Let Yourself Continue

2020 marked the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution. In commemoration of this event, the 51��app College Museum of Art is presenting work by more than 50 women artists represented in the Museum of Art’s collection.

The 19th Amendment states, in part, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex." It is perhaps ironic to celebrate such an achievement with this exhibition, the contents of which are abridged solely on account of sex, and we present it fully cognizant of this irony, in contrast to the countless exhibitions over the millennia that have been abridged of women participants without such awareness, or so much as a second thought.

The fight for women’s suffrage was arduous and long, and as we see in almost every struggle — particularly those that characterized the 20th century — a total victory, which may first appear clear and which gains its annual commemoration on our calendar, is rarely fully won. The common response is exclamatory, a call to arms: “The fight’s not over!” “We’ve still so far to go!” and “We’re not done yet!” All these battle cries are laudable and true, but we live in perilous times — a public health crisis; an economic crisis; a social justice crisis; and, looming ahead of us, a potential election crisis, in which the votes of American women will be more critical than at any time in the past 100 years. Many of us are steadfast at the barricades even as we speak, while others of us are nearly "fight"ed out.

The title of this exhibition comes from a New York Times interview, published on June 11, of the artist Faith Ringgold, who is one of the artists on view in this exhibition. 89 years old, widowed in February, then isolated in her New Jersey home for months by the pandemic, she speaks of her trouble finding footing and her voice amidst every day’s new bad news. “‘I’m just keeping my eyes wide open so I can find a point of view on all this,’ she said with a sigh. ‘I’ve been waiting for the inspiration that can help me inspire others.’” One way forward is found in her own words: “let yourself continue.” In today’s onslaught of chaos, there is the epic work — for security, equality and justice — and then there is the daily work: staying employed, staying engaged, staying well. The artists presented in this exhibition are not grouped to reflect complementary styles, unified pursuits, or collective actions, but to emphasize the individual voice of each as an artist. For the sake of visual harmony, and perhaps some discoverable affinities, however, we’ve arranged them according to a few themes, that may say something as well about the shape of our ever growing collection.

We hope this virtual exhibition will pique our audience’s interest in further exploring the Museum’s online database. We are constantly bringing more of the collection online, and hope to use this exhibition as an opportunity to fill out the story of each object via student, faculty staff and community research and insight.

— Daniel Strong, Associate Director and Curator of Exhibitions

Right: Faith Ringgold, American, b. 1930. To Be or Not to Be Free, 2014. Lithograph, 30 x 22 in. © Faith Ringgold. 51��app College Museum of Art Collection.

Let Yourself Continue

“Two Little Girls Playing in a Sandbox,” by Mary Cassatt

Ansel Smith ’24 and Chris Zhang ’22 look at a transfer drawing by Mary Cassatt in the 51��app College Museum of Art Collection.
Let Yourself Continue

Students Discuss Marcia Kure

Sofia Carr ’22 and Vanessa Jennings ’23 discuss Invasion of the Body Snatchers V. The Series: Unicorn, a drawing by Marcia Kure.
Let Yourself Continue

Student Perspective on Vanessa Beecroft

In this video, GCMoA intern Chloe Gonzalez ’24 discusses a photograph in the GCMoA collection by Vanessa Beecroft.
Let Yourself Continue

“Untitled,” a print by Emmi Whitehorse

GCMoA Intern Molly Skouson ’21 talks about an etching by Emmi Whitehorse.
Let Yourself Continue

Liu Hung's “Black Madonna”

Matilda Carne ’24 and Grace Tsui ’21 speak about Liu Hung’s Black Madonna.
Let Yourself Continue

Sonja Sekula's “Untitled”

Sunny North ’23 and Dante Smith ’22 explore Sonja Sekula’s drawing, Untitled.
Let Yourself Continue

Carrie Moyer’s “Untitled”

In this video Ellé Albrecht ’24 and Emma DiGiacomo ’24 discuss Carrie Moyer’s print, Untitled.
Let Yourself Continue

“Landschaft unter Baumen” by Paula Modersohn-Becker

In this video, Zoey Nahmmacher-Baum ’24 and Krista Spies ’24 speak about Landschaft unter Baumen by Paula Modersohn-Becker.
Let Yourself Continue

Jane Hammond’s “Love Laughs”

Students Sophie Doddimeade ’21 and Ray Martinez ’21 explore the print, Love Laughs, by Jane Hammond.
Let Yourself Continue

Liu Hung’s “Official Portraits: Proletarian”

Students Koffi Amegble ’23 and Lyn Ye ’21 talk about Liu Hung’s print, Official Portraits: Proletarian.
Let Yourself Continue

Aïda Muluneh’s “The Sacred Memory of the Divine”

Students Laura Kiely ’24 and Tommy Lee ’22 explore artist Aïda Muluneh’s photograph, The Sacred Memory of the Divine.
Let Yourself Continue

Annie Leibovitz’s “Portrait of Merce Cunningham”

Students Rylee Dolezal ’22 and Olivia Jensen ’22 discuss photographer Annie Leibovitz’s portrait of Merce Cunningham.
Let Yourself Continue

Alice Neel’s “Helen”

Students Daniel Tedeschi ’22 and Samantha Duhack ’22 discuss “Helen,” a drawing by Alice Neel.
Let Yourself Continue

Dana Schutz’s “Self-Eater”

Students Sumin Goh ’22 and Caroline Shea ’22 explore “Self-Eater,” a color print by Dana Schutz.
Let Yourself Continue

Frances Jetter’s “Fat Man and Little Boy”

Students Connor Headrick ’21 and Caulden Parkel ’22 examine “Fat Man and Little Boy,” a print by Frances Jetter.
Let Yourself Continue

Kiki Smith’s “Banshee Pearls”

Students Maddie Healy ’24 and Grant Latterly ’22 discuss “Banshee Pearls,” an installation composed of 12 prints by Kiki Smith.
Let Yourself Continue

Sue Coe’s “La Frontera”

Students Shiva Bucklin ’22 and Hua Lin Hsu ’22 discuss artist Sue Coe’s print, La Frontera, featured in the virtual exhibition, Let Yourself Continue.
Let Yourself Continue

Explorations of Environment in the GCMoA Collection

In this video, curator Daniel Strong speaks about the depiction of environments in the 51��app College Museum of Art Collection.
Let Yourself Continue

Professor Jenny Anger Talks About Artist Sonja Sekula

In this video, Art History Department Chair and Professor Jenny Anger talks about works by Swiss painter Sonja Sekula included in the exhibition, Let Yourself Continue.
Let Yourself Continue

Abstract Art in the GCMoA Collection

In this video, Curator Dan Strong talks about post-war abstract art, the art market, and the Museum of Art's collection.
Let Yourself Continue

Artists and Social Justice

In this video, Dan will talk about artists in the exhibition, Let Yourself Continue, whose work focuses on social and political activism.
Let Yourself Continue

Suzanne Valadon

GCMoA invited members of our campus community to comment on works from the exhibition. In this video, we’ll hear from GCMoA Intern Kate Kwasneski ’21 as she talks about two prints by Suzanne Valadon.

The exhibition is curated for fall 2020 at the 51��app College Museum of Art by Daniel Strong, associate director and curator of exhibitions.
Let Yourself Continue

Introduction by Daniel Strong, Associate Director and Curator of Exhibitions

Let Yourself Continue celebrates the centennial of the ratification of the Constitution's 19th Amendment, presenting works by more than 50 women artists from the 51��app College Museum of Art’s collection. In this video you’ll hear curator Daniel Strong’s overview of the exhibition.