Locks Gallery, 600 S Washington Square, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
Sarah McEneaney’s painting technique is deceptively simple, reminiscent almost of folk art in its deliberate flatness, bright colours, elevated viewpoint, and attention to surface detail. Review by Deborah Krieger
Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania, 118 S. 36th Street, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Cecilia Vicuña’s first major solo exhibition presents a delicate balancing act between the large- and small-scale, and between works that are explicitly political and those that are more personal. Combining textiles, video, found objects, wood, paper, poetry, and more, ‘About to Happen’ is grounded in the artist’s dedication to her craft and to her advocacy, often making the most impact with the most intimate, fragile works. Review by Deborah Krieger
The Fabric Workshop and Museum, 1214 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Laura Mulvey is best known for her essay describing the phenomenon of the 'male gaze,' where the act of looking in visual media is coded as male, or specifically for heterosexual male viewers, leaving women as passive objects that are meant to be looked at and desired. While not directly referencing Mulvey, Suzanne Bocanegra investigates this concept of women as the target of the gaze in 'Poorly Watched Girls,' using multiple media to question whether the performance of watching women can ever truly be enough to understand them as subjects in their own right. Review by Deborah Krieger
