Photo by Center for the Performing Arts PSU

By Christy McDermott~

The arts are for everyone, regardless of gender, age, or ethnicity. Throughout history, however, the most celebrated artists have often been male, from Shakespeare and Hemingway, to DaVinci and Van Gogh. Thankfully, in 2018, the art world has opened up to a plethora of diverse people who can share their stories and experiences through their art. With its 2018-19 season, The Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State “features women of all ages, cultures, genres, and disciplines in leadership and supporting-artist roles.” And to highlight this talented group of female artists, the Center offers “I Am Woman,” which recognizes the achievements of female artists that have ties to Penn State and tells their stories of empowerment through the creative arts.

Doreen Cronin

For some of us that spent too much time in the library in elementary school, Doreen Cronin has a special place in our hearts. Author of the children’s book Click Clack Moo: Cows that Type, Cronin’s story was actually inspired by her own time here at Penn State. As a journalism major, she fell in love with the noise of the typewriters, and it inspired her story. In an interview with CPA, she discusses her take on women in the literary world.

Photo by amazon.com

She happily mentions that women are well represented at every level when it comes to publishing—but it wasn’t always like this. “When I was a kid, everyone in power was a man. I had female teachers, but the principal was male—grade school, middle school, and high school. My pediatrician was a man, my dentist was a man, the manager of the supermarket was a man, all the cashiers were women, etc.”

Cronin recounts going to a publishing conference when her children’s book was first published, and all of the panel members were men. She also brings up the fact that, “in the past thirty years, twenty-five of the thirty Caldecott Medal Awards have gone to male illustrators. That’s a problem.”

Cronin has plenty of advice when it comes to trying to become a female writer.

“Fear is your enemy,” she says. “Afraid your writing won’t be good? Some of it won’t be very good. Afraid you will be criticized? You will. Afraid you will be rejected? You will. Afraid you will get bad reviews? You will. Do it anyway.”

Photo by Robin Newman Books

Annabelle Lopez Ochoa

As a world-renowned choreographer, Lopez Ochoa’s routines embody her love for the visual arts and music. Not only that, but she believes in making statements with her art, particularly those that explore the roles of female leads.

Photo from danceicons.com

In her piece, “Locked up Laura,” she examines the struggle of a female dancer’s identity. She describes the lead as, “a woman backstage, a wind-up ballerina on stage—though in the last few moments, she appears to have found a path toward integrating the two.”

While there are many female choreographers, Lopez Ochoa is one of the few that directs ballet. She views her role as an extremely important one: “A female perspective on a female character or on a particular subject or situation is essential in the times we’re living.”

Penn State recently paid tribute to Lopez Ochoa’s works this past October and performed her ballet “Línea Recta.”

Libby Larsen

Despite being in a male dominated profession, Libby Larsen has become a Grammy Award-winning composer, and she is the first woman to serve as resident composer with a major orchestra.

CPA recently showcased Larsen’s work in a choir performance in September. The pieces come from Larsen’s composition “You,” which she describes as, “a musical essay on the human condition of being alone together. It’s about us and we are its theme.”

Larsen has always had a love for music, and she is often inspired by literature when it comes to themes and lyrics. However, despite how much passion and talent she has, she faced a lot of difficulty climbing her way up to where she is now. She experienced discrimination during her training, and many of her colleagues told her she could never make it as a female composer and face large crowds. She says, “I found that being a living woman composer in the academy often, and still does), put me in the position of the ‘specimen.’” The discrimination she faced was not enough to put her down, and she has made a name for herself as an incredible musical artist.

Photo by Center for the Performing Arts PSU

Visit the CPA website for more profiles on female artists!