WILLISTON, N.D. - Local artist Jamie Azevedo continues to use her artistic talent to support educational opportunities for future female students at Williston State College.
From October 2 through 28, the James Memorial Art Center will display Azevedo's work, "The Female Gaze" and "Preserving History" with an opening reception on Friday, October 5 from 7-9 p.m.
"These exhibits explore what is feels like to inhabit the female form," explained Azevedo. "I've been exploring this theme for several years and that's what this show represents."
"The Female Gaze" expresses the resilience, creativity, and boldness of the female experience through photography. Azevedo created the dream-like and ghostly movement in her photos by manipulating her camera's shutter speed.
"Preserving History" is a mixed-media collage that showcases the famous, infamous, and not-so-well known women throughout history. The preview includes 20 images of women like Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein, and Agent 355, the code name of a female agent during the American Revolution.
"As a history student, I loved hearing stories of so many global leaders," stated Azevedo. "But I discovered few heroines and this series is meant to be an excavation into the lives, achievements, and even atrocities, of women throughout the ages. I hope this exhibit will leave you wanting to discover more!"
The complete "Preserving History" will include 50 images and will be on display at Minot's Taube Museum of Art in Fall 2019.
For each piece sold from "The Female Gaze", $50 will be contributed to an educational scholarship through the WSC Foundation to assist in funding a woman's studies at WSC.
From June to August 2018, Azevedo's work was displayed at Minot State University and $400 was raised for the scholarship fund.
Azevedo's inspiration behind this scholarship is her mother. Her mother worked hard to put both of her daughters through college, even though she herself did not get to attend university.
"I know there is another woman out there like my mother who would love the opportunity to attend college, but life challenges are in the way," said Azevedo. "I want this scholarship to find her."
A North Carolinian, Azevedo is a longtime visual artist and her work has been shown in galleries across the United States.
Azevedo moved to North Dakota in 2016 with her husband Lino, Williston State College's art instructor.
Azevedo invites members of the public to contact her about contributing to the scholarship at jamieazevedo@gmail.com. She can also be found on Instagram at @jamiemccoyazevedo.
For more information on WSC please visit www.willistonstate.edu, call 701.774.4200, or stop by 1410 University Avenue, Williston, ND.