Feminine Perspective in Print

No boys allowed in Black Door Gallery's latest exhibit

Thursday, July 3, 2008

By Cherish West
Southeast Missourian, Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Beth Thomas, who owns the Black Door Gallery with her husband Craig Thomas, is hosting and participating in an all female art show that opens Friday. (AARON EISENHAUER ~ aeisenhauer@semissourian.com)

The Black Door Gallery in Cape Girardeau will be presenting art from "The Feminine Perspective," when women of all ages and from around the United States display their artwork for the first women-only art show at the gallery.

Organizer Elizabeth Thomas said they were looking for a different type of show and one featuring only women was a good idea.

"This was not only different, but I also saw it as a way for women artists to celebrate what they do," Thomas said.

Thirty artists, some from the local area and others from Illinois, Kansas and Kentucky, and even as far as North Carolina, are showing at the gallery. These artists have created graphic designs (3-D or 2-D), sculptures, fibers or ceramics, and will each have one piece of art on display.

While the show includes professional artists and art educators, such as Pat Reagan, Louise Bodenheimer, Sarah Riley and Katherine Smith — all art professors at Southeast Missouri State University — some younger female artists will be featured also.

"We even have an emerging artist — our granddaughter," Thomas said. "Of my family, there are four generations in the show: my aunt, myself, my daughter and my granddaughter. So I think that's pretty neat."

Thomas said another great thing about this show is that some of the artists have never shown their work and this gave them an opportunity to do so. "Over the years I have come to respect the art of professors, students and my friends, so I am happy to have their work displayed," she said.

After hearing the excitement from the women she asked to participate in the show, Thomas said they will probably have a women only show every year.

"The Feminine Perspective" will have two openings, 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and again July 11. The latter date will also feature female vocalist Julie Walker from 6 to 7 p.m.