On August 26, 1920, women were given the right to vote in the United States with the certification of the 19th Amendment. The launch of the Women Soaring Project (WSP) this fall 2020 fortuitously coincides with the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage. It is with great honor that the WSP is able to celebrate this incredible achievement in women's history highlighting exceptional artworks with its inaugural exhibit, Women Suffragists.
The panel of jurors for this show was comprised of the WSP co-founders and advisory board members including Jane Le Skaife, Jackie Lo, Megan Seely, Leah Cluff, Jennifer Lugris, Grace Gray-Adams, Jenifer Vernon and Lesley Doig. While we received 48 submissions from artists all around the world, we voted on the top three pieces that displayed the strongest content and execution in addressing the theme of women's suffrage. We are pleased to announce these winning works are:
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First place - Artist Summer Herrera, Dorothy, A Young Activist, 2020
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Second place - Artist Ildiko Nova, Fair Representation, 2020
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Third place - Artist Angela (Azadeh) Raz, Healing, 2020
Please join us in congratulating these artists, and thank you to all those who participated. To see these works and more, please enter our virtual gallery below.
WOMEN
SOARING
An interactive arts and culture project seeking to see, know, and appreciate women in history
projects
Each seasonal exhibit of the Women Soaring Project (WSP) seeks to focus on a particular theme celebrating women. Below is a list of all current and past WSP art exhibits.
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What does it mean to be antiracist? To be antiracist is to make a conscious and concerted effort to eliminate racial inequality at a personal and institutional level. Antiracist work involves calling out racist actions, identifying racist policies and practices, acknowledging personal racial bias or privilege, and actively seeking to provide equal opportunities for all people. This form of action moves beyond being a passive nonracist who maintains the status quo of inequality. Merely agreeing that racism is wrong does not create change. Achieving equality for all requires action and an active mindset to effectively remedy racism in society.
In the face of relentless racism, there have been notable women antiracists throughout U.S. history. Angela Davis is among them. In 2020, Time magazine featured Davis as one of the 100 most influential women in the past century in honor of the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage. After having spent 18 months in jail and being acquitted of all charges against her, Davis’ experience with the criminal justice system led her to fight fervently for the social justice of "black women, black prisoners, and black poor." As a well-known academic, author, and activist, she has sought to abolish the current U.S. prison system that has resulted in the mass incarceration of people, particularly people of color.
Alongside Davis, other prominent women antiracists have similarly persevered in their efforts to fight racism in a myriad of ways:
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Jane Elliot - internationally-known diversity educator and creator of the “Blue-Eyes/Brown-Eyes” classroom exercise
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Dolores Huerta - co-founder of the United Farm Workers Association and leader of the Chicano civil rights movement
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Evelyn Yoshimura - leader in the Asian American civil rights movement and community activist who sought reparations for Japanese internment
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Sacheen Littlefeather - actress and activist for Native American rights who was the first in history to make a political statement at the Academy Awards
These women have paved the way for a new crop of women antiracists today such as: Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometi - co-founders of Black Lives Matter, Isabel Wilkerson - Pulitzer Prize winner and author of The New York Times Best Seller Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, and Rachel Cargle - academic, writer, lecturer and creator of “The Great Unlearn”. All the women mentioned above represent the epitome of those who have gone well beyond being simply a nonracist and instead have committed themselves to transformational antiracist work in society. Their work is essential in moving towards neutralizing the effects of racism by not only acknowledging its pervasiveness throughout society, but also offering antiracist solutions and strategies.
The tragic death of George Floyd has put antiracism at the forefront of the human agenda today, and it has led to a ripple effect of antiracist movements throughout the globe. WSP’s upcoming Fall 2021 exhibit, Women Antiracists, will be commemorating eight notable women who fought against systems of racial bias and oppression in U.S. history. In preparation for that particular exhibit later in the year, we invited participants to share their personal appreciation for women antiracists in history and/or their own personal life. Please click HERE to see the public contributions.
Past Projects
Fall 2020
Women Suffragists
In commemoration of the centennial anniversary of women's suffrage, this fall theme highlights a diverse group of women who were instrumental in the fight for women's right to vote. Click on the postcard below to continue reading about the historical figures in the movement and see the accompanying art exhibit, Women Suffragists, featuring 48 artists from around the world.
Spring 2020
Women Activists
The original spring show at the Rocklin Campus Library of Sierra College focused on celebrating inspiring women activists who were pioneers of their time and championed women's rights in diverse ways. Click on the image below to read more about them and the interactive art installation on the Sierra College campus.
