[328] UNIQUE HELMET EXHIBIT AT MTSU TACKLES ‘FEMINIST VIEWS OF THE SELF’

UNIQUE HELMET EXHIBIT AT MTSU TACKLES ‘FEMINIST VIEWS OF THE SELF’
Class Project Lets 88 Artists Illustrate the Ways ‘They Have a Story’

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 14, 2008
EDITORIAL CONTACTS: Riki-Lynne Spence, rls3u@mtsu.edu
Gina E. Fann, 615-898-5385 or gfann@mtsu.edu

(MURFREESBORO)—Riki-Lynne Spence is proud of her womanhood and wants to make sure other females feel the same.
What started out as a class project for the senior psychology major will come to full fruition on Tuesday, March 18, when “They Have a Story: Feminist Views of the Self” opens in Dining Room C of the James Union Building on the MTSU campus.
“They Have a Story” is a unique exhibit designed to celebrate the female gender. The display consists of 88 football helmets, each designed and decorated by a different female ranging in age from eight to 82 years old. Spence is proud of the exhibit, but said she’s still surprised that it evolved as it did.
“It started out as a creative project for my Honors Interdisciplinary Seminar with Dr. (Ron) Kates,” Spence said. “I had done other things in the past, but he told me it was time to try something a bit bigger.”
Spence describes the display as a collaborative effort between herself and two classmates, Allison Cummings and Michelle Francescon.
Each football helmet in the exhibit features words or drawings that “display what’s great about being female.” The irony of highlighting femininity on a traditional symbol of masculinity is not lost on Spence. Rather, it is part of the project’s appeal.
“By juxtaposing feminine images on football helmets, I think it makes a statement,” Spence said. “It’s really about the power of being a woman and embracing being female.”
Obtaining the helmets was initially difficult, with a mixture of donations from local high schools and purchases on eBay yielding about 40 pieces of headgear. The three young women eventually tracked down several more, however, and the wheels were soon set in motion.
Eschewing many of the typical connotations of feminism, Spence insists that the idea is one rooted in positivity.
“It is about (a woman) feeling blessed about her femininity and not feeling depressed, cheated, less of a person or bitter about it, and encouraging others to embrace themselves as well,” Spence said.
The eye-catching exhibit will be on display in the James Union Building for the rest of the month, as part of MTSU’s celebration of Women’s History Month.
“It’s a really cool display, and a true celebration of the female,” Spence said.
For more information, contact Spence at 615-489-5226 or rls3u@mtsu.edu.

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‘THEY HAVE A STORY’
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IN BRIEF: A class project for an MTSU senior psychology major will come to full fruition on Tuesday, March 18, when a unique exhibit, “They Have a Story: Feminist Views of the Self,” opens in Dining Room C of the James Union Building on the MTSU campus. “They Have a Story,” created to celebrate the female gender, consists of 88 football helmets, each designed and decorated by a different female ranging in age from eight to 82 years old. “By juxtaposing feminine images on football helmets, I think it makes a statement,” said senior Riki-Lynne Spence. “It’s really about the power of being a woman and embracing being female.” The eye-catching exhibit will be on display in the James Union Building for the rest of the month, as part of MTSU’s celebration of Women’s History Month. For more information, contact Spence at 615-489-5226 or rls3u@mtsu.edu.


For MTSU news and information, visit www.mtsunews.com.

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ATTENTION, MEDIA: To arrange photos at the exhibit on opening day, please contact Gina E. Fann in the Office of News and Public Affairs via e-mail at gfann@mtsu.edu or by calling 615-898-5385.

Also, this release was written by Casey Brown, a senior majoring in journalism at MTSU. We request your use of his byline if you use the release in its entirety.


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