By Emily Doskow
“Make a Wish” by Claire Ibarra (Emily Doskow/Radio 1190)
The “Brava!” exhibit at the Boulder Public Library showcases local photographers, painters, and sculptors and the works of their inspirations. From Feb. 4 to March 30, the Boulder community can enjoy the work of local female visual artists and the women who inspired their work.
Historically, women have been underrepresented in art, as one artist, Claire Ibarra, acknowledged. “ They’re not appreciated enough. Frida Kahlo was always a favorite of mine. And it’s funny that she dabbled in art while, you know, Diego Rivera was the big artist,” she said. Megan Morgan, another artist whose art was displayed, echoed this sentiment. “ You know, when you think of artists, usually typical, it’s like, oh Picasso, you know, you can ramble off all the male names. The numbers are heavier in the male category versus female. So the idea was, you know, what female artists inspired you?”
When Ibarra, a photographer of over twenty years, saw the call for the “Brava!” Exhibit, she started thinking about the female artists who had inspired her. ”I just started looking into women photographers mostly, and their work really stood out to me. Especially with the feminist message behind it. It’s a way of reclaiming women’s roles and identity.”
“Judy Chicago inspired Cindy Sherman, who then inspired me,” Ibarra said. Their work, made in the ’60s and ’70s, is showcased next to Ibarra’s digital art. Both Chicago and Sherman explored the construction of feminist identities in their photography and made significant moves to elevate women in a predominantly male art scene. In particular, both Sherman and Chicago tried to deconstruct traditional female gender roles. Ibarra sought to capture their perspectives with digital artwork like “Make a Wish” and “Graffiti Girl.”
Megan Morgan showcased two paintings and a burlap sculpture. “When you’re doing a burlap, there’s a 24-48 hour period where the paint is drying,” she said. The piece “Call it a Day” took about two weeks to create. “All of the fibers want to detach and completely come apart, so to get them to finally dry and to be set into that space, there’s a lot of like, ‘mother hen’ where I have to come out, I’ve got to check,” she said. “I’ve got to strategically play with it the whole time.”
Morgan’s paintings showed a hand and two feet painted the colors of the Ukrainian flag: “FIGHT for FREEDOM” and “FLIGHT for FREEDOM.” Attending a workshop with an artist named Maria Valentina Sheets, based out of Evergreen, Colo., inspired her to create her art to raise money to support the Ukrainians. “People were making large donations,” she explained. “As an artist, I don’t have deep pockets, but I can create artwork.” Giving back, whether through honoring those who came before them or donating to causes like the war in Ukraine, was a theme throughout the exhibit.
Local community members can see Ibarra, Morgan, and all of the other women’s work showcased at the Boulder Public Library until March 30. “Brava!” is an exhibit not to be missed.
Megan Morgan’s “FIGHT for FREEDOM,” “FLIGHT for FREEDOM,” and “Call it a Day.” (Emily Doskow/Radio 1190)