Female artists rally behind Susan B. Anthony

They stage an exhibit and auction to benefit Anthony House

Stuart Low
Staff writer

Sunday, May 21, 2006

Can Rochester's female artists give Susan B. Anthony a fresh vote of confidence?

Almost 50 local painters, sculptors and furniture makers have just installed 83 works at Valley Manor Apartments' 1570 Gallery. Their exhibit honors the 100th anniversary of Anthony's death and will conclude with a June 23 auction benefiting the Susan B. Anthony House.

As Anthony might say about their cause: "Failure is impossible." Participants include nationally known sculptor Nancy Jurs and glass artist Nancy Gong, along with rising stars such as portraitist Athesia Benjamin and local legends such as 92-year-old painter Bing Thayer.

"We have women artists of a phenomenal caliber in Rochester," says Tamra Brosseau, historic preservation administrator at Susan B. Anthony House. "This event fits perfectly with our legacy and will help us get broader recognition."

As you might expect at a celebration for Anthony, several artists make strong feminist statements — but with a light touch.

Rochester sculptor Maggie Scheid tells Cinderella: The Whole Story with two life-size slippers: one of lead crystal, the second of cast iron.

"Cinderella's looking for a perfect match with the crystal slipper," says Scheid. "But the cast iron slipper is how it turns out for her. It suggests the rigid confines of royalty and marriage."

A similar sense of constriction comes from Christine Knoblauch's metal sculpture of a corset. Tightly laced to create a wasp waist, it looks like an instrument of torture designed for women of Anthony's era.

The exhibit also features a few portraits of Anthony. They're far more cheerful than the well-known dour photos of the aging suffragist. Local painter Jacquie Germanow, for instance, portrays a kinder, gentler Anthony wearing a lilac-colored dress and a benign expression.

Still, this exhibit is more than a refresher course on Anthony's life and times. It's a convenient way to explore local art that often has a touch of whimsy.

Jurs' ceramic sculpture Tango is literally lighthearted. An iridescent pair of shorts and a moss-green heart nuzzle together on a rippled mini-pedestal. The minimum bid is $500 — a steal, considering Jurs' professional stature.

More fantasy comes from Irish-born artist Raphaela McCormack.

Her crinkled, cobalt-blue vessel has a frizzy fringe and turquoise accents. Is it a pocketbook? A surreal vase? Only the future buyer will know for sure.

In the same playful spirit, South Wedge artist Cheryl Olney uses wooden cutouts to create a festive procession of women with corsages.

The spark for the exhibit came from friends of Jurs and her husband, Scottsville artist Wendell Castle.

"They had the idea of a fundraising auction featuring women artists," says Brosseau. She and a friend were the organizers.

Last summer, Susan B. Anthony House and the 1570 Gallery began planning the centennial bash together. They decided to divide proceeds evenly between the artists and Anthony House.

About 20 pieces will be auctioned off and the rest are available for sale. Prices range from $20 for ceramic dishes to $11,500 for a striking sextant-shaped glass sculpture by Gong.

The organizers hope to make this an annual event. But even if it proves to be a one-time affair, Valley Manor Apartments will have a lasting connection with Anthony. Her great grandniece, Jean Tischer, is a resident in this independent living facility. And so is Patricia Stafford Utz, the great granddaughter of Anthony's sister, Guelma.