Amplify Virgina MOCA

JULY 17 – OCTOBER 24, 2021
Artists: Megan AngoliaEndia BealSusie Brandt, Barbara Campbell Thomas, Caitlin CherryJoan CoxHelen CrialesErika DiamondErin FostelAmy Herzel, Amy Hughes BradenSusan JamisonSue JohnsonJulia KwonMargaret MeehanAmbrose MurrayMeg SteinNastassja SwiftSHAN Wallace

Amplify focuses on the experiences of woman-identifying artists in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, and Washington, D.C. Virginia MOCA curators have connected with curatorial colleagues and asked them to share their recommendations of woman-identifying artists who are exploring identity and the gendered roles of women. Constructs regarding a woman’s identity can be complicated and loaded with political agendas and nuances; yet they are also fascinating, beautiful, and filled with joy when embraced in all their forms. Through a variety of media and approaches, the artists in Amplify explore some of the many aspects of what it is to be a woman. They reveal common themes from an intersectional, and deeply personal lens.   

Virginia MOCA curators took inspiration from a strategy first developed by women staffers of the Obama administration when their contributions were overlooked at meetings. When one woman spoke up or offered an idea, another would both recognize and repeat it. They called this strategy “amplification.” By persistently supporting one another, they were heard. This exhibition’s goal is the same. Virginia MOCA will echo the work and ideas of the artists in Amplify. Through the exhibition, programming, and online platforms, their voices will become louder, and they will be heard.