Zoller Gallery exhibit highlights women in art

The exhibit, sponsored by Womyn's Concerns and featuring art by and about women, opened last night.

As the men sat glued to a TV set waiting for the Super Bowl XXXII to begin, the women kicked off a celebration of their own last night, as an art exhibit featuring women in art opened at Zoller Gallery.

The exhibit, sponsored by Womyn's Concerns, will be on display in the breezeway of the Zoller Gallery until Saturday. Lisa Libutti, who coordinated yesterday's event, said it was a new way for Womyn's Concerns to celebrate the many contributions women have made to society.

"Womyn's Concerns tries to promote and support women because it is important to support women in any way possible," said Libutti (senior-integrative arts). "An art show is something we haven't done before, and we thought it'd be a nice event to add to the normal schedule."

- Jill Dworzanski, co-director of Womyn's Concerns

Jill Dworzanski, co-director of Womyn's Concerns, said she thought the exhibit's opening reception was successful. Dworzanski (junior-letters arts and sciences), said the event was important for women artists because they are not featured as often as their male counterparts.

"I think a lot of women are underrepresented in art in general, especially at the University," said Dworzanski.

The works of seven artists, University students Suzanne Bruening, Lisa Libutti, Lauren Luloff, Kelly Kehs, David Trost and alumni Barbara Metzner and Lauren Trost, are set up against the walls and in the center of the glass-enclosed gallery of Zoller. Women are either the creators or the subject matter of all the pieces. There are a number of paintings on display as well as several works of three-dimensional art.

David Trost, the only male artist featured, said it was interesting to listen to the different interpretations he received for his ceramic and metal piece.

"I'd like to say what it is and what it's all about, but it's more fun to hear what other people have to say about it," said Trost (junior-ceramic arts).

The sculpture -- which resembles a headless, segmented body of a woman -- hangs from a chain at one end of the corridor.

On another wall in the gallery, Metzner, one of the alumni artists, has three of her paintings on display. Metzner graduated from the University in 1994 with a degree in sculpture. She said she was excited about the exhibit because it recognized women in art.

- Barbara Metzner, artist and University alumna

Ameera Ansari (junior-theater) said she enjoyed looking at the many different types of artwork in the show.

Ansari said her favorite pieces included the lace-covered paintings by Metzner and one of the paintings by Libutti.

"You can tell each person has a different type of style," Ansari said.