Find women supporting womxn at the “Desert Dreams: All-Womxn Interactive Art Exhibition,” where local female and non-binary artists will congregate to showcase their work and celebrate feminine culture within the borderlands community.
A small group of independent young artists — fashion artist Yurika Isoe together with the co-hosts of the local Pajama Party Podcast — teamed up to host the event at the Subspace Art Collective this Saturday, Sept. 28, to inspire local women of all backgrounds.
The whole point of the event, according to Erica Brooks, a member of the local band Alien Jacket which will perform the event, is to “bring womxn and non-binary folks all together to bring solidarity within the borderlands.”
“We were inspired by our desire to provide a space for womxn in the borderlands to share their work, connect with their community and gain support,” said Jennifer Skinner, a co-host of the Pajama Party Podcast who is working towards a degree in environmental studies at the University of Arizona.
According to Skinner, the term “womxn” is used to “broaden the scope of what womxnhood can be.” It was created to include “women of color, transgender and non-binary identifying persons.”
The event will begin with the debut screening of a short-film titled “Monsoon,” directed by Tanya Núñez, a UA film and television alumna and a co-host of the Pajama Party Podcast. “Monsoon” is the third film that Núñez has directed.
According to Núñez, the film is based on her hometown of Douglas, Ariz. It follows a young woman grieving the loss of a loved one. She also mentioned that the title “Monsoon” serves as a metaphor in the film.
Following the screening, there will be an interactive art gallery showcasing the artwork of local womxn artists. They will also have a variety of food vendors, a pop-up shop, a clothing swap and live musical performances by Alien Jacket, Stevie Rose, Veronica Pasamante, Ana Gonzales and Sadgalnina.
Alma Lara looks forward to showcasing her embroidery at Desert Dreams, which is mainly inspired by her Mexican culture. Lara said that this event is not just for women to exhibit their art but also for young people of color to expose their work and give them a voice in the borderland community.
For Lara, Desert Dreams is that sacred space where she can express her point of view through art.
“As a Latina, I felt very out of place as to where I could expose my embroidery art,” Lara said. “Desert Dreams became that space for me — a group of amazing individuals creating our dreamscape.”
Lara also emphasized feminine energy in art and in society, which she said is about unity between women and “breaking down the walls that machismo brings to society.”
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Kora Lupian, a painter who will also be showcasing her art, said that same emphasis on feminine energy directly influences her artwork and how the audience perceives it.
“Without really trying, a lot of people interpret my femininity through my artwork,” Lupian said, “It is something that is just a part of me and sometimes oozes out into my work.”
Isoe, a UA alumna with a degree in finance, also has her own sustainable fashion art collection at Subspace.
“I’m hoping that Desert Dreams can foster a community of female emerging artists and makers by showcasing their work,” Isoe said.
Admission to the short-film screening is $6 and will begin at 5 p.m. Tickets for the screening can be purchased on the Pajama Party Podcast website. Starting at 6 p.m. admission is free, but the co-hosts suggest a donation of at least $5.
A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to non-profit organizations like People’s Defense Initiative, Emerge! Center Against Domestic Abuse and the Esperanza Dance Project.
For more information on the Desert Dreams event, visit the Pajama Party Podcast website or their Facebook event page.
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