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In 2016 the just published GWP Book signified the culmination of a 10-year project celebrating influential women around the world and exhibited at the first Biennale Arte Dolomiti with a thematic limited edition print “WE ARE HER(E)” symbolizing as a metaphor the GWP having reached great heights.

I was invited by UC Berkeley to participate in their upcoming exhibition Generation, a juried show of alumni artists whose work addresses – practically or poetically – the extraordinary moment in which we find ourselves.

Held in the Dolomites of northern Italy, Biennale Arte Dolomiti is the first biennale situated at such an astounding height, 2116 meters above sea level. Through the wide array of art-media employed including painting, photography, prints, installation, video projection, dance, performance, music and architecture, Biennale Arte Dolomiti is a celebration of artistic and creative ideas, where 39 internationally renowned artists from 19 countries explore the themes of freedom, love and compassion juxtaposed against violence, annihilation and conflict. The various art-media used gives texture and dimension to this dynamic exchange.

On December 12th of this year a landmark event occurred in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Elections were held and for the first time in the country’s history, women not only voted, they were on the ballot, and 18 women won! This remarkable moment in history results from the very brave efforts of those who have spoken up for women’s equality. The highly spirited and passionate journalist, Nadine Al-Bedair, has been such an advocate throughout her journalistic career, despite hate mail and the like. Her portrait for the Global Women Project is now complete and in celebration of this earth rocking change in her native land we proudly present the portrait here. The image of Nadine, beautifully dressed in black lace stimulates conversation about women being covered, and lace is used as a metaphor in the portrait to open those questions.

It’s been a busy and exciting year following the exhibition last summer of our project in progress at ICASTICA: the first European International Women’s Art Biennale in Arezzo, Italy. ICASTICA was held simultaneously with the 2013 Venice Biennale. Two pieces from the Global Women Project are now part of the civic collection of the City of Arezzo shown at their Museum of Contemporary Art.

The Global Women Project is an evolving cycle of multi‑media portraits chronicling influential women from around the world and their commitment to social, political, and environmental change. I recently completed one more painting in my Global Women Project Series: Rossana that joins Soula Saad’s completed portrait.

ICASTICA, the film, is now available for viewing on IMDB. No password is necessary.

The video screen has the standard controls so the viewer can select full screen mode. There is also a quality tab that comes in view (upper right of video screen) when placing the cursor over the video screen. There are 3 choices: Standard, 480P, and 720P HD.  With our connection speed with wireless the 480P setting delivers a nice full screen image without any issues.

http://www.imdb.com/video/wab/vi3126569241/

PART ONE. Peter Frank’s insight into ICASTICA’s inaugural exhibition, Glocal Women. A cultural resurgence of the old Tuscan city (“local”) and the multicultural amalgam of women in art from around the world (“global”). Next week Peter explores the works of Jennifer White Kuri the artist behind Global Women Project, a work in progress of painted portraitures of influential women. Read More…

Jennifer first became fascinated with oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle, our next portrait subject in the Global Women Project, when she heard about her work in the Sargasso Sea (a sea without shores). Sylvia is trying to save the oceans and is focusing on one simple idea: protecting them. She has established a global network of marine-protected areas called ‘Hope Spots,’ “to save and restore…the blue heart of the planet.” The Sargasso Sea is much more than a starter kit for new coral reefs; “it could provide a road map for creating more protection elsewhere.”

The Global Women Project was interviewed in whitewall Magazine.

For more information about these topics visit The Daily Beast.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsmaker/women-in-the-world/

As we walk into 2011 lets put our mind forward transforming the world as we work to improve and transform ourselves.

With Great Respect to All,

Jennifer

For those of you in this world entering into this holiday time, enjoy and Feast with your Family.

Photos of works in progress before the show.

Jennifer is attending the 2010 Women’s Conference hosted and created by First Lady of California, Maria Shriver. Shriver has announced “A Women’s Nation,” as a new project that will look at “the status of America women.” She also produced “American Idealist: The Story of Sargent Shriver,” about her father who has Alzheimer’s Disease.

Jennifer will be attending two more intimate sessions with former First Lady Laura Bush and Deepak Chopra. Laura Bush has made advancement in the areas of education and literacy by establishing the semi-annual National Book Festival in 2001 and encouraged education on a worldwide scale. She also has advanced women’s causes with The Heart Truth campaign and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Chopra is a renowned author for mind and body health, quantum mechanics, spirituality, peace, and leadership. He founded the Chopra Center for well being. First Lady Michele Obama due to her recently scheduled trip to California will now be attending as a guest speaker as well.

By Peter Frank

Jennifer White Kuri is currently working on an evolving cycle of portraits of thirteen women, collectively titled the “Global Women” project. The subjects of the paintings are influential in their respective regions and professions. “Global Women” is a social as well as aesthetic undertaking that will portray these women with the objects and images that define their personalities and their professional and spiritual purposes while including references to the cultures that have nurtured them and in which they now operate.

Women from the city of West Hollywood recently celebrated “We’ve come a long way…maybe” Women’s Equality Day commemorating the the 90th anniversary of the US Women winning the right to vote in 1920. Betsy Johnson, member of the National Women’s Political Caucus , recently sent us this reminder…

Nadine is one of the first subjects of the Global Women Project painting series. She is the host of a popular TV show in the Middle East titled “Musawat” (“Equality”). She also works on women’s issues with journalists and politicians throughout the Middle East, Europe and the USA. These women are actively trying to change conditions around the world.

Nadine is passionate about her cultural heritage in many aspects. One that she shared during our interview was a cup of Arab coffee. Its unique Arabian flavor was paired with dates, cardamom, saffron, and clove. She labored over the coffee ritual in a process that was both artistic and beautiful. It was the best coffee I had ever tasted.

Happy Mother’s Day! The above painting came about after a Mother’s Day champagne brunch with my family. Returning to our home everyone retired for a nap. Still dressed up and nowhere else to go I began this self-portrait.