Eye of the Beholder

What is this?

Seeing is not a neutral act. Our understanding of the visual world is shaped by our experiences, cultural conditioning, and surrounding environment. Meaning does not reside solely within an object; it arises from a participatory, constructed process. As the author Anaïs Nin reminds us, “We don’t see things as they are. We see things as we are.” Eye of the Beholder approaches perception from this point of view, especially as it relates to received notions of femininity. In this exhibition, artworks that depict readable characteristics of the feminine are placed in conversation with abstract pieces that only allude to femininity’s essential qualities. The materiality of a Donna Sharrett textile, the palette of a Helen Frankenthaler print, and the imagery of a Michael Eastman photograph can each become allegories of femininity. When these works are placed in dialogue, the subsequent comparisons invite us to question whether the very suggestion of the feminine alters how we interpret what we see next. In Eye of the Beholder, the installation, itself, becomes part of this inquiry. In one gallery, a dense, salon-style arrangement invites a layered reading through close spatial relationships. In the other room, a more traditional presentation offers space and visual separation, encouraging each work to stand on its own. Moving between these two environments, viewers may notice how associations carry over, linger, or dissolve. We are invited to participate in this process, to question our own habits of perception, and to consider how suggestion and context shape what is seen. Ultimately, this exhibition asks us to consider how we come to recognize and imagine femininity, not only in what is depicted, but in what is implied. What appears to be “feminine” may not reside in the object at all, but in the expectations we bring to it. In the end, the key to the exhibition is not on the walls, it is in the eye of the beholder. Questions What three words describe femininity to you? What artwork in the exhibit speaks to femininity the most in your opinion? Why? Quote “We don’t see things as they are. We see things as we are.” -Anaïs Nin Anne Noggle, "Mary: A Retrospective", 1987; Gelatin silver print; Gift of Ricci Racela & Michael Bonahan.Anne Noggle, "Mary: A Retrospective", 1987; Gelatin silver print; Gift of Ricci Racela & Michael Bonahan. Paul Allen, "Golden Arch Angel", 2014-15; Collage on paper mounted on board; Gift of the estate of Dr. Harold F. Daum. Brian Novatny, "Woman in Floral Dress", 1998; Color Etching; Gift of Dr. Harold F. Daum. Linda Connor, "Hand with Shell", 1971; Gelatin Silver Print; Gift of Ricci Racela & Michael Bonahan. Andy Collins, Untitled, 2006; Oil on canvas; Gift of Dr. Harold F. Daum.Andy Collins, Untitled, 2006; Oil on canvas; Gift of Dr. Harold F. Daum. Dennis Brokaw, "Flower, Water, and Logs, Jack Creek, Oregon", 1984; Dye Transfer print; Gift of P. John Owen Estate.