Christa Carleton & Tonja Torgerson: Artist Talk

Join Christa Carleton and Tonja Torgerson in the Silver and Shott galleries for an artist talk amid the collaborative prints in Body Politic.

Following the talk, celebrate with the artists during First Friday. Live music by Dylan Running Crane. Zeera Food Truck will be on site with Pakistani food.

Come back Saturday from 11 AM to 12:30 PM for the FREE All-Ages Workshop: Make & Take a Printed Card.

Artists’ Statement: Our figurative nudes push against and question the boundaries that restrain them. Bold visual narratives challenge notions of how they are supposed to look and feel. These figures deal with the vulnerability of their bodies while walking a thin line between expression and discretion. They navigate the internal and external factors that compose one’s identity. This exhibition explores the turmoil experienced by many as they navigate their bodies through our current society, pointing out hard realities in order to positively influence our culture. We source our subject matter from lived experiences that are personal and authentic, as we are confronted with the consequences of our bodies daily. Our prints resist outdated mindsets about performing femininity and question widespread notions about the role and standing of female-expressing people. This exhibition pushes against western dominant society that pits us against each other and opposes the pernicious mentality that the primary function of our bodies is to please others. With our collaborative project Body Politic, we contribute our perspectives to a vast commentary set forth by our predecessors in intersectional feminism, and raise our voices in support of inclusive change.