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The curation is inspired by Suffragettes of the past who show us today the work they started is not finished since women are still not treated as equals.  Just as the past Suffragettes used symbols like the white dress as a symbol of purity and the yellow rose as a symbol for friendship.  "From the very beginnings of the Women’s suffrage movement, the organizers realized that they needed to use symbolism to help get their message across and make it memorable." Stephanie Hall writes in "Symbolism in the Women's Suffrage Movement"   Hall continues, "...when large marches were organized it was found that white was particularly useful.... women marching together wearing white became common as it grabbed people’s attention, and white was the well-known meaning of purity."

Milewski's Suffragettes take on the white dress and dance in different locations at dawn during the rare moments when Mercury and Venus share the dawn sky.  Depending on the moment her Suffragettes can be seen pulling the sun up and either Mercury or Venus might be in the Suffragettes others hand.  The symbolism of the dawn star and the ability for a woman to be able to participate in such astronomical occurrences is symbolic in showing that women can be equals and be treated with equity in all moments.

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Another symbolism found in Suffragettes and Hearts is the well known symbol of the heart.  Michael Lenard Milewski has taken his practice of cut outs to new levels in his Heart Series using photos of nebulas, Suffragettes and other media to create provocative and disarming portraits of hearts.  As in his past work MLM likes to disrupt what is commonly known and so he places the dark hole of a nebula in the center of a heart.

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Other symbols may be found in the selection of jewelry made for Suffragettes and Hearts.  Pieces like the Orbits antique necklace and earring set show 14K gold floating in orbit within glass solar systems.  It's always amazing when jewelry pieces that are over 150 years old manage to stay together which brings into play another level of symbolism.  There's also some exceptional Lapis Lazuli pieces with deep blues and hints of gold.  Since Ancient Egyptian uses for inner and outer sight until today when seekers still find benefits to wearing this stone.  The symbolism the curators chose to work with was its use to promote courage and protection--two things 21st Century Suffragettes need.  One necklace has hand made eye beads made with the intent of staring down anyone who seeks to do the wearer harm.  Another Lapis pendant has been carved into a heart.

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Suffragettes and Hearts continues the curatorial insight Galaudet Gallery is well known for.  Their partnership of Sight art theory continues to grow in notoriety and in who the partners are.  Beginning with contemplating how an artwork and viewer work in partnership to today also including the artist, the curator, the location, and the time period.  Suffragettes and Hearts is quite timely given the current political and social landscape.  When first thinking about the exhibit though over 10 years ago, both curators thought it would be a celebration of the 100th anniversary of women getting the right to vote.  But as the rights of women were stripped away by the appellation of Roe V Wade and as gender and race have begun to more fully exert the truth of humanity--that each of us is unique and should be able to live the life each person chooses to live--the curators could see the times were assisting them in planning more than a celebration.  With the right to vote still an ability we can at least exert our unique vision for this country by casting our individual ballots on election day and symbolically everyday.

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