Join us for a closing reception and panel discussion led by the exhibit curator Silas Fransen with artists Cheryl D. Edwards, Marie Guagenti, Britnee Scott, and Angela Hiebert.

About the Exhibition:

Fountain of Truth

Curated by Silas Fransen

Historically, men have controlled the narrative of what it has meant for a woman to age. During the Renaissance in Europe, a woman’s virtue became tied to her appearing youthful. In turn, older women became synonymous with sin. This created a history of a woman’s value and virtue being directly linked to her age. To this day, women are told how to age, how to feel about aging, and what products they need to buy to “stop” it. Fountain of Truth challenges this norm by asking women artists to define their relationship with aging in their own words and art.

Five Artists from the greater Washington, DC area have come together to share their experiences with aging through their art work. Because women artists’ voices are often suppressed, this exhibition uses their artist statements to describe their work. In hearing their voices, you will begin to appreciate the wide range of experiences and perspectives that these artists have on aging. Each artist reflects on such deep and profound themes as redefining beauty, journeys of self discovery, and the importance of nurturing your inner child. The exhibit also reflects on how race shapes the ways in which a person experiences aging. A unifying theme throughout all of the works is a reminder to free ourselves from outside expectations and to look within for inspiration.

Aging is a deeply personal experience that affects people throughout every stage of life. For this reason, Fountain of Truth is an intergenerational conversation about aging. The artists here have found that age fosters wisdom, and wisdom fosters self love and respect. Throughout history, women have been taught to fear aging because it propels them into irrelevance, when in fact, they become more powerful. Fountain of Truth gives a platform to women artists to share how they navigate the complex feelings, ideas, and misconceptions about aging through their work.