Utah's Three Leading Universities - Utah State University, Weber State University and University of Utah Join Forces to Address Inequality

Guerrilla Girls use facts, humor and fake fur to expose discrimination and corruption in the worlds of art, politics and pop culture

OGDEN, Utah, Aug. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Utah's three leading state universities: Utah State University, Weber State, and the University of Utah, today announced the Guerrilla Girls, (http://www.guerrillagirls.com/) an internationally acclaimed, anonymous feminist collective, are coming to Utah September 10-12, 2013 to visit each respective campus. Two of the original Guerrilla Girls will perform "gigs" at each university that address inequality in the worlds of art, politics and pop culture. All performances, or gigs, are free and open to the public.

Guerrilla Girls are an anonymous group of female artists and feminists who have spent decades drawing attention to sexism and racism in the art community and society. The group was founded in New York City in the mid-1980s in response to the Museum of Modern Art's exhibition, An International Survey of Recent Painting and Sculpture, in which of 169 artists invited to exhibit work only 13 were women. Since the group was formed they have been instrumental in drawing attention to gender inequality in the art world and they have increased dialogue on sexism within the arts.

"I had the opportunity to see the Guerrilla Girls perform in 1987 and the issues they raise are unfortunately still relevant," said Laura Gelfand, Head of the Department of Art and Design at Utah State University. "Their visit to Utah coincides with several area museum exhibitions of art by women artists and it is a great opportunity for audiences across the Wasatch Front and Back to see and hear these important performers. I hope that their gigs will inform and inspire our students, faculty and community members to think about how and why artists become successful." 

Utah State University: 
Date: Sept., 10, 2013
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: GIG Performance Hall 
Tickets: Free and open to the public 

Weber State University:
Date: Sept., 11, 2013
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Lindquist Lecture Hall, Kimball Visual Arts Center
Tickets: Free and open to the public 

University of Utah:
Date: Sept., 12, 2013
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Utah Museum of Fine Arts
Tickets: Free and open to the public; and must reserve tickets at (http://umfa.utah.edu/guerrillagirls).

"The Mary Elizabeth Dee Shaw Gallery is pleased to collaborate with Caine College of the Arts and the Utah Museum of Fine Arts to bring the original Guerrilla Girls to our respective campuses to educate and inform audiences about past and current issues of equality for women within the arts," said Katie Lee, Director of The Mary Elizabeth Dee Shaw Gallery. "GuerrillaGirls will not only educate but will entertain our audiences and allow them a unique opportunity to engage in a lively discussion about the current state of sexism and racism while at the same time proving that feminists are funny."

News Release Contact:
Christie Denniston, APR 
Director of Marketing 
Phone: 801-626-6431
Email: [email protected] 

SOURCE Weber State University, Lindquist College of Arts and Humanities