Susan Messer McBride was wiping clay off her hands when she began talking about feminism in the age of Donald Trump. In the past McBride, an artist and educator for decades, wasn’t very politically motivated. But that’s changed since the election.
The Chicago show was one of more than 40 that have taken place since January of this year—the first in New York City—with dozens more planned across the U.S. and Europe, according to the Nasty Women Exhibition website. (“Nasty Women” refers to the now infamous moment when Donald Trump called Hillary Clinton a “nasty woman” during a presidential debate in October 2016.) According to event organizers, more than 1,700 people attended; 350 women artists from 18 states and five countries, ranging in age from nine to 94, contributed works. All of the money made from sales, in addition to donations, will be sent to Planned Parenthood of Illinois. Organizers say they raised more than $30,000 that night.
It was the community of women activists and artists who were on Tyler’s mind before she took the mike. “You know, Donald Trump called Hillary Clinton nasty, and it was kind of in reference to all women,” Tyler said. “So we’re here today to represent every nasty woman across America. I know I’m nasty at what I do. We look at it as a means of being dope, at being great at what you do, so I’m just here to give it my all.”
“I want to teach my son to respect women,” Panmunee said. “I want my son to look at women in a different way than our president looks at women.” v
