Gettysburg College, a well-renowned liberal arts institution in historic Gettysburg, Pennsylvania is home to the Schmucker Art Gallery, which currently hosts an inspired art collection focused on female empowerment. “I Beseech You: Women, Art, Politics, and Power” is the work of art director and Gettysburg professor, Sharon Egan, along with a variety of Gettysburg students, that will be on display from August 25 to November 20, 2020. Their goal was to provide gallery visitors with an opportunity to reflect on the accomplishments of women, while also exposing inequities and injustices in society. This display is compiled solely of female artists and brings light to a whole suit of societal issues. Egan describes this exhibition as a “hodge-podge” because of how it draws attention to so many everyday concepts and addresses the need for change. Given this year is the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment, this gallery perfectly encapsulates the power of women then and now.

        The most important painting and basis of the exhibition is a 1996 work by Carrie Mae Weems. It features a photo of a lone boat sailing on the ocean with the words, “I beseech you, when I casted my vote to you, did I cast it to the wind?” pasted on top of the image. The photograph is purple, which is the suffragette color and relates directly to the fight for women’s rights. Due to the gallery’s focus on this work, Egan decided to paint some of the walls in the gallery purple to further emphasize this idea of empowerment. Although the scene of the boat is seemingly quiet and desolate, there are storm clouds on the horizon. This image, combined with the phrase, highlights how many women feel their voices don’t matter in society, which ultimately makes them feel isolated, like the boat. The distant storm symbolizes the oncoming social shift in female positions and power. Ultimately, this work uses juxtaposition of words and a photograph to call attention to how women are at a disadvantage and feel they are not regarded on the same level as men. This piece was released on the eve of the Democratic convention, calling attention to the idea that women felt their opinions were not considered in the political realm and that needed to change. 

        Another piece, which can be found to the right of the one previously discussed, is a 2011 painting by Sue Coe, titled “Butcher.” This painting portrays a frightening scene that is based on a German expressionism painting by Max Pechstein that was published in a periodical, An die Laterne, in 1919. Coe, rather than using people, substitutes the figures in Pechstein’s painting with animals. On the left side one can see a cow hanging from a noose and a brawl going on to the creature’s right. Coe hoped to call attention to the meat industry and animal rights. Over the years she has been considered a controversial artist because her work, like this piece, sometimes compares animal abuse to human abuse, like the Holocaust. Some don’t agree with her depictions, but she is entitled to portraying her beliefs any way she sees fit, which she does here. She is a woman challenging society’s current state and standing up for her beliefs, even though some people demean her work. This sense of empowerment she channels into her pieces is why “Butcher” fits perfectly into this collection. Not everyone may see animal abuse to such a severe degree, but Coe is trying to change that. 

        An additional contribution is a photograph, titled “Living with the Enemy.” Donna Ferrato released this work of a woman with two black eyes in 1984, to draw awareness to domestic violence. Upon seeing this, the hope is that people will feel compelled to help those who need it and be on the lookout for signs of violence. This work of art, like all the others, has its own unique message that contributes to the gallery’s overall theme of change. 

        All of these pieces, although different in their focus and style, emphasize the need to address a plethora of social issues. Whether it be women's rights or those of animals, these artists want people to step back and think about how we can make this world a better place, where everyone is treated with compassion. Egan and her cohort of students have done an excellent job highlighting numerous issues that impact millions of individuals. Every featured piece, not just those mentioned above, radiate a sense of empowerment and Egan’s selections set this exhibit up to be one that changes the way people perceive the female position in the world. This collection is a call to action. A call to make some change to the world we live in and address the problems laid out through these works of art. Additionally, this exhibition provides female viewers, in particular, with a sense of courage, because a multitude of female artists are taking a stand. Every piece inspires viewers to get involved and try their best to change the world in any way they can. These women are not afraid to put themselves out there and challenge real world problems, so why should anyone be? Words don’t do this collection justice; you will have to see it with your own eyes to feel the inspiration of Egan’s selections.