Eyeing Medusa
encaustic paintings • videos • workshops • bio & artist statement • food for thought
Amanta Scott: Eyeing Medusa at Orillia Museum of Art & History, 2023
“ OMAH has Amanta Scott’s really terrific exhibit of 36 portraits of notable women, Eyeing Medusa.”
Rape of Proserpina, Bernini
“Is that what’s going to happen to me too, when I grow up?”
Eyes wide, brimming with tears, a little girl turns to me in a gallery, confronted with centuries of artworks depicting women in every form of violation and abuse.
Triggered, I reply:
"No. Not if I have anything to do with it.
That happened to me but I won’t let it happen to you.”
Changing narratives, my work looks at women in a new light.
Celebrating outstanding women of all ages, cultures and walks of life, making a difference in the world today— EYEING MEDUSA encompasses: encaustic paintings, videos and workshops; with optional interactive sculpture installations.
I paint faces, recognizable yet abstracted, closeup: so we look into the eyes without distractions. By avoiding everything typically used to objectify women, I aim to show what remarkable people they are.
Each painting’s title and story parallels a legendary heroine with a contemporary woman— one I see as drawing down the strength and resilience of a powerful archetype. On my website, clicking on each of the paintings listed takes you to a detailed webpage illuminated with relevant historical masterpieces linking to galleries worldwide. Through stories and imagery, each webpage juxtaposes an ancient heroine with a remarkable woman shaping our world today; and provides an array of community resources, help lines, references, and interesting videos. For exhibitions, this information is available via QR codes on art labels.
The project is named for Medusa, the archetypal wronged woman of Greek mythology. Torn from her spiritual path, raped, blamed, banished and ultimately beheaded— Medusa’s story echoes that of countless women throughout history. While her monstrous rage and debilitating grief petrifies all who look upon her, viewing Medusa is possible via mirror. Eyeing this ancient wild/wise woman requires facing our own fears, culpability and difficult questions— so we may recognize and stop perpetuating toxic beliefs and behaviours.
observations
Women have been depicted throughout history in a tremendous range of styles of painting, sculpture, music, theatre, literature and film. What most intrigues me is the quantity of works depicting women from a perspective that is fundamentally harmful to women. Women are portrayed endlessly as victims of rape and voyeurism, or as dishonourable, miserable or shrewish.
So few have explored the resilience, kindness, intelligence, strength and wit of women.
This is what we need to see today.
This is what Eyeing Medusa offers.
Portrait of Jane Goodall — pictured with Artist, Amanta Scott, in private collection, Toronto
In the section linked below you will find a survey of women depicted in the arts throughout history. It is quite intriguing. Works are organized thematically rather than by date or by artist. It is still a work in progress as this is rather a huge undertaking — I welcome suggestions and contributions to make it more complete. The aim here is to cultivate conversation and awareness.
Accompanying the exhibition I offer workshops exploring the collections in art galleries and museums, examining how we currently see women, and what that makes us feel. For more information click the Workshops link below.
Eyeing Medusa has been made possible thanks to the generous support of a Mid-Career Artist Grant from the Ontario Arts Council.
