MEDIA RELEASE
April 17, 2014
Media Contact: Julianna Verboort, 253.272.4258 x3011 or JVerboort@TacomaArtMuseum.org
GUERRILLA GIRLS: EXPOSING CULTURAL BIAS THROUGH WIT AND SATIRE
TACOMA, WA – Tacoma Art Museum, in collaboration with University of Washington Tacoma, presents a live performance by the notorious New York-based feminist art activists Guerrilla Girls. Expect the ultimate edutainment experience during Guerrilla Girls: Not Ready to Make Nice, as Guerrilla Girls powerfully employ irony, wit, and rhetoric to expose sexism and racism in politics, the art world, film and culture at large. A question and answer session will follow the performance on Saturday, May 10, 1 pm at Phillips Hall at University of Washington Tacoma.
Founded in 1985, Guerrilla Girls have received international attention for their provocative posters, banners, billboards, books, exhibitions, performances, and creative activism around feminism, racism, and other cultural biases. Their work has made its way into university curriculum, history books, and other noteworthy texts on the topics of feminism, activism, racism, and art history. Guerrilla Girls’ website describes their philosophy on activist art: “We try to be different from the kind of political art that is angry and points to something and says ‘This is bad.’ That’s preaching to the converted. We want to be subversive, to transform our audience, to confront them with some disarming statements, backed up by facts—and great visuals—and hopefully convert them. We carefully craft everything we do. We try to twist an issue around and present it in a way that hasn’t been seen before.”
The group is comprised of women who act as anonymous “masked avengers” of feminism, wearing gorilla masks while working under pseudonyms or the names of deceased female artists. Their prolific work has appeared in The New York Times, The Nation, Bust, and on television and radio including NPR and the BBC.
In Gloria Steinem’s words, “women’s movement is too diverse for any one symbol…but if I had to name a group that symbolized the best of feminism in this country, I would say, ‘The Guerrilla Girls.’ Smart, radical, funny, creative, uncompromising, and (I assume) diverse under those inspired gorilla masks, they force us to rethink everything from art to zaniness.”
Take advantage of the rare opportunity to experience Guerrilla Girls live and local. Tacoma Art Museum anticipates a sold out show and recommends purchasing tickets in advance. Tickets will be sold at the door only if the event has not sold out. Cost: $20 ($15 for Tacoma Art Museum members, students, senior, and military) tickets
For more information, contact Julianna Verboort at 253.272.4258 x3011 or at JVerboort@TacomaArtMuseum.org.
About Tacoma Art Museum
Tacoma Art Museum’s mission is to connect people through art. The museum serves the diverse communities of the region through its collection, exhibitions, and learning programs, emphasizing art and artists from the Northwest. Tacoma Art Museum is located in the downtown Cultural District, near the Museum of Glass, Washington State History Museum, and Union Station.
HOURS: Wednesday–Sunday, 10 am–5 pm, Third Thursdays 10 am–8 pm
ADMISSION: Adult $9, Student/Military/Senior (65+) $8, Family $25 (2 adults and up to 4 children under 18). Children 5 and under free. Third Thursdays free from 5-8 pm. Members always free.
CONTACT: 253.272.4258, www.TacomaArtMuseum.org, info@TacomaArtMuseum.org