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For more information contact:            Barbara Vogel, 9 Rock House Road, Easton, CT 06612

                                                            203-268-3179,              bjbvogel@hotmail.com

89 WOMEN ARTISTS SAY: WELL, WHY NOT?!

     To what established "No" would you respond "WHY NOT?!" Not a necessarily a polite "Why not?", but a real shout: WHY NOT?!  That is the question that is answered in 98 works by 89 women, including New Haven artist, Ann R. Langdon, in the show with that title opening September 4 in Bridgeport, CT. Langdon’s work from her series entitled “LifeCycle: The Hub of the Matter,” was among those chosen for inclusion in this powerful show. Juried by private art consultant and former director of Silvermine Gallery, Helen Klisser During, the exhibition represents entries from New England and New York.

The theme of the exhibit, sponsored by the Connecticut Chapter of the Women’s Caucus for Art, is women artists pushing boundaries.  Each artist had the opportunity to reflect on the question from whatever position she chose—personal, artistic, political, historical, etc.  Why not, for instance, break the artistic rules they learned?  Why not set an idea or societal demand on its head? Why not speak up for someone who doesn't have a voice?  Why not make any statement you want? These three artists have answered this question in their own unique way. Why Not come and see how they answered it?

Langdon, who has worked in a circular format for many years, has always considered herself a colorist. Most of her work is non-representational and full of color. Her found-hubcap “books” are a definite departure from her series of pastel drawings, or her “Ovum Series” prints, and her “Planets with Moon” watercolors. These “books-on-wheel” come straight out of the Dada philosophy in their haphazard discovery along the roadside, and the infusion of autobiographical anecdotes that Langdon writes in an almost stream-of-consciousness manner. They arose, she says, from a discussion in which the definition of “book” was re-examined (and re-defined—for her). When she found her first hubcap, her immediate response was, “Why not” make it into a book with the “windows” as her “pages?”

The Housatonic Museum of Art is co-sponsor with the Connecticut Chapter of the Women's Caucus for Art and the host for the exhibition. Additional support has been provided by the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism; the Jamie A. Hulley Arts Foundation; the Park City Dept. of Downtown Special Services, Bridgeport; and Nationwide Insurance, Jeff Tobin.

     An opening reception for Why Not?! will be held on September 4 from 5 to 7 p.m. The show runs from September 4 to October 24, 2008.

For a list of artists in the show and information about other events related to the show, visit www.wca-ct.org.

WHY NOT?! 9/4/08—10/24/08 Housatonic Museum of Art, 900 Lafayette Blvd., Bridgeport, CT