Meet the Winners of the International Women’s Day Art Exhibition at Binghamton
Every March, the world honors the strength, creativity and determination of women on International Women’s Day. This year, Ƶ’s Kaschak Institute for Social Justice for Women and Girls, in collaboration with the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and , brought that spirit to life in a powerful art exhibit.
The International Women’s Day Art Exhibition was more than an event – it was a vibrant, moving celebration of womanhood, activism and creativity. Inspired by Maya Angelou’s iconic words, the exhibit unleashed all modes of art forms including writing, painting, animation, music and more, with the theme of being a “rainbow in someone’s cloud.”
Each artist approached the concept of women as representations of beauty, resiliency and hope through a uniquely personal lens. These pieces emphasized women who have battled for justice, triumphed over hardship and motivated others – often in subtle, invisible ways – whether through multimedia portraits or feminist film edits. The exhibition’s winners presented an astounding array of viewpoints:
Maggie McNeely
University Archivist Maggie McNeely won the Visual Arts category for her beautiful tribute to artist Howardena Pindell, “To Howardena, with love.” McNeely honors Pindell’s conversion of childhood suffering into artistic genius and cultural criticism by using punched paper cards and circles, which are a nod to Pindell’s distinctive style.
Ali Kiani
Music composition graduate student Ali Kiani won the Performing Arts prize for “Whispers Beneath the Burden.” This poignant work, which is divided into two movements and is based on a poem by Rumi, examines the resilience of regular mothers who quietly and gracefully bear the burden of society.
Autumn Jacobs
Autumn Jacobs, a student majoring in art history, won the Cinema category with the statement, “So much bullshit but we won’t give in.” Her video edit, set to Le Tigre’s iconic feminist anthem “Hot Topic,” honors female filmmakers and theorists who were studied in a class on feminist film theory, transforming scholarly inspiration into a call to action for empowerment and resistance.
Riley Thomas
TRiO/Upward Bound Assistant Director Riley Thomas won first place in Writing: Poetry and Prose for “We Are Girls Together,” a heartfelt two-part poem authored for their sisters and the power of sisterhood in riding life’s rainstorms on waves of laughter and love.
Claire Juergens
The Graphic Design award was presented to Claire Juergens for “Women, Power,” a colorful photo collage of trailblazing women throughout history—from Ida B. Wells to Susan B. Anthony—merged into a rainbow of strength across generations and cultures.
Samia Ahmed
Samia Ahmed, a PhD candidate in English from India, won the People’s Choice Award for her short story “OԲ,” set in war-torn Syria. Through Rosaleem’s journey, Samia paints a poignant portrait of women who become beacons of survival and hope, showing that even small acts of kindness can illuminate the darkest skies.
A tribute to our own campus community
In addition to the amazing pieces, the exhibition provided a forum for introspection, community building and remembrance. It paid tribute to Ellyn Uram Kaschak, the Institute’s namesake and a steadfast supporter of women’s rights. Remarks from University officials and a poignant video of Maya Angelou’s “Rainbow in the Cloud” served as a reminder to everyone present why occasions such as these are important.
Using art to motivate action, ignite dialogue, and elevate the voices of women and girls worldwide is the goal of the Women’s Day Art Exhibition. This event serves as a reminder to everyone, whether they are students, artists or just supporters of equity and creativity: you can be someone’s rainbow.
Benazir Paikan is a social media coordinator and webmaster assistant with Ƶ’s social justice-focused institutes for the Office of Media and Public Relations. She is a graduate student majoring in business administration with a concentration in marketing. She is interested in pursuing a career in marketing and communications. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading and watching movies.
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