly appreciate and enjoy this unique exploration. bodyBODY: You Can't Tell By Looking runs until Feb. 12; exhibits are on display Thursdays to Saturdays starting at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. |
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