the preview exhibitions
From the beginning, the plan was to hand my friend a book. So, I always considered the exhibitions as previews because I hadn’t published yet and was still shooting. Each exhibition was of all of the v-portraits I had made up to that point, except in the two cases where I exhibited Spire11, a 6’3” totem of eight v-portraits that I created specifically for the Love Your Tree exhibition.
Exhibiting gave people an opportunity to view the v-portraits and an opportunity to meet me, which, for some women considering participating, helped them make the decision to pose. I continually extended the invitation to anyone interested in viewing between exhibitions, to come by my place and view the v-portraits, and occasionally people did.
Depending on the dimensions of the exhibition space and whether they’d allow me to nail into the walls, I exhibited the v-portraits in their frames, printed and mounted them to fit on easels, or on a free-standing display thingy that my father made for me. Once, I took them out to Boulder, Colorado. For that, I created the travel-set that is unframed, does not require nails to install, and fits in a carry-on.
I really want everyone to see this. If you give me a space, I’ll find a way to fit the v-portraits into it.
Here’s where the v-portraits have been seen so far:
yOur Exhibition, Smithfield. NYC, Dec 2002
The first exhibition of the v-portraits was in Dec. 2002 at Smithfield (a bar in downtown NYC). It was a preview exhibition just for women. About 130 women attended, and the staff was all female. Most got their first view of other women’s vaginas that night. It was a fun evening, where my mother’s friends got to spend some time in a Lower East Side bar (one commented on the bathrooms being unexpectedly clean), my best friend made cupcakes (way before it was trendy!) and a few women were surprised to find that the v-portraits weren’t large, head-swallowing sized images. One said: “It’s not that scary after all.”
Threat, A Gathering of the Tribes12. NYC, Nov. 2004
The v-portraits were exhibited at A Gathering of the Tribes, a gallery in the East Village, as part of a group exhibition, entitled: Threat. Standing together, unabashed, unaltered, these portraits of women’s most private selves challenged the concept of power as domination and provide a forum for conversation where every woman is included, enfolded, safe.
Love Your Tree13, ABC Carpet & Home. NYC, Dec 2004 – Jan 2005
Spire, an offshoot of vagina vérité™ was on view in the Love Your Tree exhibition, an installation of 16 women photographers, each uniquely exploring the mystery, power and questions to be found in a woman’s body. Each image evoked its own theatre of self-inquiry. This exhibition celebrated the debut of The Good Body14by Eve Ensler. It was curated by Paula Allen and a stunning tree and red tent were created by Paulette Cole, CEO and Artistic Director of ABC Carpet & Home.
The Alliance for Women’s Equality’s15 AWE-inspiring authors series
Vaginas: An Exploration, NYC, March 2005
A reading from Vaginas: An Owner’s Manual, an exhibition of vagina vérité™, and a spirited Q&A.
Society for Menstrual Cycle Research (SMCR) Conference. Boulder, CO, June 2005
vagina vérité™ was exhibited at the SMCR interdisciplinary conference. The SMCR is a nonprofit organization, founded in 1977 by a multidisciplinary group of women who were pioneers in understanding the centrality of menstrual cycle research to women’s health. The conference theme that year was the menstrual cycle as a vital sign.
Emerging Artists International (EAI) Open Studios, NYC, October, 2005
As part of the citywide open studios event, I invited viewers to experience the v-portraits, bold and proud, installed on my living room wall.
rated R for Random, Agni Gallery, NYC. September 2006
The v-portraits were presented in book form for the first time at Agni Gallery as part of the rated R for Random group exhibition.
Art Feast, Musée de Monoian16, NYC, September 2006
Spire was part of the Art Feast at the Musée de Monoian.
v-portrait viewing—open studio, NYC, October 2006
62 v-portraits were on view. No topic. Just come, view, eat, drink and talk. A river of people came through my apartment for this one. And stayed. It was a six-hour event of animated conversation. A really good time.
The V-Factor: A Private Matter in the Public Eye, NJ, November 2006
presented by Intimate Engagements17
With over 60 v-portraits revealing what most women have not had a chance to see—our salon discussion explored the dynamic interplay between society’s view on ‘the -v’ and our own evolving sense of self.
Vagina Festival, NYC, February 2007
Inspired by vagina vérité™ and the many conversations it opens up, Vagina Festival, a visual and performance art experience, emerged as a space for conversations we don’t usually get to have. The 2007 Vagina Festival at Agni Gallery was the first. We were part of V-Day’s Worldwide Campaign18 to end violence against women and girls. Visual artists, performance artists, musicians, and speakers came together to raise awareness about the pervasiveness of violence against women, and raised money for V-Day.
Spark Your Fire, NYC, August 2007
WomanVision19 and vagina vérité® co-hosted an event exploring our whole, juicy, and sacred selves. With the v-portraits installed around us, Joanna and Dawn led us through an experience of the power and potential of an all-women’s circle.
Red Tent Women’s Project20, NYC, November 2007
Vagina, vulva, pussy, cunt—and have you heard the latest celebrity darling: vajayjay? Why are there so many words and why do none of them seem right?
Wimodaughsis21 at Vagina Festival, NYC, October 2008
vagina vérité® was part of the Vagina Festival 2008 visual art exhibition of paintings, photography, sculpture, print, and video, curated by Rose Merola and engaging viewers with a range of work that explored our bodies, sense of self, sexuality, and our relationships.
intro to vagina vérité®, NYC, JUN 2009
vagina vérité®—documentary-style vulva portraits, straight-up photographs, that leave little between you and the images, and your experience of your personal experiences, your assumptions, your stories and questions—installed in the artist’s living room.
VULVAGRAPHICS. The Change You Want to See Gallery. NYC, OCT 2009
vagina vérité® was on view at VULVAGRAPHICS, a New View Campaign22 event, celebrating the diversity of the female vulva though classic and contemporary arts and crafts. The reception was packed, and bubbling over with lively conversation, crayon-activism and art appreciation. It was an all-out celebration of genital diversity—of our uniqueness and shared experiences. The New View Campaign honored Betty Dodson23, foremother to the art and the activism of Vulvagraphics. We were honored to have her there with us!
the last #vv preview exhibition. installation at the artist’s home. NYC, JAN 2010
92 v-portraits were on view in the artist’s living room. This was the last of the preview of exhibitions. We celebrated the project’s progress and engaged in the conversations that spiral out of it. Thank you all who attended in person & in spirit!
A few months after this last preview exhibition, I completed photography for the book.
But, before that—
