Exhibit on Costa Rican women at Dartmouth

Posted 04/12/01

For the first time in the United States, the paintings of renowned Costa Rican artist Patricia Erickson are on display at the Hopkins Center Faculty Lounge in conjunction with Sexual Assault Awareness Week, April 20-29.

Erickson provocatively captures the struggles and triumphs of Costa Rican women through her vibrantly-colored and larger-than-life paintings. Her bold artwork will be shown in a unique exhibit, "Making Their Own Way: The Struggles and Triumphs of Costa Rican Women."

This exhibit educates the community through spoken and visual media about sexual awareness issues in a developing Central American country. A student-produced documentary, "Making Their Own Way: The Struggles and Triumphs of Costa Rican Women," is being shown at the exhibition. Peter Bastian '98 filmed segments about Erickson and Gail Nystrom, Director of the Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation, and included two case examples of women in Costa Rica whose lives have improved through their involvement with the foundation. Erickson opened the exhibition personally and shared stories behind each painting.

As well as being founder of several women's groups in Costa Rica that foster self-reliance and empowerment for abused women, Nystrom has written six books, several of which address women's issues.

Erickson's paintings will be on sale during the exhibition. All proceeds from the sale of these works will directly benefit the Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation and its women's groups. Major funding for this event has been provided by The Bildner Foundation, The Dickey Center for International Understanding, The Women's Resource Center and The McSpadden Public Issues Forum.

Exhibition hours
April 21-29, open every day from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., and 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of paintings will go to the Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation.

The Hopkins Center of Performing Art is located on Wheelock Street opposite the green in Hanover, N.H. The Faculty Lounge is locate inside the Hopkins Center on the second floor. Admission is free and open to the public. Viewing hours for the paintings will be from April 21-29, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. every day. People interested in acquiring Erickson's work should contact Peter Bastian (603) 646-6182 or e-mail Rachel Meltzer.