University Open Air: Soft Resistance: Flower as a Feminist Icon

“When you took time to really notice my flower, you hung all your associations with flowers on my flower...” — Georgia O’Keeffe

During this 2.5-hour workshop, we will explore the role of flowers and plants as symbols of resistance and empowerment in feminist art. Beginning with a short visual lecture, we will learn how flowers and plants can be political symbols, focusing on 20th-century artists and activist organizations such as Frida Kahlo, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Judy Chicago.

Following the lecture, we will explore natural printmaking. Using seasonal flowers and leaves, participants will learn techniques for transferring botanical pigments and forms onto fabric through the process of flower pounding, or hapa zome. We will create textile compositions that reconsider the meanings and associations we attach to flowers.

Hilla Shapira is a Fiber artist, costume designer and educator. Originally from Tel-Aviv, Israel, and is currently based in Brooklyn, NY. Her work deals with the relationships between common design and body regimen. By making functional mundane objects she questions design norms and the political aspects of things. She has presented her work in Israel, Europe, and the USA including: Art Basel (Miami, FL), Philadelphia Museum of Jewish Art (Philadelphia, PA), NY Textile Month (NYC, NY), Jerusalem Design Week (Jerusalem, Israel), NY Jewelry week (NYC, NY), Little Berlin Gallery, (Philadelphia, PA), Depo2015 (Pilsen, Czech Republic), Neve Schechter Gallery (Tel-Aviv, Israel), Hansen House (Jerusalem, Israel), Textile Arts Center (Brooklyn, NY) and Wasserman Projects (Detroit, MI). She was AIR in Carrizozo residency (Carrizozo, NM), Popps Packing (Hamtramck, MI), Makerspace (Brooklyn, NY) and Neve Schechter center (Tel-Aviv, Israel). She received her BFA in Fashion from Bezalel Academy, Jerusalem, Israel and her MFA in Fiber from Cranbrook Academy, Bloomfield-Hills MI, USA. Shapira's work had been featured in different publications including: Hyperallergic Magazine, NY Jewish Week, Metalsmith Magazine, Portfolio Magazine, Haaretz, and the Jerusalem Post.

*In cases of rain, classes will be either moved to the Prospect Park Boathouse or canceled. Registered patrons will be notified by email on the morning of each course day and are also encouraged to check the UOA webpage for updates.