Peekskill's HVCCA Presents Marcy B. Freedman Performance Work

From the Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art:

Women in the Arts Express Their Power at HVCCA Performance May 7

By Jim Roberts

“Do women have to be naked to get into the Metropolitan Museum?” is the provocative question posed on a famous Guerrilla Girls’ poster that has inspired local artist Marcy B. Freedman to create her newest performance work being presented on May 7 at the Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art on Main Street in Peekskill.

Using her knowledge of art history, as well as her imagination, Freedman has developed a compelling “personal statement” for a Paleolithic woman, an Italian Renaissance aristocrat, a 19th century French prostitute, and an iconic female artist of the 20th century.

“For much of my career as an artist, I have brought art history into the mix,” Freedman said. “For this performance, I want to empower women who are shown nude in famous artworks created by men.”

The provocative program of music, dance, video and performance art will be presented at 5 p.m. on the eve of Mother’s Day. The one-hour event - “Madness& Nudity: Women in Art” - was conceived by three local talents: artist and art historian Freedman and the musicians of SKIN AGAINST METAL, Nanette Garcia and Maurice Minichino. The program will also feature the dancers Mary Sofianos and Beverly Lopez and multi-disciplinary artist Jaanika Peerna.

Working collaboratively, the artists will examine a disturbing male/female dichotomy. “A male artist who pushes boundaries is viewed as a powerful and sexy trailblazer, a genius—a positive statement,” Garcia said. “Look at a female who dares to break the rules – she’s labeled as hysterical or premenstrual. A woman genius is criticized, ‘Oh, she’s alcoholic, she’s no good, a negative.’” In her own musical compositions and in her performance style, Garcia is not afraid to embrace her wildest creative impulses.

Presenting thought-provoking art in all its forms is a mission of the HVCCA, and its co-founder and director Livia Straus was drawn to “Madness & Nudity: Women in Art” as part of that role.

“When Marcy came with this proposal it was fascinating - to have something here that brings all the performing arts together is a real attraction,” Straus said. “I worked with Marcy once before on a video exhibition called “A Woman’s Room” of all female artists. There is a specific perspective that comes from women, and I think it’s important for people to hear, and to see.”

Opened to the public in June 2004 and founded by the Marc and Livia Straus family, the non-profit HVCCA has brought a rich cultural environment to Peekskill, including collaborations with the public schools, a 12,000-square-foot exhibition space in Peekskill and is the primary sponsor of the Peekskill Project, a city-wide exhibition of site-specific artwork. Public art exists all around the city and Peekskill’s waterfront, including the diver statute, through sponsorship of the HVCCA.

The usual admission fees are in effect for this performance. Members are free, $5 for adult non-members, $4 for seniors/educators, $2 for students/children, and kids under 8 are free.