A new Central Florida art exhibition highlights female artists with works showcasing trailblazing pioneers, storytelling and faces of women’s history. “Unstoppable XX” opens with a reception on March 8 at A Perfect Union Art Gallery within Ocoee’s West Oaks Mall. Visitors can experience the perspectives of nearly a dozen female visual artists, including one sculptor. The opening night event features a performance from Orlando Storytellers and spoken word poetry by Bre Snelling. The artists participating in the show are Patricia Byron, Linda Brant, Jolie Spelman, Jessica-King Rodriguez, Yve Nix, Janae Corrado, Natasha Radovicz Schaidt, Libby Smith, Marsha De Broske, Heather Gorlitz Scott and Cathy Hempel. While each artist draws from her own experience and role models, Schaidt painted two works titled “Liquid Gold,” showing colostrum milk against a colorful floral backdrop, both reflecting her experience of motherhood. “[My daughter] has been inspiring me to do a lot of work that has to do with motherhood and being a woman, the experience that we go through,” she said. “It’s layered. You’re grateful, and then you’re exhausted. You’re happy, and then there are sad moments. That’s what I want to conceptualize in 2D art. There’s an experience of the good, the bad, the hard and the soft.” As a painter for more than a decade, her recent work represents life while raising her 9-month-old baby, Lila. “I like figurative and expressive work. I love abstraction. I’m always using really bright palettes,” Schaidt said. “Creating art is the purest form of expression. I think as human beings, it’s our way to rebel and leave little timepieces even after we’re gone.” In Smith’s work, she painted two of her favorite female trailblazers, Maya Angelou and Nina Simone. “These two are the storytellers, the ones who told the stories that aren’t in history books. They’re the ones who told the truth,” she said. “Anytime we can show the strength of women is good right now. That needs to constantly be reinforced.” Angelou is depicted on a brick wall watching over a Black child next to the quote, “Nothing can dim the light that shines within,” while Simone is painted against a backdrop of music notes from her song, “Feeling Good.” These might be Smith’s last works as she’s losing her vision due to pars planitis, macular degeneration, Fuchs’ corneal dystrophy and cataracts. “When I paint, I paint at about one inch away. I get paint on my eyelashes,” she said. “These might be my last two. When I paint, I can’t see them and I want to know these are up to my standards.” Gallery owner Gareth Edwards said the show is a way to celebrate Women’s History Month and a chance for every visitor to reflect on those who have inspired them. “We’re encouraging people to talk about their role models. We’re going to have an easel for people to write down the name of anyone who has inspired them,” he said. “At A Perfect Union Art Gallery, we celebrate American diversity. We want our artists from different backgrounds to celebrate their culture through art. That way, we can learn more about each other.” If you go “Unstoppable XX” opens from 6-9 p.m. March 8 at 9401 W. Colonial Drive, Suite 704, in Ocoee. The reception is free and open to the public. Visitors are encouraged to park on the northwest corner of the mall next to JCPenny and enter through service corridor 9 after the mall’s regular hours. The show will be on display through April 6. For more information, visit aperfectunion.org. Find me @PConnPie on Instagram or send me an email: [email protected].
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