"During March, and for the rest of my life, I hope to not only carry with me the strength and bravery I learned from these women, but also to be able to lift up my fellow women along the way. After all, we are all on the same team." -Emily DeRose
It's Women History Month and I have been lucky enough to work on a timely exhibit in the spirit of feminist solidarity: The Sister Chapel. The Rowan University Department of Theatre & Dance, in collaboration with the Rowan University Art Gallery and Creative, have added a new layer to this exhibit in Westby Hall at our CASE venue.
"The Sister Chapel was conceived in 1974 by Ilise Greenstein, who envisioned a monumental “hall of fame” in which women’s achievements would be presented from a female perspective. Greenstein’s participation in several feminist consciousness-raising groups and all-women activist organizations prompted her to question the enduring androcentric view of history. Using a nominal pun on the Sistine Chapel, she proposed a secular, nonhierarchical alternative to the patriarchal system embodied in Michelangelo’s renowned ceiling fresco.
In the spirit of feminist solidarity, Greenstein collaborated with twelve other women, whose individual contributions shaped the character and appearance of The Sister Chapel. The artists collectively established uniform dimensions for the figure paintings and agreed that each canvas would depict a standing female “role model.” The particular subject and manner of execution were left entirely to the creator of each painting. As a result, the canvases form a visually cohesive group without diminishing the individuality of any artist. Diverse contemporary and historical women, deities, and conceptual figures populate the all-female pantheon of The Sister Chapel. Above them, Greenstein’s enormous abstract ceiling features a mirrored center to remind visitors that there is no limit to women’s potential.
The Sister Chapel premiered in January 1978 at P.S.1, an experimental exhibition space in Long Island City, New York. The installation traveled to three other venues between 1978 and 1980, but its presentation was hindered by architectural and spatial limitations. Displayed near the circle of monumental paintings was the model for an unrealized fabric structure, which was designed by Maureen Connor to house the abstract ceiling and figural canvases. The fabric pavilion was finally constructed when The Sister Chapel returned to public view at Rowan University in 2016. Three years later, the installation was made permanent by a generous gift from the Shirley Gorelick Foundation." -Andrew D. Hottle, Ph.D
Within the past month six RUTD students (Erica Gerold, Emilia Weiss, Angelica Cabral, Emily DeRose, Magdelyn Kelly, and Elliot Colahan) were asked by Chris Roche, Rowan University's Coordinator of the Musical Theatre Track, to do voiceover work for the paintings of these inspiring women. Each narrative is from the first person perspective, researched for an authentic point of view. With the help of Chris we developed a strong voice for each woman speaking directly to audiences to tell their own story. Through our various meetings together we were able to find the best way to inject their personality and essence into what we wrote and recorded. Two of our works are also in multiple languages!
In the spirit of Women's History Month and to give more insight into The Sister Chapel, I asked those involved to elaborate on what our process doing this has taught them and what women’s history means to them.
Erica Gerold
Voiceover of: Joan of Arc and Artemisia Gentileschi
"As someone who is used to staged acting, this process taught me a lot about telling a story with just your voice. All of the emotion of these women needed to be brought forth through only a sound system, rather than being able to see physical expressions. With the always insightful help of Chris Roche, I learned how to provide a sense of intimacy between the audience and women of my chosen paintings. Getting into the headspace of these strong women was a true honor. I was also able to develop the Italian painter Artemisia's voice by writing and speaking her perspective in both English and Italian translation! I took Italian for four years in high school and I was super excited to best represent her with her own language.
To me, women's history means endless contributions of women to events in the past, present, and future. Women are eternally a vital part of life. The history of United States' first-wave feminism dates back a little over 200 years ago, but females have always been fighting to advance justice for all. For example, one of the women I was lucky enough to do voiceover work for was Joan of Arc, born in 1412. With God's guidance she led the French army, unafraid, in a momentous victory at Orléans.
Women's history means going farther, bringing a seat to the table, throwing fear to the side, and celebrating all the wonderful ladies in my life."
Emilia Weiss
Voiceover of: Durga and Bella Abzug
"It was such a privilege getting to work on this project with such an amazing group of people.
Learning about the amazing women in the paintings made me realize that it is because of people like them that I am allowed to do things like vote, work, go to school, and take birth control! That’s the kind of woman that I want to be. I want to be a woman who not only fights for herself, but also fights for those around her.
A huge thank you to everyone involved in this process!"
Angelica Cabral
Voiceover of: Frida Kahlo
"I am super grateful to be given the opportunity to collaborate with the art gallery. It is so beautiful to see what a difference women can and have made in the world through different perspectives.
Women's history month is a time where not only do we remember our worth but believe in our worth. It's a time where we remember those that fought to win suffrage rights for women and for the women that continue to fight for the right for other's to vote. As women we are supposed to support one another, and transform the world."
