In the 1930s, it was common for women painters to assume male pseudonyms, sometimes going as far as having their husbands sign their work. And for those that didn’t, their paintings were often not acknowledged as serious and significant.
Tired of their work being undervalued, six artists — Elizabeth Warhanik, Dorothy Dolph Jensen, Lily Norling Hardwick, Myra Albert Wiggins, Anna B. Stone and Helen Bebb — started Women Painters of Washington (WPW) in 1930. Today, the organization is celebrating its 95th year. You can see an exhibition of current members’ juried work, “From My Point of View,” from April 5–June 7 at Cordata Gallery in Bellingham.
“There are still the same old challenges for women: being unable to charge the same rate as men and not getting the same level of visibility and access,” said Sarah C.B. Guthrie, member, abstract artist and co-chair of the WPW statewide exhibitions committee. “And so, Women Painters of Washington continues to work to break through that. We continue the tradition of caring for each other, supporting each other, and growing our network within and outside the organization.”
WPW now has 200 active members and is highly selective. The self-funded organization has a gallery in the Columbia Tower in downtown Seattle, but it also hosts two juried exhibits in other locations throughout the state.
WPW exhibited at the Cordata Gallery two years ago; Guthrie said they chose to return because WPW chooses galleries that have a strong relationship with their community, and Cordata Gallery excels at this.
For this show, Guthrie and the staff of Cordata Gallery chose the theme “From My Point of View” as an invitation for artists to explore their relationship to their world, to capture the energy and emotion of their surroundings and to share their distinctive perspectives.
“What we like about ‘my point of view’ as a theme is that, as artists, there are so many different places to take that idea,” Guthrie said. “It’s literally what we think about all the time. What is the point of view that I’m bringing to the canvas? What is the meaning you bring to the work as an individual artist?”
All members were invited to submit, and Cara Jaye, an art professor from Western Washington University, served as juror. Jaye selected the 50 works by 36 different artists, including five from Bellingham: Nancy Canyon, Trish Harding, Colleen Hoffenbacker, Mary Jo Maute and Joy Olney (whose piece “Mourning Light” won third place). First place went to “Lean into the Slope (Sentinel Series)” by Carolyn Autenrieth, and “Play Things” by Kristi Galindo Dyson took second.
Upon entering Cordata Gallery, one is immediately awash in a sea of colors, evocative landscapes and masterful use of light. In this multimedia exhibit, artists explore how they interact with their world, and capture it in their chosen mediums: watercolor, acrylic, ink, oil and more.
But while the show highlights the relationship between artist and place, there is a fascinating twist. The theme “From My Point of View” suggests interaction with the human world, which the exhibit certainly showcases, such as “Nostalgia,” by Julie Creighton, a sentimental and serious painting of an elderly Italian woman looking down from her balcony. However, most pieces do not feature people: Instead, they feature natural landscapes and elements.
Audiences are invited to wander through vistas, farmlands, frenetic abstract work and forests. Because each painter is from Washington, many of the landscapes feel familiar. Yet the exhibit is intimate, as if the artists are bringing you along on a morning walk to their favorite viewpoint, or showing you what their eyes were particularly attuned to when they began their painting.
“Many of our artists do a lot of work about Washington state, telling the story of what it is to live here, getting inspiration from the beautiful landscapes we’re in,” Guthrie said. “And then we also have a large contingency of abstract artists like myself, who work off of an idea, so the point of view comes through more in expressing that idea.”
“From My Point of View” opens to the public on April 5, with an opening reception from 2–4 p.m. Saturday, April 5. Many featured artists will be in attendance. A special video with artist interviews will also premiere at the reception. Visitors are also to choose their favorite painting, and a People’s Choice Painting will be announced in June at the end of the exhibition.
Purchasing a painting supports the legacy of powerful Washington women who created space for their work worldwide. Ultimately, Guthrie’s hope for the exhibit is for something she did not have growing up: That young Bellingham creatives, especially female creatives, will experience standing in a gallery full of women who are professional working artists. Info: cordatagallery.com.
