Presented by Glendale Arts, Susan Arena’s “Apologizing For My Wild” will be on display through Saturday, March 30, at the ace/121 Gallery in celebration of Women’s History Month.
The title of the exhibition comes from a quote from playwright and poet Nikita Gill: “Some days I am more wolf than woman, and I am still learning how to stop apologizing for my wild.” When discussing the given name for the exhibit, Arena noted that “I shortened the quote and used it for my exhibit because I’m still apologizing for my wild. The dichotomy between those that exist for women are these dual natures of domesticity and sexuality — my works embody this, and that’s where the richness lies. These ideas exist at the same time, not just one singularly.”
In her piece “Snake Goddess with Jewels and Apron,” Arena captures the different references and tension between the natures of domesticity and power. The snake goddess, usually seen wrangling snakes, is depicted in Arena’s painting while also adorning acrylic, plastic jewels on canvas and a dirtied apron.
“The piece relates to traditional Western painting with nontraditional materials,” she said. “There’s a really bright, almost blinding color and power in the piece that I feel really represents the idea of apologizing for our wild.”
Arena’s passion for learning about goddesses reflects in her work and focuses on the idea that, as she stated, “goddesses are the mothers to us all. Today, we see the Disney-fication of princesses and how they’re also sources of power, but if you were to look back on the most powerful goddesses like Ishtar or Bastet, they’re the most frightening and distinctive looking. That truly captivates women’s messiness and the subject of motherhood.”
Aside from her inspiration in art from ancient goddesses, Arena also finds inspiration from American poet Emily Dickson and Arena’s 20 year-old daughter. The exhibit demonstrates women’s messiness through Arena’s use of bright, striking colors.
“I love vibrant colors, and I think we can connect these to the idea of ‘female,’” she said. “I’ve drawn so much inspiration in my work from folk art and art from other cultures.”
The artist, moved by the use of vivid colors, noticed these styles used in places she has formerly lived and studied, like Egypt and India. In her “Apologizing for My Wild” exhibit, viewers can inspect Arena’s interpretation of female wildness through her larger paintings, works on paper, and ceramic sculptures.
Arena’s expressive and bold creations are also about form, exploring, drawing, all influenced by the history of painting. She sources her creativity from family photos, paper dolls, tattoo art and objects found while thrifting. While each piece in “Apologizing for My Wild” stands alone, together the many figures and faces work together to share a collective story.
“My work in drawing, painting and ceramic sculpture investigates the experience of the female,” Arena said. “Stories and characters in my paintings bring into question how the female body holds a new kind of power as seen through the modern gaze — mother, monster, adventurer, sex goddess — a multitude of signifiers, held in a single vessel.”
A Children’s Art Workshop will be led by Arena and will take place from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 23, at the ace/121 Gallery with more details to follow.
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