By Chris Pyo ’17, Staff Writer

With a Trump presidency beginning, some people are choosing to accept the results of the election and hoping for the best, while trying to make sense of what has become quite an irrational and nonsensical start to 2017. Others are gearing up for the fight of their lives against a president who they feel is threatening to roll back all of the societal progress that has taken flight over the past couple of decades. One particular medium through which people have been protesting is art, and The Nasty Women Art Exhibition is making waves through the feminist community.

Throughout January 12th to the 15th, the Knockdown Center in Queens, New York hosted The Nasty Women Art Exhibition, an installation showcasing artwork at relatively inexpensive prices in response to the recent 2016 election. Started by Roxanne Jackson and Jessamyn Fiore, two contemporary freelance artists from New York City, the creation of the Nasty Women Exhibition began as a Facebook post created by the two artists that read:

“Hello female artists/curators! Let’s organize a NASTY WOMEN group show!!! Who’s interested???”

The response they received to their post was significant enough for them to post an open call for artwork, where anyone who identified as female could submit a piece of art symbolizing what it means to be a so-called “Nasty Woman.” This term became popularized after Donald Trump referred to Hillary Clinton as “such a nasty woman” during the final presidential debate, and instead of taking it as an insult, Clinton supporters turned it into a positive; in fact, Senator Elizabeth Warren utilized it as a punchline last October during a rally in New Hampshire, when she said “Nasty women are tough. Nasty women are smart. And nasty women vote.” Libby Stein ‘18 agrees with this sentiment, and referred to a book written by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich entitled “Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History.” Stein also commented that “We are taking back the term ‘nasty’ as something that we are proud of, instead of an insult.” Supporters of the feminist movement are using their voices to demonstrate solidarity among progressive voters, many of whom identify as “Nasty Women.”

However, there still remains debate as to whether this exhibition is only serving to further divide an entire nation. It is clear that the Nasty Women Exhibition is sending a message to President-Elect Trump that they will not be simply pushed over by his rhetoric and the implementation of some of his policies during his presidency. However, Andrew Wyshner ‘18 believes the exhibition creates more tension within an unstable political and social atmosphere: “I think it’s counterproductive to have an exhibit with a divisive partisan mindset, because in this post-election time period we must unify the country. Exhibits like these undermine the efforts for bipartisan unity.” While some may view sculptures of two cats beating up a figure representing Donald Trump as empowering and justified, others may take offense at the sight of such a provocative piece of artwork; this is one of the many examples of art that was displayed and sold at the exhibition, with 100% of the proceeds being donated to Planned Parenthood.

There are currently 25 international venues planning to host the Nasty Women Exhibition, signalling that these progressive groups are far from allowing their voices to be silenced. It is up to the viewers and citizens of America to determine whether these artists are productively utilizing their platforms, or worsening the conditions of what is already a volatile and unpredictable culture.  “Pussies Grabbing Back” as displayed at the Nasty Women Exhibition in New York City http://hyperallergic.com/351513/massive-nasty-women-art-show-raises-35k-for-planned-parenthood-opening-night/