A Room of Her Own | Opening Reception

A Room Of Her Own: Women Studio Artists From AXC's 40 Year History will be an exhibition of artwork by 25 powerhouse women artists who have, or have had, studios at the ArtsXchange, either in Grant Park or in East Point. The dates of the exhibition are May 4 – June 22, 2024, in the Jack Sinclair Gallery at the ArtsXchange.

An opening reception is planned for 6-8 p.m. Saturday, May 4. An Artist Talk moderated by Malkia M'Buzi Moore is planned for 2-5 p.m. Sunday, May 5.

Artists include Lisa Alembik, Beverly Buchanan, Dana Cibulski, Jaynie Gillman Crimmins, Connie Cross, N’Dieye Gray Danavall, Theresa Davis, Elyse Defoor, Rebecca DesMarais, Myriam Dondzina, Mirtha Ferrer, Anna Hamer, Caroline Lathan-Stiefel, Alice Lovelace-Riley, Lynn Marshall-Linnemeier,  Theresa “Wise Mecca” Mingo, Charmaine Minniefield, Barbara Nesin “Batya Tamar”, Donna Pickens, Sankofa Selassie, Karley Sullivan, Chris Tholl, Lisa Tuttle, Laura Vela and Pandra Williams. A wide variety of artwork will be on display, including paintings, drawings, mixed media work, photography, small installations, sculpture, ceramics and miniature dioramas.

For artist and curator Lisa Tuttle,  this exhibition of multi-generational women artists represents an unique contribution to Metro Atlanta’s art history, as well as a gathering of many women artists and colleagues who have inspired her to remain committed to the creative life. The title comes from the writings of Virginia Woolf, “A Room of One's Own,” first published in September 1929. The work is based on two lectures Woolf delivered in October 1928 at Newnham College and Girton College, women's colleges at the University of Cambridge. In her essay, Woolf uses metaphors to explore social injustices and comments on women's lack of free expression and recognition as creatives. "A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction." Tuttle feels the same idea is valid in terms of women visual artists and their studios.

Tuttle writes, “ At 72, I find it is increasingly important to put my energies into formalizing records about my own work, and that of other artists I know as well. I have seen influential artists’ work fade from memory. Organizing this exhibition of  the diverse women artists is to honor the work of some remarkable colleagues, each of whom has taught me something along the way. Some had studios at the Arts Exchange before I became a tenant, and others I knew to varying degrees over the 23 years I had a studio at the Arts Exchange building in Grant Park. And now, I can bring them together with the women artists who have, or have had, studios in our beautiful new building in East Point.”

Planned as part of the ArtsXchange’s 40th Anniversary celebration, this exhibition will both document, and place into context the wide variety of individual women artists who have worked in our buildings over the last 40 years. The gallery program is the longest continually running program at the Arts Exchange/ArtsXchange, and several of these women have played important roles in the Gallery Committee over the years.