DARE TO BE HEARD explores the perception of women artists and the challenges shaping their creative identities. Curated by Stephanie Rond, Dare to be Heard is an exhibition compromising over 20+ creatives discussing these issues from their perspective. The exhibition opens on September 23rd and we hope to see you at the Columbus Cultural Arts Center, 139 West Main Street, Columbus http://www.culturalartscenteronline.org 
PFW is so pleased to join with the City of Columbus and other NFPs to bring DARE TO BE HEARD to our great city. DARE TO BE HEARD is an exhibition that will bring over 20 local and national female artists to CMH next September-October (2016). DARE TO BE HEARD is dedicated to educating the community and seeing that issues of violence and discrimination against women don’t define our City which is working to define itself as a progressive, diverse and forward thinking community. In a global community where women are battling harassment, rape and laws that subjugate, violence is used as a vehicle to silence them. Women are still fighting for rights to their bodies, sexual orientation, health care equal pay, as well as equality for discussing these issues from their perspective. Their voices e often diminished or ignored. The exhibit will ask questions of both artists and viewers, and look for answers through programs such as artist talks, panels, poetry readings and open mics. It will create a collective discourse, in which we expect it to ignite a meaningful conversation as a community. It will give women a space to celebrate their voices on an entire range of issues.
In one such program Susan Van Pelt Petry who has been Chair and Professor of the Department of Dance at The Ohio State will present on November 2nd a performance of excerpts of her newest evening length work entitled The Linen Closet at the Columbus Performing Arts Center. This performance is a dance theatre work that through episodic structure portrays many facets of women: their clothes, their bodies, and their work. The use of fabric is a theme and through manipulation of sheets, napkins, aprons, and bolts of fabric, the characters are revealed that are resolute, yearning, sensual, afraid and eccentric. The excepts to be performed hint at many stories, many women – and strive to open an audience member to possibility, action, and empathy. This evening performance will be FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. In addition Ms. Van Pelt Petry will be part of the main gallery exhibition with an installation that invites audience members to fold, sort, iron and arrange piles of fabric pieces. Throughout the run of the exhibit fabric pieces will be supplied to add to the evolving and shared work.
