On September 4, The Gallery at Fine Art, corner of Warren and Rosalino streets, Woodbrook, will open its doors to Women in Art's 15th annual exhibit, Golden Jubilee Expressions. This year, members were asked to create pieces that expressed their artistic aesthetic and also encompassed the 50th anniversary of independence of Trinidad and Tobago. Recently elected president of the organisation Nerine Peters said patrons can expect art in a variety of media as well as a few installations-a medium never before included in the exhibit. During a telephone interview with Sunday Arts, Peters also said Women in Art founder, ex-officio president and artist Fraulein Rudder will be honoured at the opening reception. She also revealed that the organisation's challenge trophy has now been renamed the Award of Merit. Peters said in the 16 years since the organisation was founded, Rudder has served as an inspiration to many female artists. "She has nurtured all our members, encouraging us to practice by workshops and seminars and more. She also encouraged us to be brave enough to host solo exhibitions and collaborations. She's been like a mentor to all the artists."
She added that in a male-dominated art industry, Women in Art served as a support group to artists who were also mothers and wives in some cases. "Some women feel more comfortable in a women's group because of the shared experiences which other women understand," she said. As the new president, Peters said her main goal is to encourage partnership with other women's groups both locally and internationally. Rudder said she envisions the organisation continuing with its own building. "My hope is for us to have a building and just open doors to the public," said Rudder."We need a place where young people can train. Many times our young people display creative instincts that should be developed early but we don't have that here. It's only after they've gone through school you actually see them coming out and establishing themselves." Rudder added that when she says "young people" she means both male and female. The title Women in Art was not meant to exclude or put down men, she said, but to promote women and afford them deserved recognition. "As far as the industry being dominated by the male, that has nothing to do with gender. It has to do with education and we have to learn to educate people so that when they buy a painting, it is the painting they buy and not the artist," she said. She added that while many women had now established successful careers, proper recognition of female artists was still lacking. "You can now see an explosion of women artists. Everywhere you turn you see women having exhibitions and going solo. That self-assurance that they lacked before Women in Art is now there and I think they need more recognition than what they are getting. I think we need to have a whole different approach to art, starting in the schools."
Golden Jubilee Expressions will be at the Gallery at Fine Art from September 4–22.