Beyond Art for Art’s Sake: The Power and Limitations of Feminist Art with Allison Stevens

  • Thursday, October 8, 2020
  • 6:30pm – 8:00pm
  • Zoom

Lola Olufemi creates a call to action in the chapter “Art for Art’s Sake” in Feminism, Interrupted (2020): “As feminists, if we wish to see a world of art and creativity, then we must remove the barriers to that creativity and the systems that kill artists.” As artists, we have a specific but significant power. Art creates an independent space to challenge and open up discourse. It exposes the pain and trauma of injustice. It has the potential to raise consciousness and propose revolutionary ideas. But art alone cannot dismantle the oppressive system. “[Art] is only as effective as we allow it to be.” Can we, as feminist artists, live up to the responsibility of bearing witness and creating work that threatens the social and political order?

Reading: Click here to download PDF

About Theory at Home It’s fun! It’s theoretical! And you can wear your pajamas! MAWA presents a series of informal critical discussions led by guest facilitators online. People of all genders welcome. Email [email protected] to receive the Zoom link to the meeting. Or if you are tired out by so many Zoom meet-ups or find the interface challenging, feel free to do the reading or have a discussion on one of these topics with a friend.

About Zoom Zoom is an internet based video conferencing tool that allows users to meet online, with or without video. Zoom works best if you download the application in advance and set up an account. The download is available here: https://zoom.us/download. To register and obtain the meeting link, please email Adriana at [email protected]. Once you have Zoom installed, click the meeting link at 6:30 on October 8 to join the discussion.

Free, everyone welcome to attend! Please email Adriana at [email protected] for Zoom login.

  • Allison Stevens is an experimental filmmaker and mixed media artist from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her work seeks to embrace the monstrosity of the self as a rebellion against societally defined images/ideas of “appropriate” bodies and ways of being. With a critical feminist edge, she rejects the violence of capitalism and colonialism in all its forms. Allison is currently being mentored by Leslie Supnet as part of MAWA’s 2019-2020 Foundation Mentorship Program. She has a Digital Media Design diploma (2013) from Red River College and a Bachelor of Arts degree (Conflict Resolution / Criminal Justice) from the University of Winnipeg (2010).