In the past few weeks, walking into the student lounge to play a game of pool you may have been surprised to see a bunch of bras hanging against the wall. The bras, ranging in size, shape and color, were put up as part of an exhibit entitled “Images of Women” which aims to raise awareness and celebrate womanhood. The exhibit consists of a laundry line from which hang works of art, poetry, personal reflections and bras replete with statistics about sexual abuse, eating disorders and genital mutilation. “Images of Women” invites its audience to add their own contributions and comments.

The installation features a range of images, from the beautiful to the grotesque: world-renowned works of art are coupled with student-art from Macalester and poems celebrating women hang next to facts concerning women’s degradation in society. Some of the contributors pay tribute to close friends whom they view as inspiring. Others, such as Cassandra Hartblay ’06, tackle global issues. Hartblay’s painting of a girl considering an abortion via the coat-hanger in her hand is central to the exhibit. Hartblay writes that she wanted to approach this serious subject “in a mocking, tongue-in-cheek manner” to create “shock-value” for the viewer similar to that experienced by women facing this decision.

Not far from this unsettling painting, Brooke Eskilson ’06 displays the poem “In Celebration of My Uterus” by Anne Sexton, a poem expressing women’s sexuality in a positive manner. In her personal statement, she writes about women as creators in both a biological and artistic sense. With this diverse array of words and images, the exhibition both celebrates women while raising concerns.

And what about those bras? Are they just a colorful attention-grabber? Hannah Popish ’06, head orchestrator of the installation, explains that, while the bras are partly there for a visual effect, more can be discerned from their presence than just ‘decoration.’

The bras are paired with quotes about abuse, body image and the objectification of women, while the bras themselves can be seen as a visual evidence of that very same objectification of women. Furthermore, the bras come in all shapes, sizes and styles representing the diverse range of women presented by this exhibit.

Images, such as the bras (shocking!), have sparked controversy. The hot debate can be followed on the student response sheet on the door facing the lounge’s entrance. One anonymous student raises the concern that women are overly sexualized in society. Included in this claim is the complaint that “Images of Women” only serves to reinforce this societal stigma with its use of bras, quotes about sexual abuse and images of sexual pain.

At first glance, the images that stick out most are those of a sexual nature, namely the bras and the painting about abortion; more careful observation reveals balanced images and thoughts about women, including a positive side to the art displayed.

Popish responded to this unfavorable comment by writing “Add to it!” reminding us that this is an open exhibit, meant to spawn discussion and growth.

Another mysterious Macalester student has scrawled “Boys Are Special Too!” on the comment board. While some of the women responsible for the exhibit laugh at this comment, others have been thoroughly offended. One such student wrote back on the comment-board: “You’re a privileged sex. Stop whining!”

When asked what she thought about all this controversy, Popish replied, “I’m just glad that it’s making people percolate.” Art should spawn discussion and start a little controversy: if people are talking about and responding to this exhibit, it has succeeded in its purpose.