“Unfinished Business” at the Newport Art Museum includes 40 works by female-identifying artists, depicting a full range of media and artistic intent, from angst to protest, concern for the environment, empathy and reverie. Exhibited on several floors of the museum’s John N. A. Griswold House, designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt and completed in 1864, the artwork both resonates and contrasts with the building’s soaring ceilings and heavily carved wooden interior.
The exhibit title is a quote from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who stated: “the rights of women and girls is the unfinished business of the 21th century.” Curator Francine Weiss’ mission with this exhibit is “to share a diversity of art and experiences that spark reflection, inspiration, discovery and connections within our Newport community and beyond.” Weiss is responsible for the acquisition of 31 of the exhibition’s works on display.
She discovered “Self Portrait Watching the Soaps,” a black-and-white print by Judy Gelles, in the museum’s stored collection. On display in the Blue Room gallery, it shows the artist on the floor of her living room, with a snack in her hand gazing at a soap opera on the television. Beneath the image, Gelles wrote, “On Tuesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons Jason is at Nursery School and David naps and I have one- and one-half hours of free time to be creative and do important things.”
This note-to-self sums up the decisions nearly all woman artists make. The time, materials, studio space and exclusion of others required to create artwork is a big ask. Every woman in this exhibit passed through this tunnel to make their inner truth visible to others.
When you enter the museum, you are greeted by a mobile of painted coat hangers cabled into a globe above the foyer desk. “Hangling,” created by Lisa Barthelson for the 2016 exhibition, “Domestic Affairs,” was acquired in 2018. It is concurrently whimsical and poignant as a visual overture to “Unfinished Business” which starts in the Wright Gallery on the first floor.