Ladies First

Queen Latifah rapped about it in the Eighties, and now her fierce female-centric message has apparently reached the University of Miami. In celebration of feminine talent, the college is welcoming “Women Only! In Their Studios,” part of a seven-city national tour that celebrates women in the arts, as curated by art historian Eleanor Flomenhaft.

The exhibition includes a vast ethnic makeup -- 50 paintings, sculptures, and works on paper by heavy hitters like Jennifer Bartlett, Ann Hamilton, Jenny Holzer, Elizabeth Murray, Pat Steir, and Flo Oy Wong. To give an eager audience insight into the creative process, there will be photographs of the artists’ studios and 20 videos by lesser-known female artists. Highlights include paintings by abstract expressionist Grace Hartigan, multimedia by conceptual artist Barbara Kruger, works on paper by Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, and quilts by folk artist Faith Ringgold. As a complement to “Women Only!” the Lowe is concurrently presenting “Labors of Love: Women Artists from the Permanent Collection,” featuring a variety of 2-D media. The exhibit runs through March 30 at the Lowe Art Museum.
Feb. 16-March 30, 2008