SUNY Potsdam

« Back to Recent News

The Art Museum at SUNY Potsdam Unveils 'Goddesses & Monsters' Traveling Exhibition

Exhibition Opens in SUNY Potsdam's Gibson Gallery, Showcasing Traveling Show, 'Goddesses & Monsters,' from Dec. 2 to Feb. 14

Potsdam, NY (11/27/2024) — A new show at The Art Museum at SUNY Potsdam showcases works brought to campus by the Association of Hysteric Curators, with its first traveling exhibition, titled "Goddesses and Monsters: Toward a Feminist Iconography," on display from Dec. 2, 2024, through Feb. 14, 2025, in the Roland Gibson Gallery.

Building on the momentum of the original online exhibition at The Ladies Room LA, this new iteration will showcase an exciting collection of works on paper that reimagine goddess and monster iconography through a feminist lens.

"Goddesses and Monsters" will be on display in the Gibson Gallery, located in Brainerd Hall, from Dec. 2 to Feb. 14. The gallery is open on weekday afternoons, from 1 to 5 p.m. on Monday, Thursday and Friday, and from 1 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday. Additional hours are also available by appointment. Admission is free, and the exhibition space is wheelchair accessible. For more information, call (315) 267-3290 or visit www.potsdam.edu/museum.

This exhibition invites artists to challenge patriarchal narratives that have long shaped the representation of goddesses and monsters in art history. Through a diverse array of media -- sketches, drawings, collages, prints, concrete poetry, and more-the artists critically disrupt conventional depictions of feminine power and danger, offering instead an empowering and liberating iconography. Works by SUNY Potsdam Professor of Art Amy Swartele are among the highlights of the show.

"Goddesses and Monsters" embraces the accessibility of works on paper, featuring innovative uses of various types of paper (such as handmade, bamboo, and rice). These pieces push the boundaries of the medium, demonstrating how feminist aesthetics can be cultivated through affordable, accessible means. The exhibition spans sketches, photography, video stills, and graphic works, all contributing to a visual dialogue that questions and transforms the male gaze's impact on these powerful archetypes.

The AHC's goal for this exhibition is to elevate public understanding of the visual and cultural tropes associated with goddesses and monsters, offering a transformative feminist iconography that inspires future artistic creation and social change. By reframing these powerful symbols, the exhibition encourages viewers to engage with feminist aesthetics and activism, confronting the historical narratives that have shaped collective perceptions of female power.

For more information on the exhibition, upcoming tour dates, or how to submit work, please visit www.hystericcurators.com or contact the group at info@hystericcurators.com.

This LoKo Arts project is made possible by the generosity and artistic vision of Kathryn (Kofoed) '54 and Donald Lougheed (Hon.'54).

The Art Museum at SUNY Potsdam serves as the center for visual arts at the College, and encompasses all of the collections found throughout campus, including in the Gibson Gallery. The Museum is dedicated to the exhibition and interpretation of quality works of art, and its collection includes significant artworks from the 20th and 21st centuries, as well as earlier pieces.

SUNY Potsdam's Department of Art offers both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Arts degree programs in art education, studio art, fine arts, and graphic design and new media. Graduates have gone on to pursue professions in the fine arts, art administration, art therapy, digital design, K-12 and university teaching, museum curation, audio/visual administration, publishing, gallery ownership, interior design, architecture, commercial printing, pattern making, photojournalism, studio ceramics and more. For more information, visit www.potsdam.edu/art.

About SUNY Potsdam:

Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges -- and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.

###

Media Attachments

From left, Onyx Horn '25 and SharonMarie Bartz ’25 hang artwork in the Gibson Gallery on Wednesday, Nov. 20 while preparing for a new exhibition, "Goddesses and Monsters: works on paper," which will be on display through February 2025.

From left, Cecilia Cardona '25 and Sam Gallagher '26 hang artwork in the Gibson Gallery on Wednesday, Nov. 20 while preparing for a new exhibition, "Goddesses and Monsters: works on paper," which will be on display through February 2025.

Amy Swartele, a professor of Art at SUNY Potsdam, works in the Gibson Gallery on Wednesday, Nov. 20 to hang a new exhibition, "Goddesses and Monsters: works on paper," which will be on display through February 2025.

Amy Swartele, a professor of Art at SUNY Potsdam, works in the Gibson Gallery on Wednesday, Nov. 20 to hang a new exhibition, "Goddesses and Monsters: works on paper," which will be on display through February 2025.

Copyright © 2024 Merit Pages, Inc. • All Rights Reserved. • Terms of Service • Privacy Policy • Opt Out