“Women hold up half the sky”

The artistic collaboration and resulting exhibition that will be Paper Dresses was inspired in part by Nicholas Kristof’s upcoming visit to MCLA. Half the Sky, co-written by Kristof and his wife, Sheryl WuDunn, chronicles their encounters with extraordinary women all over the globe, and their struggles with the many injustices that women endure in the modern world.

The authors state, “Hidden in the overlapping problems of sex trafficking and forced prostitution, gender-based violence, and maternal mortality is the single most vital opportunity of our time — and women are seizing it. From Somaliland to Cambodia to Afghanistan, women’s oppression is being confronted head on and real, meaningful solutions are being fashioned. Change is happening, and it’s happening now.”

The fact that such injustices are still taking place is appalling, but the change that the Half the Sky Movement and others are supporting is inspiring. PRESS and participating Paper Dresses artists hope that this exhibition will raise awareness and fuel the dialogue about the injustices against women, and the growing opportunities available to them. Through their artworks, the artists explore their own journeys as women, igniting discussions of motherhood, body image, and gender roles.

We hope you can make it to our final DownStreet Art exhibition of the season. We think it will be one of our best yet!