Exhibit addresses female sexuality

A current School of Fine Arts Gallery exhibit presents different views of female sexuality from the perspectives of male and female artists from diverse time periods. \nThe exhibit, titled "Feminine Persuasion," is part of a yearlong celebration of the 50th anniversary of the publication of "Sexual Behavior in the Human Female," by noted sexologist Alfred C. Kinsey and his research colleagues. \nSix female contemporary artists were invited to display their work in the show, said Betsy Stirratt, SoFA Gallery director. Artwork was also borrowed directly from the artists or private collections. \nThe largest part of the exhibit presents pieces from the Kinsey Institute collections. Stirratt chose the works along with Kinsey Institute Curator Catherine Johnson. The duo has also put together a book -- "Feminine Persuasion: Art and Essays on Sexuality." Published by IU Press, the book contains a list of all the exhibited works and also scholarly essays that discuss the illustrations. \nThe exhibit is designed for mature audiences.\n"We have signs posted outside the gallery to explain that the show contains sexual images," Johnson said. "We do not want anyone who enters the exhibit to be surprised by the sexually explicit artwork."\nOne of the exhibited pieces is an installation of two large yellow balloons covered with black netting. The balloons rest on layers of black and yellow ruffles. Stirratt spoke with a group of students about the balloon piece.\n"This artist is making fun of herself and women's sexuality," Stirratt said.\nThree such pieces in the exhibit were contributed by American artist Nancy Davidson. Davidson provides a humorous commentary on the objectification of women's bodies in modern society, Johnson said. One of Davidson's pieces, "Crystal Blue Persuasion," resembles a huge mound of large, cloth-covered balloons meant to suggest female body parts -- breasts for the most part, Johnson said.\nBecause of its base in women's work, this exhibit differs from other shows the gallery has hosted in the past. Stirratt said women artists today are dealing with their sexuality in a different way than they have in the past. Stirratt also said that female artists today are more assertive with their art, and they are influenced by the work of earlier artists such as Judy Chicago and Yoko Ono. \n"These artists are people who happen to be women," Stirratt said. "They are not women first."\nWomen artists in the middle of the 20th century would not have considered using sexuality as a subject for their artwork, Johnson said. She said women artists today are not afraid to use sexual imagery to express their ideas. \nJohnson and Stirratt agreed that women's views on sexuality have changed over the years.\n"All women today think differently and feel differently about their sexuality," Stirratt said. "It would be wrong to say all women are the same and they feel the same about sexuality."\nKinsey's publication of his research in the field of female sexuality allowed women the opportunity to be open about their sexuality. \n"Fifty years ago, it was thought that women were not as interested in sex as men. It was said that as many as 75 percent of women were 'frigid' (unable to experience sexual pleasure)," Johnson said. "Many women accepted the belief that 'nice girls' did not have sex before marriage. Some of these beliefs linger on today, but in general, women now view their own sexual pleasure as important in a relationship."\nCarlie Lowe, a sophomore studying art education, said her favorite piece in the show is a photograph of a women buried underneath a white sheet. Lowe said the exhibit is interesting and not offensive to people who are mature enough to handle it.\n"You have to be prepared to look," Lowe said. "It is how people express themselves and what they are trying to express."\nJohnson said they did not select the pieces for shock value, and she would not describe the exhibit as "in your face."\n"Our first major exhibition in 1997 was probably more surprising to viewers, mostly because it was the first time the Kinsey Institute's collections had been made available to the public audience," Johnson said.\nCassie Doyle, a graduate student in classical studies, questions the selection of some of the pieces in the exhibit, she said.\n"Some of the material seems too pornographic," Doyle said.\nAlthough Doyle is shocked to see some of the pieces in the show, she said the exhibit is liberating for women and it presents a catalog on women's sexuality.\nStirratt said she does not consider the exhibit offensive to people. \n"Some people are baffled by the contemporary pieces, especially the video pieces by the Chinese American artist, Patty Chang," she said. "Her message is about being uncomfortable and that may mean that people feel uncomfortable when looking at her work."\nJohnson said they hope this exhibit speaks to students as well as other members of the IU community. She also said they want members of the larger Bloomington community to enjoy seeing the exhibition.\n"We hope that men and women will come away from the exhibition with an increased understanding of the breadth of women's sexuality -- that it is much more than just the sexual act," Johnson said.