Celebrating 25 years of grantmaking and community building among artists, cultural producers, and organizers in Greater Philadelphia GALLERY GUIDE SEPTEMBER 20 - DECEMBER 8
Table of Contents
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About Leeway Foundation
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Welcome
About Moore College of Art & Design
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About MAKING SPACE
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Featured Artists (Paley Gallery)
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Featured Artists (Levy Gallery)
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Anniversary Events & Programs
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Welcome In preparing for this exhibition we received the input of members of Leeway’s community through a series of meetings held over a period of two years. Seventy artists, organizers, curators, and other community partners (some grantees, some not) participated in these conversations and provided their perspectives on what this milestone celebration of the foundation should represent. These conversations were mostly centered on the question “What are 1 to 3 things you would expect to see at a Leeway retrospective?” — and certain themes emerged, highlighting some of the following expectations: • Stories of communities that aren’t often represented. What are the stories being told now that might not have been told before? • What are the narratives that are underneath “otherness”? What else is there besides our identity politics? • Commitment to work that talks about social justice • Multi-generational, multi-disciplinary • Bridge building between emerging and established artists • Diversity — race, class, location, discipline, level of experience, and practice • Not too didactic, but includes takeaways We’ve used the occasion of this birthday to show work highlighting the stories of communities and identities that are often marginalized, work that shows us the nuances and complexities contained therein. At last count, there are over 100 artists involved in this exhibition. I believe they have helped us create something that represents Leeway’s community and demonstrates through their contributions what we mean when we talk about the creative possibilities that exist at the intersection of our actions and clear intent. And, as I’ve watched this exhibit become realized and met with artists and partners and watched artwork being installed, I’ve found myself thinking, marveling really, that this thing we’ve been talking about for years, now less than a month away, is taking on its own life. 2
The outpouring of goodwill we’ve received from artists and allies has been heartwarming and inspiring. I want to take time to express my immense gratitude to the staff and board of Leeway and our partners at Moore, without whom this celebration would not be possible, for their unconditional support of my vision for this exhibit. And, to all of the participating artists, to everyone who came to a meeting, or patiently listened to me thinking out loud, or contributed their time and intellectual capital, in any way — THANK YOU! I am grateful for your support of the Foundation’s vision and values and appreciate how when called upon you showed up without question. We look forward to celebrating with you and hope that we’ve been able to capture some of what you shared as your vision of what this could be. I hope this exhibit, Making Space, is a place that gives you some idea of the ways Leeway grantees utilize their practices and mastery of medium to preserve culture, build community, and create space for new narratives to emerge. It’s just a snapshot of what we’ve become and where we are today @25 that we hope provides a glimpse of what the future can be. In the words of writer, educator, poet, and former Leeway staff member Walidah Imarisha:
Leeway wants to stretch the skin The idea Of art To clothe all of our bodies So that the creativity That flows through all of us And bursts like capillaries Has space. — Excerpted from the Leeway Vision Poem Inspired by and with input from the Leeway Foundation
Ashe! Denise M. Brown Philadelphia, 2018 3
About Leeway Foundation The Leeway Foundation supports women, trans*, and gender nonconforming artists and cultural producers working in communities at the intersection of art, culture, and social change. Through our grantmaking and other programs, we promote artistic expression that amplifies the voices of those on the margins, promotes sustainable and healthy communities, and works in service of movements for economic and social justice. *Leeway is a trans-affirming organization committed to gender self-determination, and we use the term “trans� in its most inclusive sense, as an umbrella term encompassing transsexual, transgender, genderqueer, Two-Spirit people, and anyone whose gender identity or gender expression is nonconforming and/or different from their gender assigned at birth.
