March is Women’s History Month, and our current exhibition Light in Transmission (LIT) features several women artists from the She Bends group. This organization is the first and only collective of womxn bending their own neon. She Bends aims to create a community of support and inclusion for their artists while they strive for diversity and challenge the artistic norms associated with the medium of neon. LIT includes works from Sarah Blood, Eve Hoyt, Danielle James, Leticia Maldonado, Harriet Schwarzrock, and Megan Stelljes--all members of She Bends.

To celebrate Women’s History Month and explore the achievements and obstacles of women artists, we are hosting a virtual panel with She Bends founder and artist Meryl Pataky. Meryl created this group in order to support womxn in the neon industry and promote representation in the iconic art form that has become interwoven into our modern lives. This event will provide an opportunity to engage with She Bends and learn about their unique work and perspectives in a male-dominated field. By fostering this dialogue, we hope to spotlight this accomplished collective of womxn artists and their stories.

This virtual event will take place on Friday, March 26 at 6pm EDT and will include a neon bending demonstration as well as information about She Bends, a history of women in neon, and a showcase of artists currently in their studio. The event will be open to the public and does not require any knowledge about glass to join. Neon lovers of all ages welcome! Join on Facebook Live

Pictured Above: Danielle James “DJ”, Eve Hoyt and Megan Stelljes