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Them by Gabriela Godoi, one of the artists featured as part of the "some body, any body” art exhibit. The exhibit at the South Main Gallery will be on display until March 24. cHaisTivA DOMMER PHOTO

Stories and photos by
Christina Dommer and Tierney Grattan

Art exhibit reclaims women's narrative

Gallery includes a variety of works from diverse local female artists

he latest exhibit at a local

gallery is an opportunity

for artists who identify

as women to empower
women to reclaim the narrative of
their own bodies.

The “some body, anybody” exhibit
is on display at the South Main
gallery on Main Street. The one-
room gallery is hosting the show
until the 24th.

Works from artists Moody Rose
Christopher, M.E. Sparks, Gabri-
ela Godoi, Sara Khan, and Sharona
Franklin are on display.

Curator Luiza Brenner has always
been interested in how women are
portrayed in art.

“To be in a gallery or a museum,
usually, you have to be naked,”
Brenner said, referring to classical
nudes created by men.

Brenner was influenced by the
work of the Guerilla Girls, an anon-
ymous group of female artists that
criticize depictions of women in art.

“T liked the idea of interfering with
that narrative and giving women the
power to portray their relationship to
the body themselves.”

Brenner said that she person-
ally knew the artists already before
putting the exhibit together.

She gave each of the artists

the freedom to choose what they
thought suited the theme of “some
body, anybody”.

“I didn’t want to impose, so I didn’t
go looking for specific work,” she
said.

“I just wanted to see what they
would show me.”

Brenner also made sure to include
a variety of perspectives in the
exhibit, including those of trans and
disabled artists.

One of those such artists was
Moody Rose Christopher, who
contributed several colourful pieces
to the exhibit.

Christopher, who herself is trans-
gender, lives in Vancouver but is from
Vermont.

“I have thoughts and opinions
focused on queer narratives, mental
illness and the absurdity of human
behavior and social [categorization],”
Christopher said, in an emailed
statement.

She also said the exhibit was
important because of its highlight-
ing of marginalized women and
broadcasting their perspectives to a
broader audience.

As well, fellow artist Gabriela
Godoi said she “feels that art is there
to open up dialogue, new perspec-
tives and ideas.”

Godoi did her masters research on
identity and sexuality at Emily Carr
University of Art and Design, and
said she wanted to express sexuality
and the body in a less explicit way.

“There’s an ambiguity to these
images where youre not really sure
if it’s a violent act that [the figures]
are taking part in, or of a loving situ-
ation."

"You're constantly trying to grow
into the narrative.”

Artist Sara Khan brings another
unique perspective to the gallery,
born in England and raised in Paki-
stan, she now lives in Vancouver,
though she spoke to us from mater-
nity leave in Lahore.

It feels very different to be in her
body right now, she said, having a
two-month old daughter to care for.

“You don't realize how much your
body can do, as a woman,” said Khan.
“A lot of art will definitely come out
of that experience.”

As a woman of color, she hopes to
bring many personal experiences to
the viewers.

“Paintings or narratives I put out
there are for people to relate to, either
as a woman, or as a Pakistani woman,
or as a human from another coun-
try, whatever. As long as it brings
perspective, I’m happy.”

A pair of attendees at the exhibit’s opening reception. cHAisTinA DOMMER PHOTO