_gaia's mission remains as a collective of women, for women, for the making of textiles, clothing, printmaking, painting, architecture, music, film, photography, science, the performing arts, writing, environmental, social and political activism: all things which color the lives of the women involved.
_gaia is active in the visual arts space. We run and sponsor shows, events, and residencies for our sisters to come and work on their art. We are always brewing up something new and looking for new ideas. Contact us if you are interested in participating or have an idea you would like to explore with _gaia.
_gaia is active in the performance space. We run and sponsor shows, events, and residencies for our sisters to come and work on their acting and voice. We are always brewing up something new and looking for new ideas. Contact us if you are interested in participating or have an idea you would like to explore with _gaia.
Activism was the fire that gave birth to _gaia. We continue in that tradition by supporting and promoting socially conscious movement and agendas that are important to our members. We are active in demonstrations and events that help bring issues of importance to light. _gaia's main issues include but are not limited too: stop violence against women, human rights, reproductive rights and promotion.
_gaia loves to meet new people and make new friends. We have many opportunities for you to join _gaia in our mission to provide a space for women in the arts. Come play with us through our internships and volunteer programs. You will learn, work and have fun while opening up a whole new world. If you don't have the time but got the dough, please consider a donation to _gaia. We appreciate you and love you!
_gaia loves you and we are fortunate to have those who love and support us. There are those who support us with their time and expertise to make so many of our programs happen and continue on in the future. The partners who are generous with their space and businesses to help us make so many events happen. Of course, like anyone else we love our fans who come to our events and workshops.
_gaia has several open calls! WonderWomen Residency, Children Scripts, One-Act Acripts, Director Residency. We are looking for a new member to join _gaia. check out details...
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"residency"
The Wonder Women Residency Project
Wonder Women is a residency program in its fourth year presented by _gaia at their studio in Hoboken, NJ. The Wonder Women mission is to engage practicing, yet underrepresented artists who are eager to participate in a collective dialogue about the art world and feminism today.
The Wonder Women meet as a group at _gaia studio to find and explore the subconscious hero. It is the hope that in this deep mindfulness with honest dialogue about social change, art, gender, and the status of the world, the wonder women will create art that will become the truest expression of themselves relating to this shared dialogue.
2009
The Wonder Women exhibition WW$: Money, Money, Money is now at:
ABC No Rio
156 Rivington Street
(between Clinton & Suffolk)
NYC
212.254.3697
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WW$: MoneyMoneyMoney!!
A Wonder Women Project presented by _gaia and hosted by ABC No Rio
March 13 – April 2, 2009
ABC No Rio
156 Rivington Street NYC NY 10002
Opening Reception– Friday, March 13th 7-10 pm
Gallery Hours: Wednesdays and Thursdays 4-7pm and Sundays 1-3pm
Artists: Pollie Barden, Mary Button, Andrea Callard, Geraldine Juarez, Sarah Julig, Christina Kelly, Michelle Loughlin, Melissa MacAlpin, Holly Pitre and Hanna Von Goeler
Curated by Doris Caçoilo and Vandana Jain
ABC No Rio is pleased to host WW$: MoneyMoneyMoney!!, the culminating exhibition of the Wonder Women Residency Project presented by _gaia. The six-week residency brings together ten emerging artists to engage in discussions about their work, the economy, feminism, and personal relationships to money.
The projects that have developed over the course of the residency are diverse in form and concept. Some of the artists are documenting their relationship to money, such as Andrea Callard in her sound piece “Comfort with Money,” or Sarah Julig in her visualization of her income and spending as a grid of collected and found baubles. Pollie Barden charts the financial and ecological impact of the Cobb salad, depending on what season it is eaten.
Other artists are inspired by the idea of personal and/or domestic currencies. Hanna Von Goeler takes money and transforming it into currency by handpainting or otherwise working domestic and foreign money. Holly Pitre attempts to quantify the “value” of the members of her nuclear family by painting their portraits on recycled tea bags filled with different Cajun spices. Geraldine Juarez becomes even more lyrical, charting her “loves and deaths” in an emotional stock market programmed in Processing.
The current state of economic recession also informs several works. Michelle Loughlin is embroidering atop images of foreclosed homes in her neighborhood, rendering the new bank owner’s in cross-stitch. Mary Button has created a board game where you buy and sell resources in an effort to rebuild society. More whimsically, Melissa MacAlpin takes the loaded image of a house on fire, and turns it into kitschy sculptures.
In an attempt re-establish the value of our money, Christina Kelly has taken shredded American currency to use as the brown matter in a worm compost bin, wondering what the transformation of paper money into valuable dirt could symbolize, and perhaps, how it can guide the rebuilding of our economy.
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WW$ coincides with The Feminist Art Project (TFAP.) The purpose of The Feminist Art Project is to bring public attention to the significant and continuing impact of women and their art on all aspects of contemporary art practice, highlighting their international influence, and guaranteeing their inclusion in the cultural record, past, present, and future.
_gaia is a collective of women, for women, for the making of textiles, clothing, printmaking, painting, architecture, music, film, photography, science, the performing arts, writing, environmental, social and political activism: all things which color the lives of the women involved. We actively promote and support the work of local women artists while developing programming to reach out to and help emerging artists in need of studio space, facilities and resources. In our pursuit of awareness we also concentrate on activism, from issues in the local community to global issues affecting the lives of women.
This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council of the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, administered by the Hudson County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, Thomas A. DeGise, County Executive, and the Board of Chosen Freeholders.
Exhibition funded in part by the New York State Council on the Arts, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Dedalus Foundation.
Upon request, information will be made available in alternative formats such as Braille, large print, audiotape and/or computer disc. Please contact 201.386.0486 or info@gaiastudio.org
PRESS CONTACT: Doris Caçoilo info@gaiastudio.org 201-386-0486
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2008
In 2008 year the Wonder Women project was organized and curated by Doris Caçoilo and Joanna Rose White. It is called WWIII.
“What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty and democracy?” —– Mahatma Gandhi
March 14th- April 12th
Mana Fine Arts Exhibition Space
227 Coles Street, Jersey City, NJ
**Opening Reception– March 14th 6-9 pm
Artist Talk and Closing– April 12th 4-9pm
Gallery Hours M-F 10-6 pm or by appointment
Are we in the throes of a third world war? What would another world war look like? How would an escalation in the current War on Terror affect our lives and those of the people of this planet? What changes would it create for the globe and our place in it? What, if anything have we learned from our violent histories? How can we reflect our fears, concerns and protests through our artwork and activism?
Wonder Women invites artists to participate in a residency program to engage in discussion about their work, the cultural climate, the history of art, war, feminism, and social change. We are interested in creating a dialogue and artwork that explores the issues of war and protest in the modern age. Weekly discussions will address issues related to feminism, gender, war, and protest as they relate to art practice. Each participant is encouraged to bring as much as possible to the group, including readings, artist heroes, activist heroes, feminist heroes, ideas, etc.
Wonder Women III are:
Pollie Barden
Jennifer Carpenter
Gwen Charles
Tamara Fitzpatrick
Maya Joseph Goteiner
Mary Jeys
Melissa MacAlpin
Gina Riano
Amanda Thackray
Sarah Nelson Wright