Nasty Women at the Knockdown Center

How did this happen??! How did we get here??! And where the hell are we going??! are the thoughts that ran through Roxanne Jackson’s mind as she drank coffee and listened to a NPR podcasts based on the 2016 election. In this moment Jackson had a spontaneous idea to put together a NASTY WOMEN exhibition. On November 14 she posted on Facebook:

Hello female artists/curators! let’s organize a NASTY WOMEN group show!!! Who’s interested??? We need a venue!!!!!

Learn about upcoming Nasty Women exhibitions

According to Jackson the post went viral and her spontaneous idea became reality. The first person Jackson reached out to for help was Jessamyn Fiore who was the Co-Director of NASTY WOMEN. From that point on the NASTY WOMEN exhibition kept expanding.

The exhibition that Jackson inspired occurred January 12th through the 15th. The exhibition was held at the Knockdown Center in Queens, New York and this exhibitions iteration is to protest Trumps regime. According to Jackson they were encouraging others to create their own shows.

Roxanne Jackson pictured in her studio. (Photo credit Ryan Frank)

There were several locations across the U. S. as well as internationally, such as Nashville (TN), Minneapolis (MN), Lubbock (TX), Phoenix (AZ), Lexington (KY), Brussels, Belgium and Melbourne, and Australia.

The Nasty Women exhibition located at the Knockdown Center in Queens, New York had four organizers. Roxanne Jackson, Co-Director, is a ceramics artist and mixed media sculptor who is based in New York. Jessamyn Fiore, Executive Producer and Co-Director, is a curator, writer, and artist currently based in Brooklyn, New York. Angel Bellaran, Curatorial Advisor, an independent curator currently based in Brooklyn. And, Barbara Smith, Web Designer, who is a graphic designer, photographer, and artist living in San Diego, CA.

Jackson said that 10, 3D letters spelling out N-A-S-T-Y W-O-M-E-N were set up in the Knockdown Center. Each letter was covered with a strong plastic mesh and the artwork submitted was displayed on the letters. “We had just under 700 artworks and artists included in the show” Jackson said. According to Jackson they received submissions from all over the states as well as internationally.

The first Nasty Women exhibition meeting. (photo credit Mark Barnett)

This exhibition was also a fundraiser for planned parenthood. “Planned Parenthood is threatened by the upcoming regime that has blatantly disregarded the rights of women, as well as other minority groups,” Jackson said. The other NASTY WOMEN iterations supported organizations that are dedicated to protecting women’s rights and or health. “For instance these local organizations will be supported by various versions of NASTY WOMEN: The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (Nashville, TN) and the Women’s Protective Services and the Lubbock Rape Crisis Center (Lubbock, TX) as well as others,” Jackson said. According to Jackson several local organizations were supported.

Laura Nova, Six Circulation Fist:a series of 36 postures, 2016 Digital Print Artist proof

Laura Nova TITLE:Six Circulation Fist:a series of 36 postures, 2016 Digital Print Artist proof

According to Jackson, this exhibition was more than just a fundraiser it was also a protest. “In an effort to be as inclusive as possible, we accepted all submitted artwork for this show, regardless of content, as we were focusing on the solidarity of women coming together to object the Trump regime, rather than curating a more typical exhibition,” Jackson said.

Jackson is hoping that this exhibition inspires and empowers the viewers. This exhibition “is a reflection of the solidarity of people coming together in protest to do something positive,” Jackson said.

The NASTY WOMEN exhibition received positive feedback from the public and Jessamyn and Jackson responded to several press inquires. According the Jackson, the attention this exhibition received shows the excitement and need for this protect.

This project was greatly generated from that rage of Trump being elected and according to Jackson she is grateful for the opportunity to direct these emotions and focus this energy towards something positive.

Photo credit: Knockdown Center

Images courtesy of the Knockdown Center. More information about the Knockdown Center can be found at https://knockdown.center/

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