2014 Juried Student Show Winner
Christina Nurczynski’14
My work explores the female and male genders in an attempt to better understand myself and those around me. From a child, I remember wanting to be a boy, not because I felt like I was in the wrong sex, but because being a male was just better. Boys got to use the more valuable and fun adjectives like strong, brave, ambitious, assertive, and got to keep their last name. Girls on the other hand are to be ladylike, helpful, clean, kind, which always seemed lackluster. My parents did not discriminate. My two older brothers and younger sister would all wash dishes, bring out trash, fold clothes, stack and chop wood and so on. But as I have gotten older it feels as if I and everyone else are expected to fit into the box feminine or masculine. There is such an enormous burden placed upon men and women alike. Men, you better provide money, food, security, attention and strength without ever showing doubt or weakness. Anything remotely related to the actions of a woman is grounds for weakness. Women, you are not quite beautiful, you are a constant project to be worked. But if she is assertive, she’s bitch. To be strong, she’s intimidating and all of it is reinforced by media, especially social media sites. I want my viewers to think about these issues, I want them to empathize, relate and talk about what they see and feel. We are all insecure to a degree and I would like my audience to feel empowered to talk about gender and sex. I want my work to make us feel more compassion and understanding for the each other and our burdens. I want women to feel like it’s positive to spend less time dressing up and painting face and instead pursue their talents. I want men to feel like it’s ok to be a nurturer, to love and express. It’s when expectations disappear that the unexpected may surprise us.
Exhibition on display in the lobby of the Gannett-Tripp Library, Elmira College, Elmira, NY from March 1 - April 4, 2014.
Christina Nurczynski’14
My work explores the female and male genders in an attempt to better understand myself and those around me. From a child, I remember wanting to be a boy, not because I felt like I was in the wrong sex, but because being a male was just better. Boys got to use the more valuable and fun adjectives like strong, brave, ambitious, assertive, and got to keep their last name. Girls on the other hand are to be ladylike, helpful, clean, kind, which always seemed lackluster. My parents did not discriminate. My two older brothers and younger sister would all wash dishes, bring out trash, fold clothes, stack and chop wood and so on. But as I have gotten older it feels as if I and everyone else are expected to fit into the box feminine or masculine. There is such an enormous burden placed upon men and women alike. Men, you better provide money, food, security, attention and strength without ever showing doubt or weakness. Anything remotely related to the actions of a woman is grounds for weakness. Women, you are not quite beautiful, you are a constant project to be worked. But if she is assertive, she’s bitch. To be strong, she’s intimidating and all of it is reinforced by media, especially social media sites. I want my viewers to think about these issues, I want them to empathize, relate and talk about what they see and feel. We are all insecure to a degree and I would like my audience to feel empowered to talk about gender and sex. I want my work to make us feel more compassion and understanding for the each other and our burdens. I want women to feel like it’s positive to spend less time dressing up and painting face and instead pursue their talents. I want men to feel like it’s ok to be a nurturer, to love and express. It’s when expectations disappear that the unexpected may surprise us.
Exhibition on display in the lobby of the Gannett-Tripp Library, Elmira College, Elmira, NY from March 1 - April 4, 2014.