Women of Appalachia: Annual event seeking art, stories from local women

Pike County Watchman (Pike County, Ohio)
August 30, 2014
Women of Appalachia: Annual event seeking art, stories from local women
By Stephanie Stanley for the News Watchman

Women residing in Appalachian counties are encouraged to share their words, art, and stories for possible inclusion in the 6th annual Women of Appalachia and Women Speak event, coming soon to a local gallery...

...“Last year’s event featured 18 visual artists and 22 spoken word artists, featuring not only poetry, but also story, essay and song,” said Women of Appalachia founder and curator, Kari Gunter-Seymour. “Our vision is to empower and strengthen southeastern Ohio women visual, literary and performing artists in a welcoming environment, while encouraging a positive community connection.”

The juried invitational exhibit “will be centered on producing an evening that is representative of the vast talent of this area while embracing a diversity of lifestyles and personal backgrounds.”

“Many people have an image of an Appalachian woman, and they look down on her,” said Gunter-Seymour. “The Women of Appalachia project encourages participation from women of diverse backgrounds, ages and experiences to come together to embrace the stereotype, to show the whole woman; beyond the superficial factors that people use to judge her.”....

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