INVASIVE SPECIES is a group exhibition, curated by Alexis Hunter and Jacqueline Overby, featuring fourteen women-identifying artists examining womanhood in a multi-generational habitat of male-ordained moral, sexual, and spiritual repression and exploitation. Each artist has her own unique perspective and biome of references. Whether it’s religious trauma, generational trauma, sexual trauma, or revenge, INVASIVE SPECIES is an opportunity to explore these painful themes from many perspectives like that of a fat woman, a trans woman, a Black woman, a formerly incarcerated woman, a survivor, and a mother.
An invasive species is a harmful, nonnative organism that expands its range from the site of its original introduction. In an ecosystem designed by and occupied by men, these women-identifying artists and women everywhere are invading male-dominated environments. It’s not just about rebellion or revenge, it’s a fight for survival. The issues that many of these artists are responding to are viewed by many as dismissible. But this begs the question, at what point will these voices be taken seriously? When surviving and responding to the greater issues present in our biome, maybe becoming invasive ourselves is the only way to be truly heard.
Featuring works by: Courtney Cone, Jennifer Ling Datchuk, Sarah Fox, Jessica Gritton, Katy Horan, Alexis Hunter, Intel Lastierre, Kim Le, Chantal Lesley, Hayley Labrum Morrison, Jacqueline Overby, Sara Vanderbeek, and Tanya Zal.
About the artwork:
"Pity for the flesh of bodily ego" expresses a perspective that extends compassion towards the physical body and the ego, or the sense of self. It acknowledges the limitations, imperfections and vulnerabilities of the physical body, recognizing its transient nature and susceptibility to pain, suffering, and eventual decay. This viewpoint highlights the notion of the "bodily ego," referring to the attachment of identity and self-worth to one’s physical appearance or how it’s perceived by society. This attachment can lead to suffering and a limited understanding of reality, prompting a compassionate understanding of the struggles and illusions that arise from this attachment.
Through this perspective, we cast aside superficial appearances and societal facades to truly see the interconnectedness that unites us. By recognizing the diverse stories etched upon the canvas of humanity, we understand that each person dances to their own pleasures and tragedies, interwoven with physical frailty and the search for identity.
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