At the urging of several friends, I went to see the “Looking Back / Moving Forward: The Wisdom of Older Women” exhibit at the Fullerton Museum Center featuring the work of award-winning photographer Donna Edman and over 70 artists from across the country. This small but powerful multimedia exhibition gives the visitor a peek into the lives, loves, and losses of later-in-life women.
Gorgeous portraits by Donna Edman of women over 50 dominate the entrance to the exhibit. Immediately I was struck with the breadth of representation on display. It was comforting and disconcerting to be enveloped by so many female faces that are not a reflection of the male gaze. Each portrait had a brief blurb about the woman featured and advice that she would give to her 20-year-old self.
Here is Jeanie Yoshihara’s advice to her younger self:
“Love is within you. You must love yourself before you can truly love others. Respect yourself, your family, and your friends. Seek advice from a trustworthy person. Don’t let the past drag you down; let go and move on. Live life in the moment with love, gratitude, and happiness.”
Edman created a book, Women of Wisdom, with all these portraits and I think it would make an excellent companion piece to one of my favorite photography tomes: Wise Women by Joyce Tenneson.
Moving further into the building, I was impressed by the curation of the show which featured every type of art under the sun. The exhibit was developed by Elvia Susan Rubalcava, Fullerton Museum Executive Director, and Carol Henke the Gallery Director at Fullerton College. They put a call out to women artists and ended up receiving over 200 submissions from across the United States.
Here are some of my favorites:
Grace Vega, Easter Sunday, 2010
Artist Statement: When I was a child, it was very important for my Mother to dress my sister, cousin, and myself in cute dresses, hats and purses to go to church. This became a ritual for me.
Elise Acosta, The Balancing Act, 2019
Artist Statement: At the beginning of my third stage of life I took on a new challenge. I wanted to go to college. It wasn’t an option before so in my 50s I enrolled in college to finally finish my education. With this came so many great experiences and opportunities, but I was still a wife and a mother. I had to learn how to balance the new parts of my life without neglecting my family. And in that I unlocked parts of myself. I gained new confidence, and transformed into the me I always knew I could be.
Devon Sharon, Uncovered, 2022
Artist Statement: As women, our journey towards body acceptance is a tumultuous one, rife with challenges and obstacles. From the moment we begin to blossom into young adulthood, our bodies become both a source of fascination and frustration. We must navigate the treacherous waters of unwanted attention and advances from others, while simultaneously grappling with the discomfort of exposing ourselves to the world. As we prepare for motherhood, our bodies become a vessel for creation, a source of sustenance for our babies. And yet after all of this, even as we come to appreciate our bodies and hold them dear, we may still feel vulnerable and uncovered. It is a complex and multi-layered journey, one that requires patience, courage, and a deep sense of self-love to navigate.
A print of Uncovered can be found here for purchase.
Toward the back of the exhibit is Sherri Meinburg’s artwork entitled Tree of Wisdom which acts as a mural on the gallery walls, enveloping many other pieces. In front, a table and chair are positioned with leaf-shaped papers, inviting visitors to write their own positive view about cronehood and hang the message from the branches of the “tree.” I thought it was such a clever way to include all of us in the creation of art as well as a symbol of solidarity with the courage of these women.
The exhibit runs until August 13 at the Fullerton Museum Center, 301 North Pomona Ave, Fullerton, CA 92832.
Main image: Sharon Kennedy, More Than Flowers Needed This Time, 2021
Artist Statement: We thought we cured things in the 50s and 60s—but we did not go far enough. This time we must go all the way.
Sounds like a fantastic exhibit. I may buy “Uncovered” as a print. Thanks for the link.