Contact Info Leeway Foundation The Philadelphia Building 1315 Walnut Street, Suite 832 | Philadelphia, PA 19107 [t] 215.545.4078 | [f] 215.545.4021 info@leeway.org | www.leeway.org | @leewayfound
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Leeway Staff Denise M. Brown Executive Director
Nia-Samara Benjamin Office Manager
Sara Zia Ebrahimi Program Director
Berry Soto Vega Logan Cryer Interns
Denise Beek Communications Director Tahnee Jackson Communications & Outreach Assistant
V Chaudhry Scholar-in-Residence
Board of Directors Amadee Braxton Carolyn Chernoff Eli VandenBerg Germaine Ingram Gretjen Clausing Rasheedah Phillips, Esq. Tina Morton 5
About The Galleries at Moore The Galleries at Moore support Moore College of Art & Design’s educational mission and role as a cultural leader by providing a forum for exploring contemporary art and ideas, and enriching the artistic climate and intellectual climate of the college, the Greater Philadelphia community, and beyond. As a gateway between the College and the city of Philadelphia, The Galleries are a catalyst for creative exploration, experimentation, and scholarship, and function as a gathering place to meet, reflect, learn, challenge, and create. The Galleries’ exhibitions and programs — all free and open to the public — create community through dialogue and participation, and inspire an appreciation for the visual arts as a vital force in shaping contemporary culture. Gabrielle Lavin Suzenski Rochelle F. Levy Director Matt Kalasky Education & Programs Manager The Galleries At Moore Moore College of Art & Design 1916 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103 (t) 215.965.4027 | (f): 215.568-5921 (e) galleries@moore.edu https://moore.edu/the-galleries-at-moore | @thegalleriesatmoore Gallery Hours Monday – Saturday | 11:00am – 5:00pm Venue is wheelchair accessible 6
About Making Space In 2018, the Leeway Foundation turns 25 – a milestone grounded in the evolution of feminist principles. Please join us as we explore the intersection of art, culture, community and change, while we celebrate the artists and visionaries who lovingly and courageously made and continue to “make space” for fresh stories and new realities to emerge. Leeway Foundation, in collaboration with The Galleries at Moore, are pleased to present Making Space: Leeway@25, a survey of the organization’s history. Realized in two parts, this exhibition features a curated selection of artworks by former grant recipients, as well as historical materials that underscore Leeway’s impact, honor its evolution, and celebrate its future. EXHIBITION DESIGN & INSTALLATION Preston Link Amy Cousins Tim Belknap Gralin Hughes Wendelyn Anderson Elizabeth McIlvaine Monika Kuder Jesse Harrod Nicole Pollard Jonathan Santoro Michael Clemmons Kiki Rodriguez CURATORIAL ADVISORS Daniel Tucker Gretjen Clausing Meg Onli Rob Blackson 7
Featured Artists (Paley Gallery) COLLABORATIVE WORKS One Is Part Of The Many (front window installation) Anula Shetty (ACG ’15, LTA ’07, WOO ’04, HG ’02), Betty Leacraft (ACG ’16, ’14, ’09, LTA ’11, WOO ’99), & Michelle Angela Ortiz (WOO ’17, ACG ’13, ’12, ’05, LTA ’08)
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Leeway Vision Poem written by Walidah Imarisha (former staff), Recited by: Andrea Walls (ACG ’14) Boston Gordon (ACG ’17) Debra Powell-Wright (WOO ’18, ACG ’15, ’11, ’06) Denice Frohman (LTA ’12) Emily Abendroth (ACG ’15) Indah Nuritasari (LTA ’16, ACG ’13, ’11, ’09) J.C. Todd (WOO ’03, IA ’01) Julia Lopez (WOO ’01) Kai Davis (LTA ’17) Kavi Ade (LTA ’16) Michelle Myers (LTA ’14, ACG ’11) Misty Sol (LTA ’16, ACG ’16, ’13, ’11, ’07, ’06) Mytili Jagannathan (IA ’01) Pat McLean-Smith (ACG ’11, ’05, LTA ’06) Sham-e-Ali Nayeem (former staff) Sonia Sanchez (LTA ’05) Susan DiPronio (LAT ’13, ACG ’07) Trapeta Mayson (ACG ’14, LTA ’07) Ursula Rucker (LTA ’08, ACG ’08)
