The upcoming November election, the Day of the Dead, and the 90th anniversary of U.S. women voting all converge with a shrine to suffragist Edna Buckman Kearns that will be on display from October 25 through November 14 in Silver City, New Mexico in the Silver City Day of the Dead Shrine Show. The exhibit, spread throughout Silver City in 14 businesses and galleries, showcases the shrines of 21 artists. The opening reception is Friday, October 29, 2010, 6-9 p.m. at the A-Space Studio Gallery, 110 West 7th Street. Exhibits fall into the categories of contemporary and traditional shrines. Many shrines are traditional, such as Chickie Beltran’s shrine honoring miners and Gloria Beltran’s shrine honoring the Apache.
“Five Generations and the Million Dollar Wagon” is an example of a contemporary shrine in the form of a 19-minute documentary honoring Edna Buckman Kearns who campaigned for woman’s suffrage. This shrine also acknowledges the thousands of American women who campaigned for the vote over a 70-year period, an effort which was launched in 1848 with the woman’s rights convention held in Seneca Falls, New York.
One Responses
Whether in Sante Fe, or New York, or wherever, on this eve of Election Day, let us women be in solidarity remembering the significance of the right to vote. From the origins of women’s rights and suffrage movement in Seneca Falls, NY in 1848 to the passage and ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920, SEVENTY-TWO long years passed – with women (and men!) fighting a valiant battle for political equality for American women. Only NINETY years have passed since THEN – not so long a time! – and, although we have achieved great gains in the world, we women still have far to go! As such, let us not be complacent and let us continue to promote the message of equality – in the political arena, in business, in academia, and in the home – everywhere. It is the responsibility of women (and the men who love us) to foster the attitude of equality with our children and future generations. Why not take a child to vote with you tomorrow?!!! Keep setting the example of the importance of being a citizen – and the glory of having the right to have a voice in our government – and teach this to our sons and daughters every chance we get. As my good friend Marguerite says: “Onward!”