UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 21, Page 6
February 27, 1992
Up and coming

Cave remembers women in a special, intimate way
     To enter "The Remembering Cave: Images of Women" is to
experience women's history since the beginning of civilization in
a unique and intimate way. This creation of art graduate students
Mary Ann Bucklin and Alyn Fenn-an exhibition celebrating Women's
History Month-is located in the Commons Room on the first floor of
Recitation Hall. "The Remembering Cave" will be open from 9
a.m.-4:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, March 1-27.
     A cave-like setting was chosen for the exhibition, according
to Fenn, to represent the womb and because of the role caves have
played in rituals in various world civilizations.
     The cave walls are reddish earth tones, painted with figures,
symbols or quotations of women, from mythical goddesses of
antiquity (such as the Egyptian goddess Isis) to modern women from
Eastern and Western civilizations.
     Soujourner Truth is represented by a quotation, "The worth of
a race must be measured by the character of its womanhood." Korean
Queen Sonduk, who reigned from 632-647 A.D. and is known for
encouraging education and trying to improve the life of ordinary
citizens, is symbolized by peonies, representing a legend about her
life. The Aztec goddess of healing is portrayed as a salute to all
women involved in health and medicine.
     There are two niches in the cave. One commemorates all unknown
women of achievement the other symbolizes the oppression women have
experienced throughout history.
     Accompanying the visual exhibition will be continuous music by
women performers, such as American blues singer Bessie Smith, and
poetry readings from the works of such writers as American Sonia
Sanchez and Huang O of China.
     Fenn, a graduate of the University of the Arts in
Philadelphia, and Bucklin, a graduate of the Pennsylvania Academy
of Fine Arts, have carried out research about the women they are
honoring. It was a revealing experience for them to learn about
women's sung and unsung accomplishments, they said.
     They have written brief biographies of the women portrayed in
the cave to accompany the exhibition and are assembling a
bibliography of their sources.
     Bucklin and Fenn share a studio at the University as well as
an interest in women's issues. One day, when they were discussing
future projects, Fenn, who had been doing paintings of urn-shaped
vessels, mentioned she would like to create a large, open vessel
into which a person could walk, using a chicken wire frame covered
with papier-mache. Bucklin was contemplating making figures using
the same materials. The concept of the remembering cave grew from
this initial exchange. The two artists received approval to use the
Commons Room from the art department for the exhibition.
     "As the project grew, we decided we needed support to buy the
materials. We contacted Donna Tuites at the Office of Women's
Affairs, who was interested in the project and suggested linking
the project to Women's History Month," Fenn said.
     In addition to the Office of Women's Affairs, the Department
of Housing and Residence Life, the Department of History, the
Commission to Promote Racial and Cultural Diversity and the Center
for Black Culture contributed to the project.
     The creation of the cave has been exciting for the two
artists. "It's been a trip," Fenn said, " and it's still going on.
As we researched the lives of women, many of whom we had never
heard of, it breathed life into women's history and reenforced my
values."
     "Learning about women and their contributions has been an
empowering experience," Bucklin agreed.
     An artists' reception is scheduled from 4:30-7 p.m., Tuesday,
March 3.
                                        - Sue Swyers Moncure

Wind quintet, piano in Loudis Tuesday
     A free recital featuring the Del'Arte Wind Quintet with
Christine Delbeau on piano will be presented at 8 p.m., Tuesday,
March 3, in the Loudis Recital Hall of the Amy E. du Pont Music
Building.
     The program includes Sextet for Woodwind Quintet and Piano by
Ludwig Thuille, Quintet II by Alvin Etler, Variation sur un Theme
Corse by Henri Tomasi, and Suite, Op. 57 by Charles Lefebvre.
     Members of the Del'Arte Wind Quintet are Eileen Grycky, flute;
Lloyd Shorter, oboe; Charles Salinger, clarinet; Holly Blake,
bassoon; and Cynthia Carr, horn.

Field House game marks end of era
     On Wednesday, March 4, the final regular season basketball
games will be played by both the men's and women's teams in
Delaware Field House. The women will host George Mason University
at 5:45 p.m. The men will play Drexel University at 8 p.m.
     President David P. Roselle has invited all the men's and
women's basketball team participants associated with Delaware Field
House's 25-year basketball-playing history to attend a pre-game
reception and buffet.
     Special ceremonies will be held at the start and halftime of
both the men's and women's games.