March 10, 2012 | DoNArTNeWs

Women of Vision: 2012 Lilliana S. Didovic, Philly Abstract, at Hidden River Gallery

Women of Vision: 2012 Lilliana S. Didovic, Night, at Hidden River Gallery

“I knew Debra Leigh Scott years ago since she was running Enclave Gallery and she picked me as one of the Da Vinci Art Alliance artists to show in an exhibit. Since then we keep seeing each other at different events and she sent me an e-mail and invited me to be part of this show. I submitted some of my pieces, there is nine pieces all together here, which is good.” Lilliana S. Didovic is prolific, working multiple canvasses with paint and mixed media, DoN wondered what she’s working on now? “Just last night we had a fabulous book party at Smile Gallery for Her Philadelphia Tales, The Art of Lilliana S. Didovic! It was a really great success. My new pieces are related to South Street, some sparkling with mirrors and rhinestone. Now I’m having a related exhibit at the Lantern Theater related to love and loss, Romeo and Juliet. Recently, in Millville NJ, I’m part of HERSTORY 2012: Ladies of Leonardo.”

Women of Vision: 2012 Lilliana S. Didovic, Day, at Hidden River Gallery

DoN commented that Lilliana has two Women’s History shows running simultaneously. “I think all month’s should be dedicated to women!”, said Lilliana laughing. “They have such an important part of history of the world. Taking care of everybody in the world. Ha, ha, ha!” DoN persisted, “As someone who’s seen a lot more of the world than most Philadelphian’s, our people are famous for never leaving their own neighborhoods, you have lived in many, many places what do you see from women artists today?” Lilliana said, “Women are just as productive as a man, there is no difference, to be motivated in different ways. I’m not just separating women from men because a lot of men’s art is not different than the women. Women in their mind are being men and men in their mind are being women and then men do with men in their mind and women do with women in their mind. Everything is all around, whatever way you’re motivated, you’re making your art.”

Women of Vision: 2012 at the Hidden River Art Gallery and Salon, 525 South 4th Street, Philadelphia hosted by Debra Leigh Scott through April 30, 2012.

DoN will be posting stories about the other featured artists Pamela Peitzman, Barbara Gesshel, Madeline Bates, Lauren Acton and Maria Lourdes Soloman on upcoming DoNArTNeWs Philadelphia Art News Blog posts.

Read more about Women of Vision 2012 at Side Arts Philadelphia Art Blog

Photographs by DoN Brewer

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Women of Vision: 2012 Lauren Acton, Violated, at Hidden River Gallery

Women of Vision: 2012 Lauren Acton, The Agreement, at Hidden River Gallery

Lauren Acton explained to DoN, “I brought a bistro scene, I’ve done a lot of bistro women in a series, colorful women in bistro scenes because I lived in Paris. And it’s reminiscent of drinking a lot of wine, or having coffee or tea. My most recent pieces though are based on Roger de La Fresnaye who based a lot of work on nude women with business men, it’s so intriguing, the opposition of those two together that I’m focused on right now and the wine is introduced, I like somewhat abstract figures now with figurative pieces. They’re broken down spaces, then broken down again with color and treatment of layers, glazing, it’s just what I’m doing at this point.”

Women of Vision: 2012 Lauren Acton, The Girls at Hidden River Gallery

DoN asked if this is a response to the male gaze? Lauren Acton responded, “I’m not sure, this is a show with all women but Debra Leigh Scott picked the pieces, I thought that was appropriate for an all female show. A woman’s point of view to maybe, um, the waning feminist era we find ourselves in after the sixties. Debra and I had a big conversation about what happened to our feminist movement, I’m only 52 but I lived through the sixties and I know about Gloria Steinem and those girls. It’s important to understand a woman’s point of view and how a lot of successful business women are still fighting a lot of prejudice, even just being female in the working world there’s prejudice, it’s still an upward battle for a lot of women.” DoN asked about how Lauren Acton reacts to the current political discussion surrounding women today? “There’s still prejudice, that’s all I’m going to say.”

Women of Vision: 2012 at the Hidden River Art Gallery and Salon, 525 South 4th Street, Philadelphia hosted by Debra Leigh Scott through April 30, 2012.

DoN will be posting stories about the other featured artists Pamela Peitzman, Barbara Gesshel, Madeline Bates, Lilliana Didovic and Maria Lourdes Soloman on upcoming DoNArTNeWs Philadelphia Art News Blog posts.

Read more about Women of Vision 2012 at Side Arts Philadelphia Art Blog

Photographs by DoN Brewer

[disclosure page]