The Changing Face of Sports Featured in Dual Photography Exhibits

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Trampolinist Jenn, M. E. Mark, photograph

BROCKPORT, NY (02/11/2009)(readMedia)-- Covering a gamut of emotions, Game Face: What Does a Female Athlete Look Like? is a unique photographic celebration of sports and physical daring in the lives of girls and women. As a companion piece, Brockport campus photographer Jim Dusen has created a series of photographs for Brockport Game Face that depict the anguish, strength and victory that some of our own female athletes have faced. These free exhibitions will be on view at the Tower Fine Arts Center Gallery, 180 Holley Street, Brockport, from March 4 - 31, 2009. An opening reception will take place on Tuesday, March 3, 2009, at 4 pm. The Gallery will be closed for academic break from March 13 - 23.

The exhibition was originally inspired by the 30th anniversary of Title IX, in which Congress mandated the equality of girls and boys in schools, both in classes and on the playing fields. In 1971, one year before Title IX was enacted, 1 in 27 school age girls played sports; now, 1 in 2.6 do. Not only did more girls start playing sports as a result of Title IX, but these young athletes also redefined what is acceptable for girls, and by extension, for boys.

A generation of women has come of age under Title IX. Participating in organized sports encourages women to be strong, daring and resilient, necessary survival skills in an era when women are constantly bombarded by images of fashion models, self-improvement products and the diet culture. Provocative and intimate, the exhibition reveals women's powerful and complex relationship to sports.

Game Face: What Does a Female Athlete Look Like? features athletes as diverse as Marion Jones, Amanda Beard and Brandi Chastain. The women have been captured in images from journalistic sources as well as by such noted photographers as Annie Leibovitz. Gallery director Tim Massey notes that "stylistically, the exhibit reveals the athletes in documentary fashion, as well as in action portraiture and other more conceptual photographs. The documents' sizes are such that you can truly see the concentration behind every movement of the athlete."

Game Face: What Does a Female Athlete Look Like? has been organized by Game Face Productions and the National Coalition of Girls' Schools, and sponsored by MassMutual Financial Group, including Oppenheimer Funds, Inc. Both exhibitions are being sponsored at Brockport in part by contributions from the Department of Physical Education and Sport, the Office of Intercollegiate Athletics, Recreational Services and the Dean of the School of Arts and Performance.

Gallery hours: Monday - Thursday: 10 am - 4 pm, Sunday: 1 - 4 pm. For more information, call (585) 395-2805.

Parking at Tower Fine Arts Center: Weekdays: Until 6:30 pm, parking permits are required. Permits cost $2 and can be obtained at the Raye H. Conrad Welcome Center. Evenings and Weekends: After 6:30 pm on weekdays, and throughout the weekend, parking is not regulated. Metered parking is available adjacent to Tower Fine Arts Center.