Art Activist to Present Work, Give Talk at Penn State

The HUB-Robeson Galleries will host “The Fluidity of Gender,” an exhibition featuring sculptures by Linda Stein, through Sunday, Nov. 30, in the HUB Gallery.

A talk with the artist and reception will take place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1, in Freeman Auditorium.

Stein is an artist-activist who explores gender roles and stereotypes through the creation of her larger-than-life heroic female torsos and figures. They are intended to scramble gender expectations and merge opposites — they are female and male, and everything in-between; strong, but soft; warrior-like, albeit pacifist guardians.

The black leather torsos and 7-foot figures — created with buckles, zippers and chains — are complemented by more colorful acrylicized-paper torsos featuring iconic Wonder Woman motifs. The sculptures have a unique push-pull tension: an inviting playfulness, and, yet, fierce and formidable in a way that may make one want to step back.

During her talk Stein will discuss her work and inspiration. Her talks have been praised as being informative, humorous and thoughtful. At the public reception following the talk, visitors will be invited to try on some of Stein’s sculpture, giving them the opportunity to change “skins” with varying gender-bending results. Participants will be able to feel new bodies and avatars, sometimes with accompanying brain changes.

“The Fluidity of Gender” is part of a seven-year touring exhibition, lecture and performance that will see more than 24 museums and galleries through 2017.

Stein is the founding president of the nonprofit corporation Have Art: Will Travel! Inc., which emphasizes gender justice and anti–bullying. She is also the art editor of On The Issues magazine and is represented by Flomenhaft Gallery in Manhattan.

For more information on Stein and her work, visit www.lindastein.com and www.haveartwilltravel.org.

For more information on this and other exhibitions, contact the HUB-Robeson Galleries at (814) 865-0775 or visit www.studentaffairs.psu.edu/hub/artgalleries.