By: Mirabelle Cohen

        The current exhibition at Gettysburg College’s Schmucker Art Gallery, titled “I Beseech You: Women, Art, Politics and Power,” is having a virtual wine and cheese tasting this Friday, November 13th. Of course, the gallery tour will likely be a slideshow presentation on Zoom, the viewers will enjoy wine from their own glasses, and no one will have the joy of reprimanding their kids with the age-old imperative, don’t touch the art! However, in the wake of the chaotic 2020 United States presidential election, “I Beseech You” is a must see exhibit - even virtually. 

        “Tell me, I beseech you, when I casted my vote to you, did I cast it to the wind?” Certainly, many Americans stood in front of their televisions this past week, flipping between various news channels and muttering a similar sentiment. The quote appears in a medieval font on a 1996 print by Carrie Mae Weems, which serves as the focal point of “I Beseech You: Women, Art, Politics and Power.” Director and curator of the exhibit, Shannon Egen, chose the piece primarily as an educational tool. She wanted to provide an opportunity for the students at Gettysburg College to research female artists, and specifically the way art has provided female agency within spaces of typically patriarchal power. Student curator Ryan Destefano writes on the Schmucker Art Gallery instagram (@shmuckerartgallery) that, “Made in conjunction with the 1996 Democratic National Convention, ‘I Beseech You’ reflects her [Weem’s] ongoing desire for political change.” Twenty-four years later, Weem’s work is deeply personal and relevant to the political frustrations in an (almost) post-Trump America. 

        Egen praises the Weems print, saying that it is a natural focal point for the academic exhibit. She notes that Gettysburg College only added women artists to the collection about two or three years ago. Much of the work on display is on loan from other “like minded academic galleries.” Emphasizing the central theme of female agency, and complimenting the indigo hue of Weem’s print, Egen had the walls of the gallery painted purple. Unfortunately, the purple walls lose effect because the gallery is not open to the public due to the covid pandemic. This lost detail suggests that there are other parts of the gallery that lose luster online. In a normal world, the success of the gallery might be evident in the clusters of people swirling their wine in front of the Weem’s print and moving fluidly from room to room, their political conversations filling the space between the luminous purple walls. However, Egen uses virtual tours to maintain as much of that true experience as possible. She shows photographs of the gallery in her presentation to explain that the purple reflects the decades long suffragette movement of the 20th century. Of course, women’s suffrage helped ratify the 19th amendment in 1920, but the “I Beseech You” exhibit demonstrates how the suffragette spirit lives on in various facets of the female experience. 

        Another noteworthy piece of the exhibit is the Donna Ferrato photograph from the collection titled, “Living with the Enemy.” Donna Ferrato is a famous photojournalist known for her exposition on domestic abuse. Egen explains that it is an honor to be displaying one of Ferrato’s pieces in the modest Schmucker Art Gallery. Her work has been an inspiration to artists, activists, politicians, and women everywhere. On her website, iamunbeatable.com, Ferrato says, “This is a collection of stories told to me throughout many years come from people who’ve been through it. My photography has been used like work horses consistently bringing breaking news through global media outlets.” With the beauty and strength of a Clydesdale, the Ferrato photograph hangs in Schmucker Art Gallery, posing a powerful question: how does art affect public policy and social change?

        Egen tells an interesting story about the stakes of Ferrato’s work, which she will hopefully repeat at tomorrow’s virtual event. Once on a train, Ferrato ran into Joe Biden, who immediately recognized her for her famous activism and photojournalism. According to Egen’s story, Biden thanked Ferrato for her work and noted how she had personally inspired him in his political work against domestic violence. Ferrato’s photography serves as an inspirational reminder of what women can do, in political, artistic, and personal spheres. Gettysburg College is lucky to host her art, and viewing a piece from  “Living with the Enemy'' is a wonderful opportunity for students to investigate Ferrato’s impact. President-elect Joe Biden approves this message. 

        The exhibit “I Beseech You: Women, Art, Power, and Politics,” is centered on the print by Carrie Mae Weems, and features the work of Donna Ferrato, but it presents a wide collection of other artists and artforms too. At the gallery, or during a virtual tour, you will find works by Sue Coe, Zoe Charlton, and other impressive female artists. Egen has created an atmosphere of inspiration, passion, and power within the gallery; an energy which translates even through Zoom.