Greetings! Thanks for your interest in sending out a message of self-empowerment and bodily autonomy via my project! I am an established artist and Associate Professor of Art. You can check out my work/CV at www.katekretz.com if you like.

Backstory:
Motivated by the overturning of Roe v. Wade, convicted rapists in the White House, Congress, and Supreme Court, Nick Fuentes’ infinitely-repeated post-election X declaration: “Your body, my choice: Forever,” the rise of the toxic “Manosphere,” celebrities who traffic women, incels who think sex is their birthright, and other equally egregious offenses against women’s bodily agency, I’m creating a new piece. For its execution, I’m collecting anonymous photos and words of protest from anyone who self-identifies as female (or is non-binary or gender non-conforming but identifies with the experiences of females). The project will ultimately exist as a gallery installation (and may exist online in its finished form.)

 I am thinking about the male gaze.  I’m thinking about how naked and half-naked female bodies are ubiquitous, but men control how, when, and to whom they show their bodies (even when not wanted, i.e. “dick picks”). I’m thinking about how our culture has been steeped in patriarchy for so long that it seems near-impossible to not objectify women. Even when females (like pop culture artists) “take control” of their own sexuality for “empowerment,” if they present themselves in a sexualized way, men still benefit /possess their bodies through visual consumption.

Precedents for this project:
Photographer Laura Dodsworth published a series of vulva photos in 2019, but, even though the photos were taken by a woman, images are still from the point of view of an observer.

Since the 1970s, artist Joan Semmel has been creating powerful paintings of her body from her point of view.

Semmel’s work is so important. Looking at them and thinking of their 1970’s/80’s context, I daresay that it may be the first time some men realized a vagina is attached to a whole sentient person. In my project, I want to take this a step further by asking women to visually convey ownership over their own bodies, and remind men of this power by denying access for visual consumption. (Yes, it’s here, but it’s mine.) So I am asking you to take a photo of your own body including the pubic area, or just focus solely on the public area, and then write words that express full ownership, and I will combine those two images to create a new one where your words cover part of your body. Your voice controls access.

 I want to remind men of this, but I also hope to remind women and girls, allowing them to see a concrete image that conveys this power. I hope it will help us take one more tiny step away from a past where men completely controlled women’s bodies, and defy those men (and women!) who are working so diligently to takes us back there. I hope to have enough participation to create an entire wall, or maybe an entire room, of these images, roaring defiance.

 Whether or not you choose to participate, please do not share this project concept with anyone, I want to keep it under wraps until it is presented, for maximum impact.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.     Take a photo of your naked body including your pubic area, or just zoom in on your naked pubic area FROM YOUR OWN POINT OF VIEW AS OWNER. You can be standing up, seated, lying down, leaned forward, as long as it will be apparent that this is YOUR point of view, NOT someone looking AT you. (See Joan Semmel images above for examples.) If you prefer or think it will read better as a mirror “selfie”, please hold the camera low so it can be seen in the shot. If you want to look at your parts with a mirror, include your hand and the mirror. If your belly or breasts are in the way, maybe hold the camera a bit away from your body. Groom it, or don’t... allow stubble, scars, grey hairs, etc... no one will know it is yours. Try to include a little of the surrounding area, like leg tops and belly or hip bones, etc., because in the end product that everyone will see, the very center of your image will be covered up in the finished product, but it should still “read” as that part of the body. Any backgrounds will be cropped or blurred out. I do need your photo to be in-focus.

2.     Next, write on a white piece of paper “MINE!!!!!” or “not yours”, etc. Express your feelings about the attempts to co-opt our bodies. You can alternately write a sentence or two of your own on this topic (not more than 50 words) and photograph it in-focus or scan it. Please leave some white space around what you write.

3.     Send me both photos at kkretz4art@aol.com.

 That’s it. This is TOTALLY ANONYMOUS, and, upon receipt, the images will be numbered, put in files, your emails discarded, and images Photoshopped, but, if it makes you feel more comfortable, use a fake email address, have a friend send it, or text it to me at 336-266-9678.

Thank you SO much!
In solidarity,

Kate