Blog Post #8

 

     On April 17^th, University of Mary Washington student, 20 year old Grace Mann was murdered. Grace Mann was a feminist activist with the group Feminists United. She was callously murdered for voicing her opinion and speaking out against the hostile environment towards women at her school. Grace Mann was an activist intent on ending violence against women and sexism on her campus and in society. My goal is to raise awareness about the dangers sexism, patriarchy, and misogyny pose to women on a daily basis. I will be doing so in honor of Grace Mann.

    Grace Mann died because her beliefs challenged the toxic masculinity that is a pervasive presence on the college campus she once attended. I want people to realize that this toxic masculinity is not only putting our young women at risk but is killing them. This toxic masculinity, a product of patriarchy and misogyny, is damaging to every single person in our society: men and women, the old and the young, Black, White, Asian, Native, Transgendered individuals, gay, straight, bisexual, pansexual. There is not a single person in our society that is unaffected by sexism. I would like to make that known that the feminist agenda is to create a better, safer, more equal and inclusive society for our current and future generations.

   The only artwork capable of communicating such an important idea would have to be a large scale monument. This artwork will be a 3Dimensional bronze sculpture approximately 6-8 feet in height. This sculpture would be in honor of and modeled after Grace Mann holding up the symbol for feminism.. This sculpture will be a symbol for anyone and everyone who, like Grace Mann, believes in freedom, safety and equality for all persons. I think this artwork would be most effective if it was placed on the campus of the University of Mary Washington.