The Rockwell Museum in Corning, New York, will be hosting Perspectives of the American Experience: A National Juried Exhibition of American Women Artists, January 19 – April 22, 2018. There will be a closing reception and award’s ceremony with the artists, Friday, April 20, 5:30 – 7:30 pm, followed by a panel discussion between Kirsty Buchanan, Rockwell’s Curator of Collections, and AWA Master-Signature members on Saturday, April 21, 3 – 4 pm.

The Rockwell Museum is the second show in AWA’s 25 in 25 campaign, followed later in the year with a third museum show at the Haggin Museum in California. 25 in 25 is an effort to have 25 museums shows in the same number of years for members of American Women Artists. “We are raising awareness about gender inequity in the museum world,” explains AWA Executive Director Robin Knowlton, “and at the same time giving a large group of professional women artists the opportunity to exhibit in venues they have been absent from.” AWA is currently working on booking exhibitions through 2022, including a wet paint show at the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art in Paget Parish, Bermuda.

There will be 75 works in the Rockwell show, from artists representing all levels of AWA membership with $10,000 worth of cash and merchandise being awarded. Signature member and Utah artist Bonnie Conrad will be exhibiting her oil painting, Play Day which she says was inspired by the years she and her husband lived on ranches. “Ranch hands work from sunup until evening and there’s seldom time to play,” explains Conrad. “But if they do find a few minutes, they love to try and outdo each other with rope tricks.” Conrad often paints horses in water. “To capture water’s fluidity is an excuse for me to throw in a lot of different colors.”

The goal of AWA is to increase the number of professional opportunities for women in the visual fine arts by creating the kinds of opportunities that lead to greater inclusion. “The opportunity to exhibit in museums is awesome!” remarks Conrad. “I can’t think of a better thing to do for women in the arts.”