November 16, 2019

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February 2, 2020

Opening Reception: Saturday, November 16, 2019, 5:00 – 7:00 pm; Gallery Talk by the Artist 6:00 pm

When Klaire Lockheart was given the assignment to create a self-portrait for her painting class during graduate studies at the University of South Dakota, she thought carefully about what that would mean. She had been doing research about gender roles and expectations, and considered how she would present herself as the subject of a painting. This led to the creation of Feminine Attempt #1 (Dishes), featuring a life-sized portrait of Klaire in a conservative dress, handmade apron, and “absolutely ridiculous” boots, as she takes care of a basic household chore. The response from others was enthusiastic and resulted in a series of twelve portraits, that, as a series, is titled Feminine Attempts. The impact of these portraits immense. As Klaire remarks, “The scale of the paintings allows the women to be seen as monumental and intimidating, especially since they look down towards the viewer.”