Beth E Scher @ artavita

Beth E Scher

Beth Scher’s work is deeply rooted in themes of femininity, feminism and the roles of women in the military theater. In travels to Israel, she became deeply sympathetic to the plight of women conscripted into military service. As a mother of a daughter of similar age, Scher related to them as a maternal nurturer, and saw them as a paradoxical enigma. These are young women in the prime of life, “girls” who are aware of and seek to display their sexuality and vulnerability, yet are also in a position of power, trained killers and placed in serious conflicts. She is concerned about what their plight can mean for women of the world. Ms. Scher graduated from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia with an MFA in Studio Art in December of 2013. Since then, she has appeared in many group shows and exhibitions in New York, Chicago, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia and Florida. She has been featured in the Arts and Culture Section of the July 23, 2014 issue of the Huffington Post and the October/November 2014 issue of Bust Magazine.

Portfolio:

Women and War Series

Artist Statement

Beth Scher
I am interested in themes of femininity, feminism and the roles of women in the military theater. I portray young women who intentionally seek to display their sexuality and vulnerability, yet are trained killers, in a position of power and placed in serious conflicts. I wonder what the consequences are in a society that must deal with this dichotomy.
The materials I utilize enabled me to integrate my vision of women and war with the way many feminist artists approached their work. Yarn woven through nails hammered into board is a technique I have discovered to be unique, yet suitable for the work I wish to create. The yarn is used to highlight portions of collaged images which I glue to the wood board, transforming the photograph into the generic soldier, no longer with distinct features. It also serves another function; unintended, yet certainly welcome. Feminist artists often utilized craft in their work to enhance their images, commenting on the status of “women’s work” and what had been thought of as acceptable pursuits for women in society. My own commentary that women soldiers must deal with a duality of self-image is reflected in the material of the yarn and its traditional connotation.

“Modern Soldier III”