As an aspiring artist with a strong interest in feminist theory, gender politics, and women's health I am constantly on the prow for past and practicing artists whose work addresses these particular issues.
Feminism and Women's issues are dominant themes in today's contemporary art world. There are female and male artists all over the world working in every medium imaginable who are focusing their work on these topics. So, on behalf of WASH, we are bringing you a new artist profile every month, particularly ones with a strong focus in issues effecting women and women's health!
Colleen Wolstenholme is an internationally exhibiting artist from Nova Scotia whose work focuses on the effect that gender construction and media representation have on women and women's bodies. Working in sculpture, installation, photography and textile, Wolstenholme's work often takes on the look of stereotypical feminine objects, which when looked at closely are made up of composed consumerist products that are constantly marketed to women. In,
Pills, large pill sculptures span over the floor expressing the over prescription and marketing of pharmaceuticals. In
Birth Control/Viagra Rosary, a rosary of different birth control pills addresses the over medicalization of women's bodies,and how women's roles are perceived within certain fundamentalist cultures, whichever they may be.
Wolstenholme's work has engaged viewers for over a decade with its sheer size and detail, as well as its important and relevant content.
For more of her work and information, check out her
website. -Evy
Shannon teaches at the Ontario College of Art and Design and constantly encourages her students to contribute their ideas to the community by partaking in self publication and independent practices. You can catch her and her work at many Toronto independent press events such as Canzine, Small Press Book Fair, or the Toronto Comic Arts Fair. What i most appreciate about her work is her interest in education and outreach. Her website lists many helpful websites and locations for those who are interested in getting into print or book art/publication in Canada. Her humor and good nature leaks even through the type on her website. Her work and attitude is exactly the type of thing we love to see here at WASH: work that encourages understanding, tolerance, education, and support from our very own community.
To view more of her work, check out her catalogue at her website. You can also check out her entire array of crocheted work over at Etsy.
