"Hard Femme" art exhibit to examine gender issues

"Hard femme is femme’s iron-pumpin', boot-wearin', always sneerin' cousin," says Miranda Sharp, curator of the exhibit. "Hard femme is tough, DIY, takin' care of business, down 'n dirty and no-bullshit. Hard femme draws elements from both traditionally masculine and feminine traits and creates an intimidating, hard edged, boundless identity that a lot of folks find they've identified with for a long time without ever having a name for it. Hard femme talks shit on The Man purely by existing. Hard femme is studs, boots, leather, glitter and a big ass middle finger."

"The show is named 'Hard Femme' because it is a phrase that has become the name for an identity that weaves feminine and masculine traits," shares Sharp.

"The goal of this exhibit is to open up a dialogue about gender expression," she says. "The exhibit deals with the questions of how narrow gender norms affect us, why feminine doesn't mean anti-feminist, and how open gender expression would benefit everyone be they women, men or anywhere in between."

The artwork will question, explore and discuss gender issues in different ways. Artwork displayed will include sculpture, photography and painting. Kawaii, the cute aesthetic in Japanese popular culture, will also be represented. Some international artists are involved, including Mel Stringer from Australia. Both male and female artists are participating in the show.

Sharp was inspired by the Hard Femme lifestyle to curate this exhibit.

"The exhibit was inspired by the blogs "Fuck Yeah Hard Femme" and "Fuck Yeah Subversive Kawaii" that depict people who live the Hard Femme lifestyle," says Sharp. "It was also inspired by all of the amazing femme artists I know!"

"Not to be mistaken with the typical femme,” says the Urban Dictionary, the Hard Femme persona “describes herself as ‘queer’, is political, looks more feminine than masculine, and if prompted, can kick some serious ass. She doesn't need to ‘wear the pants’ in a relationship. The hard femme rules with a dress. She not only despises the gender binary, she works to dismantle it."

Sharp hopes that this exhibit will change some ideas about femininity and masculinity in the community.

"Hopefully this exhibit will help the Grand Rapids community to stop correlating weakness with femininity," she says. "It will show them that strength can be glittery and covered in makeup."