Bostic’s exhibition at the Flood Gallery (opening September
17) is not necessarily new work, rather it is a forty-year exploration of
female sexuality.
The need to appear desirable is so great that it often
exceeds desire itself, which indicates that female sexuality is so powerful it
is intimidating. It encompasses issues
of body image and self esteem that is affected by all kinds of social, cultural,
political and religious opinion or input.
“Growing up, people of my generation didn’t talk about female
sexuality,” says Bostic, “and it was
still awkward for people of the generation following mine. It’s like you almost have to get to a certain
age to be able to comfortably discuss it.” Historically there has been a sort
of ‘purity standard’ recognized by American Culture that inevitably left many young
women coming of age with feelings of shame.
In Bostic’s youth things like spaghetti strapped tank tops, and bikinis
were frowned upon, and remaining sexually pure for marriage was encouraged,
even expected. Today, while things have progressed, the rape culture and slut
shaming that is still overwhelmingly evident indicates that much work remains
to be done.
“Red, the color of blood is a color frequently used to
depict women. It’s a color of exposure
and as such it’s a very vulnerable color,” says Bostic, “think red lipstick,
red lingerie, red shoes, do you see? Red
almost indicates sex, if nothing else it’s at least a connotation of the word,”
she finished.
So where does today’s generation fit into this conversation? Is female sexuality culturally relative
anymore? Is the work that has been done
to dispense with negative stigmatisms by Bostic’s generation been
effective? Does the conversation today,
between genders and generations shed new light on this intriguing subject
matter? Is there an openness today that
never existed in the past, in discussing other types of sexuality?
Linda Larsen, artist and friend of Connie Bostic says
this: “Throughout the years I have
unsuccessfully tried to explain the power Connie Bostic’s painting holds. In
her latest, and possibly oldest body of work, RED, it is finally becoming clear that she is, and always has
been, a symbolist; an eloquent, fearless one, not the romantic or sentimental
sort. Throwing formalism to the winds, Bostic reaches deep into her feminist
roots and offers, for those of us who care to look, another complex human
conundrum with which to grapple.”
Due to the sale of the Phil Mechanics Building and the
gentrification of Asheville, The Flood Gallery Fine Arts Center, The Courtyard
Gallery and the Black Mountain Press have joined together in the their new Fine
Arts Center in the Swannanoa Valley East Asheville. On Saturday, September 17th,
beginning at 3:00pm, you are invited to join in this conversation. Bostic’s work, RED, will be on display at the
Flood Gallery and Fine Arts Center in it’s new location at 2160 Hwy 70, along
with other activities throughout the day at this new media arts and fine arts
center.
This exhibition is sponsored by Shoe Warehouse Hendersonville
