The Veil – Visible & Invisible Spaces art exhibit to be on display

Indiana University East will host the Indiana University 21st Annual Women’s and Gender Studies Undergraduate Conference on Friday, April 3.

The conference, “Revealing Gendered Practices: Celebrating our Students,” will be held in Whitewater Hall. The keynote address will be given by Joan Esterline Lafuze, professor of physiology and co-coordinator of Women’s and Gender Studies at IU East.

Laverne Nishihara, co-coordinator for the conference and an associate professor of English at IU East, said IU East is honored to host Indiana University’s longest-running conference for undergraduates.

“Women’s and Gender Studies is an interdisciplinary program that emphasizes diversity of all kinds,” Nishihara said. “Hosting the conference shows IU East’s support for intellectual challenges and for diversity initiatives.  We look forward to welcoming students and scholars from our campus and from across Indiana University.”

In addition to the conference, the Women’s and Gender Studies program is bringing a national art exhibit to The Gallery and Meijer Artway. “The Veil – Visible & Invisible Spaces” will be on display April 2-24.  An opening reception will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 2.

The exhibit is inspired by a myriad of veiling practices, including Islamic and bridal veils, artists from around the world address current and historical stereotypes in a wide variety of contexts. The Veil is a national traveling exhibition, nationally curated by Jennifer Heath.

In addition to featuring the Veil exhibition, Nishihara said the conference will conclude the day with a staged reading from African American playwright Cheryl L. West’s Jar the Floor.  The reading begins at 3:45 p.m. in the Community Room, located in Whitewater Hall. The performers include IU East’s Sheila Jackson Armstead, assistant professor of Social Work, Mattie Gabston, assistant professor of psychology, MeLinda Soares, interim secretary for Social Work, Elvinet Wilson, assistant professor of communications, and Georgia Wynn, adjunct faculty for the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. The reading is directed by Alisa Clapp-Itnyre, associate professor of English at IU East.

 “The Veil: Visible & Invisible Spaces” was provided by support from FACET, Mindful Explorations, and the Wayne County Foundation.

Visitors are welcome to view the exhibit during gallery hours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

 For more information on the exhibit, contact Ed Thornburg, IU East gallery curator, at (765) 973-8605 or edthornb@iue.edu. For more information on the conference, contact Laverne Nishihara (co-coordinator of Women’s & Gender Studies) at lnishiha@iue.edu, or visit www.iue.edu/gallery  or go to www.iue.edu/2009wgsconference.