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Exhibit makes statement on masculinity

By Beth Beavers

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Kris Ercums knew he would be using objects from the Spencer’s permanent collection in a new exhibition, but he didn’t know what that exhibit would be. But as Ecrums, creator and curator of the new xy exhibition at the Spencer Museum of Art, looked through the pieces in the collection he saw a continuing theme of masculinity. Ercums said the 98 pieces created the exhibition that asks the question, “What does it mean to be a man?”

“It’s not about answering the question,” Ercums said. “It’s about making an atmosphere of query.”

The exhibition, which is on display until Oct. 5, is split into two sections, which occupy separate rooms. The first section focuses on the physical things that form society’s ideas about masculinity, such as body, age and clothes. The second section focuses on how social identity is formed through the differing emotions of work, play and desire.

“When you curate you try to make relationships and views,” Ercums said. “You try to point out subjectivities that are specific to gender, time and culture.”

Ercums said the relationship between a painting of the circumcision of Christ and an engraving of a man buying his first suit showed how the different times and cultures affected what moments defined a man’s life.

photo

Photo by Tanner Grubbs

A bronze patina sculpture, "The Sluggard," by Frederic Leighton, stands foreground to a synopsis of the xy exhibition. The gallery, which explores the sense of the male gender, will be open until Oct. 5 at the Spencer Museum of Art.

Ryan Campbell, Olathe senior and men’s outreach coordinator for the Emily Taylor Women’s Resource Center, said the expectation of society for men to be macho and stoic kept them from connecting with each other.

“A lot of focus has been placed on femininity, and masculinity has been ignored,” Campbell said. “There is a need to bring it into focus.”

A clearer definition of masculinity is presented in the exhibition, but the changing definition of masculinity is presented as well.

The exhibition features different works from various time periods, locations and artists. It includes a sculpture from the Roman Imperial era, portraits from the 15th century, figure scrolls from the 18th century, medals, tools and casts. It also features photographs from Esquire magazine and a video from 2008.

John Younger, professor of classics and director of the women, gender and sexuality studies department, described outward masculinity as a costume men wear. He said the different images of masculinity in the exhibition showed how the idea of masculinity has changed over time. He used the example of an 18th century portrait of a man featured in the exhibition wearing a powdered wig and frilly outfit. He said it was not something our culture would view as being masculine, but at the time it was considered a sign of strength and power.

A gallery conversation with faculty members from the University, including Younger and Ercums, will be held at 6 p.m. Sept. 3 in the Kress Gallery in the Spencer Museum. It is free and open to the public.

“If you are constantly performing masculinity then it is always in jeopardy,” Younger said.

— —Edited by Megan Morriss

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