"I took my power in my hand and went against the world . . ."

These words, originally expressed by 19th century poet Emily Dickinson, constitute the greeting one is met with upon entering the vibrant exhibition of pieces by women artists now on display in the Palmer Museum.

The exhibit, fully titled Power in my Hand: Works on Paper by Women Artists from the Permanent Collection, showcases the works of 21 bold female artists of the late 20th century.

The styles and mediums of the artwork vary from abstract expressionism to collage to acrylic to geometric variations on pointillism. Feminism, political commentary, tributes to underrepresented groups, as well as influences from European, African and Asian cultures are present in this diverse exhibit.

Among the more prominent artists represented is Faith Ringgold, an active participant in the feminist art movement of the 1970s. She is noted for protesting against institutions that ignored artwork done by women and people of color.

Her piece entitled "Marilyn" is an interpretation of Andy Warhol's work with the image of Marilyn Monroe. Her painting, however, throws a new spin on the Hollywood icon. Through an alteration on the star's skin color, the artist presents us with an African-American Marilyn, an image that brings forth many questions about our society's ideas about race, gender and beauty stereotypes.

Beatrice Riese's "Garamond" is a rectangular piece completely covered in intricate geometric patterns achieved with pencil and gouache on paper. Tiny lines intersect, becoming rhythmic, scintillating forms as the eye progresses from the tiniest to the largest units. The slight variation in density and proximity of the lines gives the viewer an impression of activated, interlocking forms, ultimately culminating in a large, cloth-like sheet of paper. The intent of this piece, according to a sign in the museum, was to pay homage to the many anonymous women who slave away spinning, shuttling, knitting and stitching "with infinite patience and skill."

The works range from serene scenes of family gatherings to stimulating images of weapons and bold-faced red type. The dates of completion of the various works span three decades, from the mid-1960s to the late 1990s. The entire room is awash with splashes of vibrant color as well as soothing gray-scales.

The true beauty of the ensemble of works is the power with which each piece speaks to the viewer. Even the novice can gain insight into the artists' intentions by reading the descriptions and explanations conveniently located on the walls next to each artwork.

Power in my Hand can be seen in the Palmer Museum until April 29.