Objects and Others: Perspectives on Gender and Sexuality

On View: June 22 - July 28, 2017
Reception: July 27, 2017  5-7PM

University of Louisville MA/MPA degree candidate Jessica Oberdick presents her master’s thesis exhibition Objects and Others: Perspectives on Gender and Sexuality. Featuring the work of Ashley Renee Hoffman, Carrie Marie Burr and Tessa Gartin, Objects and Others: Perspectives on Gender and Sexuality examines the way contemporary culture and the media represent and objectify female bodies, and perpetuate traditional binary gender systems and heteronormativity. This exhibition looks to the ability of the artist to confront these norms, and through visual art and spoken word, challenge these cultural standards and provides a framework for discussion and change.

Evolving from an interest in the text “Trickster Makes this World” by Lewis Hyde, Objects and Others grew from a desire to represent the way artists can act as trickster characters, who confront unfair social norms and policies through the creation of art that acts as disseminators of new information, and encourages alternative ways of thinking and feeling. In this way Objects and Others provides audiences with a unique framework for discussion and social change. “What began as an exhibition meant to focus on the empowerment of women, has had to shift course based on our current climate in the US, and seeks now to give a voice to those being continuously marginalized and silenced.” says Oberdick Together, the work of the artists in this exhibition confronts the stereotypes that attempt to define them, the marginalization of their personhood, the objectification of their bodies, and offers alternative ways of seeing and understanding.

Objects and Others will be on view at the Covi Gallery at the University of Louisville from June 22-July 31, 2017, with a reception and poetry reading taking place on July 27. The reception is free and open to the public and light refreshments will be served.

On Saturday, August 5th, 2017,Objects and Others: Perspectives on Gender and Sexuality full exhibition will open at 1619 FLUX: Art + Activism at 1619 West Main Street in Louisville.  Ms. Oberdick and 1619 FLUX’s Artistic Director, Ms. Jesse Levesque, have been collaborating on this show since the Fall of 2016.  The full exhibition will include additional visual artworks from female and LGBTQ Artists, an interactive installation for audience participation, artist talks, and spoken word performances.  

 The Covi Gallery at the Hite Art Institute is free and open to the public from Monday through Friday between 9:00am and 4:30pm.

View Press Release Here