Exhibiting Artists:
Laura Boban, Kathleen Conroy, Sara Peak Convery, Cathie Crawford, Lynn Creighton, Oxana Dallas, Ann Dawkins, Cassie Detrick, Mary Ehrler, Janice Elkins, Anitra Frazier, Victoria General, Lynn Giles, Tim Griffith Sr., Barbara Hansen, Jesse Howard, Yuling Huang, David Iacovazzi-Pau, Jacqueline Lakely, Sherri Lisota, Lucas McFadden, Margot McMahon, Beverly Alice Nash, Mary Jo Parker O’Hearn, Erica Pallo, Danny Pena, Pamela Penney, Sarai Redmond, Michael Reece, Shawn Rowe, Ben Sapia, Lindi Shi, Karen Singer , Sarah Weber

In this 21st Century digital age of social media and handheld photo editors, we are inundated with images of our friends, family and cultural icons. One would think this proliferation of photographs would generate a greater acceptance of varying body types. But more than ever, images are projected in the gaze of societal norms and conventions of what is beautiful and ideal. The differences and imperfections that make a human body unique reveal much about one’s personal narrative and rarely align with the common standard of young, slim, white, able and whole.

An Oak Park Art League Art for Social Change initiative, We are Enough asked artists to explore the many facets of body image and its relationship to self-acceptance and love. In selecting from the many submissions, juror Susan Sensemann presents a broad range of themes centered on body image and identity that will start conversation, influence thought, and foster a broader understanding of self and others.

Juror Statement: Susan Sensemann
Self-worth is a birthright that is essential to our lives as human beings. It is as deep-rooted as the inhale and exhale of our breath and the placement of our bare feet on the earth. Being present, grounded, engaged and alive to possibility is a right and not a privilege of rank or race, not a norm established by any other’s measure of worth. Owning the right to be oneself? Finding a state of mind that accommodates our individual and inherent power? Inhabiting our bodies with willful and full-throated acknowledgement? Where do our own rhythms reside? Holding ourselves close and dear is greater than pride, richer than currencies of style or expectation. We are more than enough.

Thirty-six works in this exhibition demand our attention as we strip the myths bare, become warriors of the spirit and enumerate the sum of our glorious parts. We touch a bicycle rack and raise a leg in tondu-side, all grace and strength extended. With the fragile beauty of hope we shape ourselves and don a striped dress. We expose what lies within the shaman’s gaze – our wits and heartache – and know the vessel of our sanctity. Oh sister, sisters, brothers, we portray ourselves as connected beating hearts. We are more than enough.

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Tags: Anitra Frazier, Ann Dawkins, Art for Social Change: We Are Enough, Barbara Hansen, Ben Sapia, Beverly Alice Nash, Cassie Detrick, Cathie Crawford, Danny Pena, David Iacovazzi-Pau, Erica Pallo, Illinois, Jacqueline Lakely, Janice Elkins, Jesse Howard, Karen Singer, Kathleen Conroy, Laura Boban, Lindi Shi, Lucas McFadden, Lynn Creighton, Lynn Giles, Margot McMahon, Mary Ehrler, Mary Jo Parker O’Hearn, Michael Reece, Oak Park, Oak Park Art League, Oxana Dallas, Pamela Penney, Sara Peak Convery, Sarah Weber, Sarai Redmond, Shawn Rowe, Sherri Lisota, Susan Sensemann, Tim Griffith Sr., Victoria General, Yuling Huang