Emily DeRose
Voiceover of: Betty Friedan and Self-Portrait of Sharon Wybrants as Superwoman
"This project was brought to my attention by Chris Roche during colloquium and even though I had little idea what it was, I knew I had to be involved. Once I started looking into the project I knew for a fact that I had made a fantastic choice. Not only did I get to work with badass people, but I had the privilege to portray some badass women. I was able to voice Betty Friedan as well as a self-portrait version of superwoman. I started by researching Betty Friedan and the painting of her. It turns out that the painting was supposed to mirror the story of Moses. She is standing in this powerful stance as she is coming down the mountain with the Feminine Mystique. I thank Betty for reminding me to speak my mind.
When researching the Superwoman painting I discovered that it was a self-portrait. It was making a statement about every woman being a superhero. That in itself is empowering, so it wasn’t difficult to get into character with that information. All I had to do was channel every little girls’ dream, including my own, of being their own version of a superhero. During March, and for the rest of my life, I hope to not only carry with me the strength and bravery I learned from these women, but also to be able to lift up my fellow women along the way. After all, we are all on the same team."
Magdelyn Kelly
Voiceover of: God and Womanhero
"Last semester my professor, Chris Roche, approached me and asked if I would participate in the creative process of Sister Chapel. After learning about the project, I knew that I wouldn’t want to miss an opportunity like this one. I’m extremely grateful to work alongside of so many creative artists to bring these paintings to life.
I’ve had the privilege of speaking for both God and Woman Hero. As I began to research these characters, I was reminded of all the wonderful things that come with being a woman. In such a cruel world, it’s easy to forget the beauty of femininity. In this very special month of March, I am so thankful for the ability to celebrate my wild, quirky, brave, and powerful feminine side. I highly encourage you to visit this incredible exhibit. Here’s to our empathy, sensitivity, vulnerability, and courage."
Elliot Colahan
Voiceover of: Lilith and Marianne Moore
"Simone de Beauvoir once said that “One is not born a woman, one becomes one.” -What better way to express the beautiful respect, admiration, and celebration for women that The Sister Chapel is able to create? I think that everyone, regardless of their gender identity, will be able to find a source of inspiration, hope, and support in the paintings found there. Being transgender, I’ve spent most of my life thinking I was a girl (one of the reasons Simone de Beauvoir’s words have a special place in my heart) and I’d like to think I have a unique perspective on the differences between men and women as a result. It’s one of the reasons I loved the opportunity to do the voice over for the painting Lilith by Sylvia Sleigh. Inspired by the biblical mythology surrounding the first wife of Adam, Sleigh painted Lilith to be a man and a woman, simultaneously. When I first looked at her stunning artwork, I saw a part of myself in Lilith. She wanted to be true to herself and, as a result, was cast out of Eden. I think she’s a very inspirational figure, and I hope others can look to her as a source of encouragement to be true to themselves.
I was also very fortunate to do the voice over for Marianne Moore, painted by Betty Holliday. Marianne Moore was a poet from the 20th century, and there is something keen and acute in her poetry that drew me into her work. There’s a line from her poem “A Grave” that I think captures her spirit as a poet: “It is human nature to stand in the middle of a thing.” Standing in The Sister Chapel, looking up at Moore’s smiling face, I felt a lovely sense of joy standing in the middle of such enchanting works of art. I hope that everyone who is able to go and see The Sister Chapel does so. I hope that everyone experiences the same joy and wonder I did when I first stepped foot in that place of respect, appreciation, and love. -and I hope everyone is able to learn a bit more about themselves through the artwork shared there."
Chris Roche (Rowan University's Coordinator of MT Track): "The Sister Chapel collaboration has made me believe, even more and always, that cross collegiate and interdisciplinary work is essential towards sustainability in the arts. What a delight to collaborate with the Mary, the Art Gallery and all of you!!"
Mary Salvante (Director of the RUAG and CASE): "Women’s history month continues to evolve and remains relevant in how it brings attention to the many unheralded accomplishments of women through the ages. What an amazing opportunity to work with such talented students that exhibited such wisdom and insight in their interpretations of the women celebrated in the sister chapel art work. Thank you all for such an amazing gift."
I hope this post leaves every woman reading feeling empowered, every person with a more clear concept of women's history, and hopefully even some inspiration to thank a woman that inspires you. The Sister Chapel exhibit, now held in Rowan University's Westby Hall at our CASE venue, will reopen to view these marvelous paintings with our voices of the aforementioned women filling the air starting on March 23rd through the end of the semester. We hope you'll go check out the work we put into this!!
"I'll show you what a woman can do." -Artemisia Gentileschi
See you next Wednesday!! Erica Gerold Rowan University Musical Theatre and Public Relations '23
*NOTE: This project was with the art gallery, not the art department.*
Paintings of the women of The Sister Chapel.
Art by:
Alice Neel (1900-1984)
Shirley Gorelick (1924-2000)
Sharan Wybrants (b. 1943)
June Blum (b. 1929-2017)
Martha Edelheit (b. 1931)
Diana Kurz (b. 1936)
Elsa M. Goldsmith (1920-2005)
Cynthia Mailman (b. 1942)
May Stevens (b. 1924-2019)
Sylvia Sleigh (1916-2010)
Betty Holliday (1925-2011)
Yorumlar