Eckhaus Gallery in Kutztown opened an exhibit from the comics anthology, “The Big Feminist But,” which includes comics by Kutztown cartoonist and illustrator Joan Reilly.
The exhibit opened March 30 and runs through April 16. The opening reception is Saturday, April 8 from 6 to 8 p.m.
“I think this show brings a lot of themes into our community that we’re not usually exposed to … themes of feminism and sexuality and gender identity and vulnerability all told through a really accessible, interesting narrative from so many different people’s perspectives. That’s so valuable. That’s not something that I think we usually have in Kutztown,” said Olivia Knowles, one of four co-directors of Eckhaus Gallery, which is a Kutztown University student run art gallery.
Knowles is a KU senior majoring in painting with an art history minor. She is an illustrator working on becoming a comic artist.
“It’s a really unique show for us,” said Knowles. “I think this is really unique content that is here for a limited time. As a viewer, it’s widening your perspective a little bit on how people have learned about themselves through feminism, through a feminist lens also.
For people who haven’t been exposed to these themes, this is a really great easy, readable and very fun and personal way to get that information.”
“That is a good point about comics being a good entryway to feminism because it’s friendly and fun and funny and it doesn’t take itself too seriously,” said Reilly. “That was part of the impetus for the book.”
Originally published via Kickstarter and republished twice by Alternative Comics, the book “The Big Feminist But” was co-edited by Reilly and Shannon O’Leary, to address the misgivings about feminism.
“(Shannon) was hearing a lot of people talk about their misgivings about feminism and how they were not entirely comfortable using the word. It had a lot of negative connotations. Some people would say I’m not a feminist but we need to have better control over our healthcare or they would say I’m totally a feminist but I want to stay home and raise my kids and I don’t want people criticizing me for that,” said Reilly, noting the use of the word but in statements regarding feminism. “There’s a lot of complicated feelings about it.”
She said in 2009 when they started working on the book, feminism did not have this cool cache that it has now of rock stars calling themselves feminists.
“We do still need to be fighting for women’s rights in a big way,” she said. “I think the (exhibit) can raise awareness, that there are still issues and things that women are facing.”
Reilly hopes to inspire conversation and get people to share their perspectives.
“There’s no agenda,” she said. “There’s no anti-men agenda. It’s pretty simple at a basic level but it can get complicated if you start associating it with other things that you like or don’t like.”
Reilly curated the exhibit that includes comics by artists Gabrielle Bell, Jeffrey Brown, Vanessa Davis, Shaenon Garrity, Justin Hall, Shannon O’Leary, Sarah Oleksyk, Virginia Paine and Mark Pritchard, as well as her own comics.
“You get a feeling like you are really connecting with these artists,” said Knowles. “Each style is so different and there’s so much humor in these, too. You feel like you know each artist a little bit after reading their stories because a lot of them are personal and a lot of them are confessional which is great.”
“When I got recruited for this book project I wasn’t entirely comfortable talking about political stuff in my artwork. I always just did personal memoirs for the most part,” said Reilly. “But I came around to the idea that you can do personal stories that are also political.”
Reilly is still resistant to the idea of only doing political art or having that be her main goal.
“Also just providing some relief. I do these diary comics about adjusting to farm life and living in the country,” said Reilly.
She moved from Brooklyn to a 70-acre farm in Kutztown last year.
“I like art for art’s sake but even that can be a political statement because you’re making your voice heard,” she said. “Literally, just expressing yourself and your individuality and your voice is contributing something to society and making the world a better place.”
Eckhaus Gallery is located at 157 W. Main, Kutztown. Hours are Thursday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. Closed Monday through Wednesday. For more information, visit www.eckhausgallery.org.