Women in the Heights: Dress

March 17, 2024

A new exhibit, ‘Dress,’ opened the other night at the NoMAA Gallery at 4140 Broadway (United Palace). Many of the artists were on hand to talk about their art with people attending the reception on Thursday evening. More than forty artists participate in this show. It’s the 15th annual exhibition of Women In the Heights. It’s curated by Andrea Arroyo, and it runs through May 7. March is Women’s History Month and the exhibit’s theme and eligibility criteria reflect that: “self-identified women artists working or residing in El Barrio, Inwood, Washington Heights or Harlem. Above 110th Street on the West Side (west of 5th Ave) and above 96th Street on the East Side (east of 5th Ave),” from the exhibit’s Call for Entries.

Opening Night

Leah Poller‘s bronze sculpture, “Bed Clothes” (2016) was created following a studio accident that kept her confined to bed a few years ago. Leah said she “uses whatever makes it come to life” including found and repurposed elements. The “Barbie hangers” on the bedposts, for instance, were chosen before everyone was doing Barbie spinoffs from the hit movie, she pointed out.

The three elegantly costumed women gazing out from a huge (86″ x 54″) painting titled, “Sargent and Me with Mrs. Carl Meyers and Her Children” (2018) bear a striking resemblance to each other and to the artist herself. The work references a similarly titled painting in Tate Gallery London by John Singer Sargent. The artist, Denise Penizzotto, used oil paint and gold thread to create this amazing work of art.

“Tin Pan Ellie” is a found object assemblage created by Wilhelmina Grant-Cooper. She’s a self taught Harlem based visual artist, instructor, and author who is also a health awareness advocate for access to early detection of breast cancer.

Uniqua Simmons‘ “Speak Your Personal Truth” incorporates cowrie shell, clam shell, cotton, glass beads, and brass wire in an amazing profile that you could look at all day long and never get enough of it. The work, with its bold colors and exquisite craftsmanship is a joy to behold.