Although originally slated to debut in May, the Sedona Arts Center’s all female juried show “Magic and Dreams” is being held virtually in June due to the coronavirus pandemic. Artists working in any medium were welcome to apply. And this is all intentional. The Sedona Arts Center has dubbed 2020 “The Year of the Woman.” This happens to coincide with the 100-year anniversary of the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote.
“It’s just another way to recognize women artists and recognize their contribution to the world,” says Jenny Reed, events coordinator at the Arts Center, of the show. “Maybe bring attention to the fact to that women are still there’s a still huge gender disparity when it comes to the value of their work.”
Executive Director of the Sedona Arts Center Vince Fazio tells us that interest in a January 2020 show, “31 Women Artists,” was so high that the Arts Center decided to put on another only-female artists show. Both shows share the same theme of surrealism. Surrealism is any kind of art that has a magical, dream-like quality to it – giving the show its title “Magic and Dreams.” The other connection to the show’s theme is the fact that notable surrealism artists Dorothea Tanning and Max Ernst were both Sedona residents.
“’Magic and Dreams’ is the perfect name for an all-woman exhibition. What is art? Transforming and bringing forth a thought, an intuition, a dream or an energy from the realm of unseen and making it appear,” says exhibiting painter Afsaneh Javey. She’s been working on a series of abstracts inspired by music called “When Two Worlds Meet,” pictured above.
Above all, expect a show that celebrates female artists. “Our goal with the ‘Magic and Dreams,’ exhibition this month and all of our ‘Year of the Woman’ programming is to represent and empower the creativity of women in the arts,” says Vince. − Teresa K. Traverse
MORE ART GALLERIES IN NORTHERN ARIZONA: Shows, exhibitions and happenings
