PENNY MCINTYRE : CONSEQUENCES

11 Mar to 24 Apr 2022

USE YOUR VOICE – KEEP TALKING

“The works in this exhibition were created as a reaction to the control and repression of women through fashion, religion, language and societal norms. Recent events, in particular the Me Too movement, Grace Tame, and the rise of women in governance are slowly changing our society for the better.

For women of my generation and for generations prior, our voices have been muffled, stifled and often silenced. Women were not to question the acceptable behaviours, to be quiet. We’ve been raised to be submissive, subservient, to fit in, to be “ladylike”. To be good, to please men, not to make trouble. To accept our place as second class citizens. Don’t laugh too loud, don’t get ahead of yourself, accept your “lot in life”. We are conditioned throughout our lives to accept the social norms through nursery rhymes, bedtime storybooks and especially through biblical studies.

I have been told “that’s good enough for you”. We were told “you’ll do commercial like your sister” and dreamt of attending art college, which we did under our own steam. Dreams were to be achieved only for the male members of the family. Girl children were expected to have low skilled jobs and find a husband. Women and girls who were sexually abused were expected to keep silent, not to make a fuss. They were seen as “sullied”, “defiled” and had their virtue shattered. The victim was often seen as the perpetrator – “she was asking for it”, “her skirt was too short”.

From the 1100s to the mid 1900s women were incarcerated in asylums for using their voice. They could be locked up indefinitely by a male member of their family for expressing opinions, changing religions or “thinking”.

The present generation of young women and men will hopefully change this culture. The power is being taken back and the voices are not stopping. There is hope for women, at least in the western world, to take their power, using voices, education and honesty. Grace Tame was honest and brave – she chose not to submissively smile.”

Penny McIntyre

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Penny McIntyre works as a silversmith jeweller and small object maker in her Sunshine Coast Hinterland studio.

Penny’s art career began as a process to alleviate the stress and hierarchical tedium of working as a Para-legal and as a Microsoft trainer.  After completing post graduate studies in Human Resource Management, Penny decided to enrol in the Diploma of Ceramics at Southbank Tafe as a part-time student, following which she taught and exhibited in this medium for over 25 years. In 2012 she completed her Bachelor Fine Arts majoring in Jewellery and Small Objects and Sculpture at Griffith University.  Her work is informed by social and environmental concerns.

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