Show by women artists to celebrate women in the world of science!

Through Sonoma State's celebration of Women's History Month, the Library Art Gallery presents,"XX: Women, Art & Science."

The idea of this exhibit stemmed from the mixture of the celebration of Women's History Month and the lack of women within the world of science. This inspiring art exhibit takes a journey through six women's different styles of art. Each piece represents large subjects, such as science, politics and technology, through abstraction and paintings.

The first artist Kara Maria takes her audience on a political awakening through her pieces "Incandescent Summer" and "Power Plant"  showing a powerful message about humans and nature.

Kerry Vander Meer takes frogs to an entirely different level. She starts her exhibit with a unique forming of frogs. Her pieces, "Evolved Golden Toad," "Spotted Leopard Frog" and "Female Suriname Toad," are uniquely beautiful. The frogs nearly come to life springing from the wall. Her next piece, "Oval Frogs," was much simpler than the previous three, but still lovely. Her final featured works, "Hardly There," "Made of Rubber" and "Model," surround the ideas of endangered species and our planet. With fossil-like features, the frogs nearly disappear into the canvas, causing the viewer to understand the difficulties amphibians face day-to-day. Vander Meer's work about frogs was nonetheless eye-catching and leaves a lasting impression.

"Ears," a piece by Katherine Sherwood, embodies her studies of medicine after a tragic life event. The textures and colors used in Sherwood's piece are intriguing and eye-catching. Her ideas of medicine and science truly come to life with her exquisite take on such a simple body part.

Gail Wright takes a different approach with her body of work, titled "Blowout," by using archival inkjet prints. Her images bring the audience to a space-like world.

Wright has taken all the steps to create a state of confusion to express many different studies of art. In her biography, she expresses that art is more than a talent, it's a lifeline.

"The obsession to make art is a neurological disease," she says.

Wright's body of work continues with pieces made of burned vellum to represent LSD, chloral hydrate, benzadrine and mescaline. This work is eye catching, as it shows the different states Wright was in. Her work takes the audience to a new level with her cool perceptions of the human conscience.

Catherine Wagner's "Equisetum" brings the audience back to a simple world with branches and plants. Her more simplistic approach calms the audience down after Wright's out-there ideas.

Finally, the exhibit concludes with Analisa Vobis's biomorphic-shaped project, which represents the metamorphic cycle's organisms experience in nature. The piece "Zebrechilichkeit," meaning fragility, is immediately captivating with its intensity. This work of art opens the audience's eyes to the idea of de-calcification of the shells of animals in the future. She is environmentally conscious and can't help but wonder if the damage we've done is permanent.

She asks her audience, "Can we stop the rising of the acid levels in our oceans?"

The "XX: Women, Art & Science" exhibit is a commendable representation of not only the celebration of women in science, but an eye-opening and exciting start to Women's History Month.

(Sonoma is in California, USA)

Source:http://www.sonomastatestar.com/arts-entertainment/library-art-galle...
Women artists-scientists link

By Valerie Larson