ALTAR INSTALLATION Ana Guissel Palma (LTA ‘17, ACG ’17, ’15, ’11) & Erika Guadalupe Nuñez (LTA ’17, ACG ’17, ’15) Honoring those who have come before us, and those who have transcended physical form. Rest in power. THE COLORED GIRLS MUSEUM INSTALLATION Curated by Syd Carpenter (ACG ’12, LAA ’99), with direction from Vashti DuBois (ACG ’16, ’12, LTA ’06) Art is breathing An absolute necessity for change It is the recovery of humanity It allows us to feel our own flesh To connect with our joy Pain fear anger happiness hopes An excerpt from the Leeway Vision Poem by Walidah Imarisha Barbara Bullock (BB ‘02) Betsy Casañas (LTA ’08) Celestine Wilson Hughes (ACG ’09) Christina Johnson (ACG ’11, LTA ’07) Denise Allen (ACG ’17, ’14) Ife Nii-Owoo (ACG ‘07) Li Sumpter (ATR ’18, WOO ’17, ACG ’17, ’16) Marta Sanchez (LTA ’10, ACG ’06, WOO ’02) Nancy Lewis Shell (LTA ’15, ACG ’12, WOO ’01, ’99) Nanette Clark (BB ‘99) Ruth Naomi Floyd (LTA ’06, WOO ’03, HM ’96) Sandra Andino (ACG ’14, ’09, ’05) Toni Kersey (ACG ’11, ’07) Yinka Orafidiya (WOO ’18, ACG ’10)
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Featured Artists (Paley Gallery) cont. SOLO WORK Beeta Baghoolizadeh (ACG ’18) Camae Ayewa aka Moor Mother (LTA ’15, ACG ’07) Lori Waselchuk (LTA ’13) Maria Dumlao (ACG ’17) Mary DeWitt (ACG ’18, ’17, ’16, ’15, ’09, LTA ’10, WOO ’03, ‘00)
ACG – Art & Change Grant / ATR – Art and Technology Residency / BBA – Bessie Berman Award / HM – honorable mention / IA – Inspiration Award / LA – Leeway Award / LAA – Leeway Award for Achievement LTA – Leeway Transformation Award / SA – Seedling Award / WOO – Window of Opportunity Grant 10
Featured Artist (Levy Gallery) SOLO WORK Annie Mok (ACG ’17, ’13, LTA ’14) Eva Wo (LTA ’17) Linda Lee Alter (founder) Kerri Radley (LTA ’15, ACG ’13) Muthi Reed (ACG ’13, ’10, ’05)
LIBRARY & OFFICE INSTALLATION Close to 1,000 past Leeway grantees were invited to contribute books, zines, graphic novels, magazines, prints, and other two-dimensional works to the MAKING SPACE: Leeway @ 25 Library & Office Installation. Each piece represents an aspect of work that the following artists have completed during or after receiving a Leeway grant. These works, in conversation, represent the array of voices, narratives, and identities that exist when we are in community with each other. Adele Aron Greenspun (WOO ’04)
Charmaine Caire (WOO ’99)
Aja Beech (ACG ’10)
Christina Johnson (ACG ’11, LTA ’07)
Alice Austin (WOO ’00)
Christine M Stoughton (WOO ’99)
Alice Oh (SA ’00, WOO ’99)
Clarissa T. Sligh (ACG ’06)
Ann Marie Kirk (LTA ’08)
Cynthia Dewi Oka (LTA ’17, ACG ’16)
Barbara L. Gregson
Deborah Caiola
(LTA ‘07, ACG ‘07, WOO ‘03)
(LTA ’10, ACG ’08, WOO ’04, ’01)
Beverly Collins-Roberts
Debra Powell-Wright
(LTA ’09, ACG ’09, ’07)
(WOO ’18, ACG ’15, ’11, ’06) 11
Featured Artists (Levy Gallery) cont.
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Denise Allen (ACG ’17, ’14)
M. Asli Dukan (LTA ’16, ACG ’16, ’14)
Elizabeth Fiend (WOO ’03)
M. Nzadi Keita (ACG ’14)
Elizabeth Miller McCue (WOO ’00)
Mai Schwartz (WOO ‘18, ACG ’14)
Gloria Klaiman (SA ’03, HM ’95)
María Teresa Rodríguez
Heather Raquel Phillips (ACG ’17)
(LTA ’07, WOO ’03)
Hee Sook Kim (WOO ’04)
Marta Sanchez
Iresha Picot (ACG ’11)
(LTA ’10, ACG ’06, WOO ’02)
J. C. Todd (WOO ’03, IA ’01)
Martha McDonald (ACG ’14, WOO ’03)
Jax Peters Lowell (LTA ‘09)
Martina Johnson-Allen (WOO ’03)
Jennifer Baker (ACG ’10)
Mary DeWitt (ACG ’18, ’17, ’16, ’15, ’09,
Karen Hunter McLaughlin
LTA ’10, WOO ’03, ‘00)
(ACG ’13, ’11)
Mary Legato Brownell (LAA ’01)
Kathryn Pannepacker
Merian Soto (LTA ’16)
(ACG ‘16, ’15, ’11, LTA ‘11, WOO ‘04)
Michelle Myers (LTA ’14, ACG ’11)
Kathryn Smith Pyle (ACG ’17, ’14)
Michelle Oosterbaan
Kay Wood (ACG ’16, ’14)
(WOO ’04, ’01, ’00)
Kimberly Rollins (ACG ’08)
Misty Sol
Li Sumpter
(LTA ’16, ACG ’16, ’13, ’11, ‘07, ’06)
(ATR ’18, WOO ’17, ACG ’17, ’16)
Monika Estrella Negra (ACG ’18)
Lily Yeh (LAA ’99)
Muthi Reed (ACG ’13, ’10, ’05)
Lisa Baird (EAA ’99)
Nanci Hersh (ACG ’16, ’13, ’10)
Lynn Blackwell Denton
Nancy Lewis Shell
(LTA ’11, WOO ’00)
(LTA ’15, ACG ’12, WOO ’01, ’99)
Neila Kun (WOO ’04)
Keiko Miyamori (LTA ’08, WOO ’03)
Pat McLean-Smith
Lorelei Gauthier (ACG ’13, ’12, ’10)
(ACG ’11, ’05, LTA ‘06)
Lynn Levin (ACG ’09, WOO ’04)
Patricia Dougherty (WOO ’04)
