The Art Gallery of York University is delighted to announce two inaugural and concurrent exhibitions by newly appointed Director/Curator Philip Monk.

what it feels like for a girl at the AGYU runs from 3 December 2003 – 1 February 2004 and refers to the Madonna music video by the same name that was banned from MTV for its alleged depiction of “violence against men” and its display of belligerent female attitude.

Five prominent Toronto women artists, musicians and performers – Karma Clarke-Davis, Louise Liliefeldt, Peaches (with Kara Blake and j.d. Samson), Fiona Smyth, and Julie Voyce have been given free reign to create new works for what it feels like for a girl, ranging from performance to painting and printmaking to music video. By providing an open forum for women artists, what it feels like for a girl avoids the potential shortcomings of a narrowly theme-based response to Madonna’s controversial work; the artists in the exhibition embody the spirit of the namesake’s expression without necessarily trying to conform to its anti-conformist message.

Discussion Panel:
Gender Fictions/Realities: Feminist Readings of What It Feels Like For A Girl
15 January 2004

Feminist scholars from various disciplines have been invited to participate in a discussion panel about What It Feels Like For A Girl. Participants include: Janine Marchessault (Film and Video), Caitlin Fisher </e >(Fine Arts/Cultural Studies), Karen Stanworth</e > (Art History), and Elizabeth Seaton</e > (Communications and Culture).