Find Your Happy Place: Representation Matters
Growing up it often seemed that whenever I voiced something that interested me, whether it be writing, acting or the full twenty four hours I wanted to be a world renowned pastry chef, I was always met with a laundry list of successful men. For every mention of Edna St. Vincent Millay, Meryl Streep and Julia Child, there were dozens of men’s names. Which is why representation for everyone is so important and not only benefits children looking for role models in all fields, it provides a greater diversity to our storytelling and our work. If you’re growing up as a girl, a POC, disabled, non-binary, part of the LGBTQ, you should have the right to be able to easily see and connect with stories of others like you. To herald their successes and feel inspired to pursue your own because you can easily identify with someone instead of struggling to find commonalities.
Which is how I found my happy place this week attending an exhibit that intended to shine a spotlight on an oft neglected part of the art world. The show was called “Miss Representation: A Show for Praising Women of Color and it was the brainchild of Smart Girl Maritza Lugo. Lugo comments, “The show was born out of the need for more inclusivity towards women of color in the art world.”
Partnering with fellow artist Erika Paget and working with a fun intimate space provided by gallery owner Faye Orlove of Junior High, the show boasted 70 pieces from artists hailing from all over the United States as well as Spain and Canada. Here are some of the incredibly riveting works that were part of the exhibit.
If you ever doubt the importance of representation, read the current news about the effect a queer Supergirl storyline has had on viewers or read the full transcript of a speech Eva Longoria gave recently about why the stories that get told to the public matter.
Smart Girls like Maritza Lugo are creating ways for everyone’s stories in the art world to be told. Let’s (happily) follow suit in all walks of life.
