Divine Wisdom: Femme Alchemy Through Contemporary Art and Performance

Divine Wisdom: Femme Alchemy through Contemporary Art and Performance is an exhibition about the cultivation of feminine knowledge and power through the exploration of identity, meditation and art. Samara Furlong brings together five artists to create a celebration of feminine knowledge and occult practices with an expansive conception of femme energy: Shaina Kasztelan, Sara Nickleson, Olivia Guterson, Dawn Marie Smith, and Sedona Cohen. Partnering with women led enterprises from the Detroit area including performance artists, Supernatural Lingerie, and floral art by Four Leaf Clover Studios, this exhibition honors women claiming space for themselves and each other. Each of the artists in this exhibition explores the role of woman as creator, her unique capacity for sharing personal stories, and her ability to explore the mystical and reveal feminine knowledge hiding in plain sight. Shaina Kasztelan’s work might initially appear colorful and sweet, but it contains darker undertones and commentary on consumerism. Sara Nickleson’s work is a process of world building that is rooted in her studies of melancholia and consciousness, with care given to the fracturing of our natural environment. Olivia Guterson’s work considers the idea of displacement and her complex Jewish-African identity, incorporating inspiration from her ancestors and significant objects such as her hairbrushes and afro picks. Dawn Marie Smith understands her works to be incantations, a means of communicating with the collective consciousness and exploring the experience of grief. Sedona Cohen uses her painting as a meditation that channels subtle energies, and the study of electricity, rebirth, healing, and spirituality mapped through dynamic symmetry. As curator, Samara Furlong, wants us to consider how feminine power can be inculcated through art, meditation, sexuality, psychedelics, and other experiences. These five artists channel energy and knowledge through their artistic processes into work that creates conversation and community. They are speaking to the collective consciousness and creating a space for growth and healing. Artmaking for these women is an alchemical process — a means for transforming the world around them and us. Divine Wisdom: Contemporary Expressions of Femme Alchemy exhibition will take place February 16, 2024, from 6-9 PM at Jam Handy. 2900 E Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI 48202. The space will be open from 1-4 PM on Saturday, February 17th for an artist talk and additional viewing. The exhibition is further enlivened with scheduled activations by lingerie clad tattoo models, aerial silks by Dari Blythe, a unique piano and vocal experience from Vanessa Cuccia, founder of Chakrubs, a DJ set by Petra Steele, Co-Founder of FemmeDom Detroit, and a Suzy Poling light installation.