The International Museum of Women Curates First Exhibit: Celebrating Women All Over the World, A Comparison of 17 Contemporary Festivals from Five Continents.

SAN FRANCISCO -- A Sense-Rich Exhibit of Festivals, Ceremonies and Competitions Honoring Women

The International Museum of Women (IMOW), a world-class cultural and educational institution dedicated to honoring the lives of women worldwide, will present its first curated exhibit, Celebrating Women All Over The World, from October 4 through December 17, 2004 at ONE Market, Concourse Lobby, San Francisco. Free to the public, Celebrating Women presents a sense-rich introduction to festivals, ceremonies and competitions that honor women's attributes, accomplishments, roles and spiritual lives.

The exhibit features stunning photography, costumes, artifacts, educational programs, live performances and compelling first-person accounts of 17 celebrations from Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Finland, French West Indies, India, Morocco, Peru, Poland, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, and the U.S. Based on the book Celebrating Women (powerHouse Books, October 2004) by acclaimed photojournalist Paola Gianturco, the exhibit combines innovative displays, technology, color and light to recreate a festival atmosphere while enhancing understanding of each culture.

"This exhibit offers a provocative glimpse into the many ways that the feminine identity is created and celebrated in cultures throughout the world," said Anne Balsamo, curator. "I was amazed to see the similarities in festivals and ceremonies, even as they celebrate very different aspects of the female in society. For example, although the festivals differ dramatically, the United States' Miss America competition and Brazil's Festa Da Nossa Senhora Da Boa Morte both extol the clever use of women's resources for the greater good."

The festivals featured in Celebrating Women are colorful, provocative and diverse. Some honor women as defenders, seductresses and warriors, while others praise women as the sources of wisdom, health and nourishment. The exhibit articulates how cultures deem different attributes laudable and offer insight into how women's roles are defined by community and their identities are informed by tradition.

"IMOW is proud to be the first to present a public exhibit about festivals all over the world that celebrate women," said IMOW President Chris Yelton. "We know that visitors will be inspired, intrigued and challenged by the varied perspectives presented and the multitude of ways that women are celebrated and valued around the world."

All royalties from sales of the book Celebrating Women will benefit IMOW. Photos are available.

Dates: October 4 - December 17, 2004

Location: ONE Market, Concourse Lobby -- San Francisco, CA

Admission: Free

Exhibit Open: 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday - Friday

Performances: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. every Wednesday

Family Days: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. the second Saturday of each month

Featured Festivals

    Celebrating Women As:

    Virgins       Umhlanga, Swaziland

    Flirts        Rudolfina Redoute, Austria

    Providers     Festividad de la Virgen de Candelaria, Peru and la
                  Virgen de Urkupina, Bolivia

    Magical       Noc aewietojanska, Poland

    Warriors      Durga Puja and Kali Puja, India

    Nourishers    Fete des Cuisinieres, French West Indies

    Fun-Loving    Eukokannon, Finland

    Kind          Sankta Lucia, Sweden

    Brave         Thao Suranari Festival, Thailand

    Protectors    Mazu Festival, China

    Political     Festa da Nossa Senhora da Boa Morte, Brazil

    Healers       Romeria de Santa Marta, Spain

    Initiators    Moussem of Imilchil, Morocco

    Powerful      Ka Pomblang Nongkrem, India

    Ideal         Miss America Competition, United States

Schedule of Events

Performances: Every Wednesday at 12 noon, Celebrating Women presents free live performances and demonstrations focusing on a different country and its festivals. The dates are as follows:

12:00 p.m. Wednesdays -- 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10, 11/17, 11/24, 12/1, 12/8 and 12/15.

Family Days: Family Days, held on the second Saturday of each month from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., will offer educational programs, activities, special performances and demonstrations. The dates are as follows:

11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Saturdays -- 10/9, 11/13 and 12/11.

About the International Museum of Women

The International Museum of Women is a world-class cultural and educational institution dedicated to honoring the lives of women worldwide. It plans to open in 2008 at Pier 26 in San Francisco. Founded in 1985, IMOW produces exhibits, educational programs and community events that engage people of all ages -- provoking them to question the status quo through an examination of individual identity, cultural structures and social order. IMOW's mission is to value the lives of women around the world.

For more information, visit www.imow.org.