Women’s and Gender Studies and the Institute for Research on Women and Gender host several art exhibitions each year in Lane Hall. The exhibits, broadly related to issues of women and gender, are available for public viewing Monday through Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm. Lane Hall is located at 204 S. State Street, Ann Arbor. Click here for a list of past exhibits.

March 5 - May 31, 2012

SuperWomen

The SuperWomen exhibit, owned by the Women’s Sports Foundation, features 40 original full-color photographs that celebrate the accomplishments, diversity, and beauty of female athletes. The images in the exhibit also appear in photographer Jodi Buren’s book, SuperWomen: 100 Women – 100 Sports (Bullfinch Press).

Billie Jean King, tennis champion and founder of the Women’s Sports Foundation, says of Buren’s subjects, “Each one defines winning on her own terms. These are women who have seized the opportunities they have been given. When there was no space for a female, they created one. They have taken risks. They’ve failed and flailed and found a way to get back up. Look into their eyes. Study their bodies and you will find maps of perseverance and determination. Allow yourself to be moved by both the incredible athletic achievements as well as the real stories of the women behind those achievements.”

Olympic medalists and hopefuls, competitors in the Special Olympics and Paralympics, nontraditional-sport athletes, college champions, and females participating in a wide range of sports are all included in the show. The exhibit features athletes who have name recognition in sports, as well as athletes who may not have a familiar public identity.

Individuals will see photography depicting the willpower that infused Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s performance at the 1996 Olympic Games; the confidence displayed by Janet Guthrie prior to the start of the Indianapolis 500 in 1977; and the perseverance of Rachael Scdoris, a top competitor in sled-dog racing who is legally blind.  Sarah Hughes, 2002 Olympic gold medalist in ladies singles figure skating, has an image in the show, and will be on campus May 9-11 as part of SHARP's Title IX at 40 conference.

This exhibition is hosted by the SHARP Center for Women and Girls, a collaboration between the University of Michigan and the Women's Sports Foundation. SHARP advances research and policy making to enhance the lives of women and girls through sport, play, and movement.

Click here for a list of past Lane Hall exhibits.