M A G A Z I N E

14
Nancy Worthington –
Assembling a New Reality
By Angela Romeo
What happens after your art is banned, criticized
for its political content yet foreshadows
the work of current assemblage artists? You
move to the Coachella Valley.
Nancy Worthington received her B.A. in Fine Arts from
James Madison University. In 1972 she was the first woman
to graduate with an M.F.A. in sculpture from the College of
Arts and Architecture at Pennsylvania State. Nancy went
on to create work as a vehicle for social change.
Created from the remnants of the consumer driven age,
Nancy rearranges the ordinary into art that challenges the
political and social mores. Her art requires that the observer
do more than glance – the observe must surrender
to the sublime, flow with the ridiculous and jump into the
obvious. There is no half way.
Nancy Worthington
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Nancy came to art on the heels of the 60’s Women’s
Movement, the political world of Viet Nam, and Watergate
and the nascent beginning of Title IX. Her work is not the
stuff of wide-eyed innocents or pretty maids all in a row.
Nancy creates mixed-media pieces, videos, collage and
assemblage that defy. Whether tackling women’s rights,
defending the demoted status of Pluto or questioning the
leader ship of US presidents, Nancy remains steadfastly
unapologetic.
Nancy’s work is social commentary through art, challenging
what she sees as the destructive side of civilization. She
focuses on the inconsistencies that live in dysfunctional
world of “truisms.” “We accept the statement of equal
pay for equal job,” but as Nancy is quick to point out, “ the
words and realities are quite different.”
Created at the beginning of the US led invasion of Iraq,
What Crossing-Where? is probably Nancy's most infamous
piece. The mixed media piece parodies two U.S. presidents
George Washington and George "Dubya" Bush. The sculpture
depicts a befuddled-looking President Bush crossing
the Delaware River. He is surrounded by the likes of Vice
President Dick Cheney who is adorned with a clown's nose.
How did it feel to be censored? "A little surprised a first. I
was asked me to replace the work with something ‘pretty.’
I refused to censor my own work. So--the world found
out via the N.Y. Times and Le Monde that censorship is
unacceptable. I believe that we have the duty to question,
unapologetically, question everything,” said Nancy.
Nancy’s sense of political activism and outrage has not
been tempered by time. She is still a formidable force.
“Currently I am combining the photography with drawing
and collages to create new social commentary artworks,
such as A Prayer In The Sky. Also, being surrounded by a
culture of luxury, leisure, and abundance, I have created
two new satirical construction/assemblages: Haute Couture
and Armature for Haute Couture.
What does Dr. Fein think of her spouse’s political and social
activism? "I think it is great! I fully support Nancy's dedication
to awakening social conscientiousness,” stated Dr.
Fein.
Nancy is represented by Archangel Gallery and will be featured
in an upcoming exhibition opening May 15.
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Angela Romeo is the producer /host of COLLIDING WORLDS TV and COLLIDING WORLDS RADIO.
For more information visit: www.collidingworldstvandart.com
Colliding Worlds TV is available on YouTube at
www.youtube.com/user/AngelaValenteRomeo
or at Colliding Worlds Vimeo:
www.vimeo.com/collidingworldstv
Colliding Worlds TV broadcasts on KPSE (MY 13 Palm Springs California) Saturdays at noon and
Thursdays at 6:30 am
Colliding Worlds Radio, broadcasts and live streams weekly,
Saturday from 11 am to 12 pm on KPSF 1200 AM (Money Radio 1200)
Colliding Worlds is now on KMIR (Palm Springs)Saturday at 5 am and on KPSE Thursday (Palm
Springs) at 6:30 am
CW Radio podcasts are available at
www.collidingworldstvandart.com
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