The multi-layered 'Women'

Steven DaLuz's "Virgen of Biloxi" sits in her fatigues, weapon nearby; her gaze is reminiscent of Johannes Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring." The Biloxi "Virgen" sits among a group of mothers, children, grandmothers, daughters, artists, and professional-types in Many Faces of Women a 40-plus collection of work hosted by Planned Parenthood Trust of San Antonio. The show, on view through Saturday, features Kim Bishop, Carolina Flores, Katie Pell, and others.

As you enter the Navarro Campus, you'll notice Kim Bishop's "Annel," which features an acrylic-on-canvas portrait of Annele Spector (you may remember her as Ann July of Methane Sisters fame) semi-nude, an article of material is draped over her lap, her face turned to the side. Every curve of her body is featured with a nice swirl effect that makes the piece multidimensional.

Blas E. Lopez's contribution, "Mes Gallos + El Secreto II," is a colorful, diptych Pop- Artesque piece that features gallos, aloe vera, and a flying humming bird. The face of a woman is presented in two-dimensions, with one eye looking directly at the viewer while the other looks up. The piece demonstrates a typical Mexican aesthetic and a bold message: the female's mouth is covered (in an attempt to keep her silent in the outside world, perhaps).

Fiber artist Lucia LaVilla-Havelin, wife of Jim LaVilla-Havelin, director of SSAC's Young Artist Programs, is represented with a needlepoint piece, "Lifelines: Homage to Wrinkles II." It features an embroidered bust of an aging woman with milagros sewn onto a placemat — a leg, eye, hand, and chest surround the woman. Although the embroidered bust is a bit cartoon-like, with exaggerated wrinkles, it does display the frustration everyone faces once their own lifelines start setting in. LaVilla-Havelin sews milagros inside tear-shaped drops, depicting the parts of the body that may be steadily failing — with each arthritic knee or vision problem that's when reality hits: we're not as young as we once were.

Many Faces of Women gives every woman a face. The show features a sign-of-the-times from the typical mother and child pieces to fatigue-clad women fighting at war. The process is ideally depicted in Laura Nikas "We are as One," a photo collage that features females of ages 1-102. 

A reception will be held later in the week when judges will select the Best in Show, the winner will receive $300, and will be featured on the cover of Planned Parenthood's 2008 Annual Report.

Many Faces of Women
9am-5pm Mon-Fri
Through July 27
Free
Southwest School of Art & Craft
Navarro Campus
300 Augusta
(210) 224-1848
swschool.org

Reception July 26
6-8pm
Navarro Campus
Russell Hill Rogers Lecture Hall
Free

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