Mayada Alhumssi (WOO ’17, ACG ’16)
Rachel Zolf (ACG ’16)
Monnette Sudler (ACG ’15, ’14, LTA ’11)
River Huston (LTA ’09)
Nikki Powerhouse (ACG ’18)
Ruth Wolf (WOO ’04)
Patricia Goodrich (WOO ’04, ’03)
Sally Grizzell Larson
Patricia Traub (WOO ’03, ’98)
(WOO ’99, LA ’96)
Paula Chamlee (LA ’96)
Samantha Simpson (WOO ’02)
Rorie Still (ACG ’18)
Sara Steele (WOO ’03)
Ruth Deming (EAA ’98)
Sharon White (LAA ’03)
Suzanne Povse (ACG ’09, ’05)
Shelley Spector (WOO ’18, ACG ’12) Stephanie “Amma” Young (WOO ’17, ACG ’17, ’10, ’08, ’06) Susan DiPronio (LTA ’13, ACG ’07) Suzi Nash (LTA ’08) Tally Brennan (WOO ’04) Anda Dubinskis (LAA ’00) Debora Kodish (LTA ’14) Eiko Fan (LTA ’12, WOO ’98) Ellen Rosenholtz (WOO ’02) Kay Wood (ACG ’16, ’14) 13
Anniversary Events & Programs THE GALLERIES AT MOORE Michelle Coffey in Conversation with Zanele Muholi & participants from the A special presentation in partnership with Conversations@Moore and the Philadelphia Photo Arts Center, the opening reception features Michelle Coffey in conversation with Zanele Muholi and participants from the Women’s Mobile Museum. MAKING SPACE: LEEWAY @ 25 OPENING RECEPTION September 20 | 5:30pm – 8:30pm Michelle Coffey in Conversation with Zanele Muholi & participants from the Women’s Mobile Museum from 5:30pm to 7:00pm, followed by a reception with music and light refreshments until 8:30pm.
LEEWAY DAY October 6 | 10:00am – 5:00pm A fun-filled day of workshops, a guided tour of MAKING SPACE, and a conversation with the artists around the collaborative process of creating installations. CHANGEMAKERS CABARET October 16 | 7:00pm – 10:00pm The Changemakers Cabaret returns after nearly ten years to celebrate the artists, cultural producers and community partners who have been part of Leeway’s journey. 14
REEL CHANGE: LEEWAY’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY FILM FESTIVAL A moving collage of short films and feature-length work from Leeway community of artists over the years. All November long on PhillyCAM (Comcast Xfinity Channels 66/ 966HD/ 967 and Verizon FIOS Channels 29/30), everywhere on Roku, and online at phillycam.org/watch. 10:00pm each night with shorts programs Sunday through Friday, and feature programs every Saturday.
TRANSFORMING INCLUSION: LAUNCH EVENT & PANEL DISCUSSION November 8 | 3:00pm - 5:00pm Skyline Room at the Parkway Central Library The launch of TransForming Inclusion, a resource guide that provides tools for inclusion and affirmation of trans and gender nonconforming people. The event features a panel discussion with guide contributors and cultural organizers, followed by a reception. 25 HOURS FOR 25 YEARS: A RADIOTHON November 9, 11:00am - November 10, 1:00pm The Galleries at Moore Radio | thegalleriesatmoore.org/tgmr-radio Leeway grantees take over the TGMR air waves for 25 hours to celebrate the many ways in which artists influence culture, from the marginal to the mainstream. Join us for a day (and night) of original content - interviews, commentary, poetry, performance and so much more.
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LOOKING FORWARD: THE FUTURE OF LEEWAY COMMUNITY MEETING December 2 | 2:00pm – 5:00pm Moore College of Art & Design - Graham Auditorium A collective visioning of what the next 25 years of supporting artists and cultural producers could look like in the name of equity and social change. THE PLEASURE PRINCIPLE: FINDING PLEASURE IN THE AGE OF #MeToo December 5 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm Temple Contemporary A Conversation between #MeToo founder Tarana Burke and sex positive artist and activist Favianna Rodriguez, exploring the intersections of pleasure, consent, and accountability in the movement to access individual and community healing as a result of sexual violence.
MAKING SPACE: LEEWAY @ 25 CLOSING RECEPTION December 7 | 6:30pm – 9:00pm The Galleries at Moore A culminating celebration to close Leeway’s 25th Anniversary exhibit, with music and light fare.
Leeway.org/at25 | @leewayfound 16
www. l e eway.o rg /at 25 / l eeway fo u nd @ l eeway found