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Emmi Whitehorse (1960-) Jackstraw
Alison Saar (1956-) Washtub Blues
Hung Liu (1948-) Sisters
Anita Rodriguez (1941-) Homenaje de Selena
In 1999 the Women of the West Museum commissioned four renowned women
artists of the West to collaborate with Colorado printmaker Bud Shark on a portfolio of prints. In their works, the
artists have drawn upon their cultural heritage to address the issue of what it means to be a woman of the West. While
each image could easily stand alone, it is the collection of all four that expands the vision.
The four women represent diverse backgrounds and use a wide range of techniques and media. Navajo Emmi Whitehorse's
work is heavily influenced by her grandmother's traditional weavings. Alison Saar, of African American, European and
Native American heritage, creates works inspired by myth, magic, and ritual. Hung Liu's work draws from photographs of
Chinese women and explores women's place in society from eastern and western perspectives. Anita Rodriguez draws upon
a rich Hispanic tradition, reminding us (in the artist's words) that "the West used to be Mexico" and revealing the
mixed racial, ethnic, and cultural sensibilities of her native Southwest.
The works of these four artists, inspired by their ties to mothers and grandmothers, stand at the forefront of
contemporary art in exploring the role of women in society.
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