Daughters of Athena - Art Exhibition

Daughters of Athena Art Exhibition

Meet the artist.

I am Evangelia, (Ευαγγελία).

Since the time of Homer, the Greeks served as master storytellers. They created images in their listener’s mind and depicted them on classical pottery. In the best tradition of my ancestors, today, I am a storyteller. My stories are visual portrayals of mythical heroes, Olympian gods and depict the place of modern men and women in the cycle of the universe.

I spent 22 years as an editorial feature illustrator for The Columbus Dispatch, presenting visual stories of humanity and hubris, technology and spirituality, passion and pathos. As a fine artist, I continue that journey through images that reflect diversity, equity, and inclusion through my Hellenic heritage and modern influences. I bring visual life to social and spiritual issues compelling the viewer to be moved, amused, provoked, or stop and reflect.

My chosen medium is scratchboard - reminiscent of woodcuts renowned in Greece for centuries and reflective of black-figure pottery. I created a body of black and white original images titled Daughters of Athena, reflecting my Hellenic background and the city of my birth Athens. Athena, the patron goddess of wisdom, strategy, the arts and weaving, reflects women’s history through the dawn of civilization.

For millennia and in every culture, women used weaving to tell their stories. Their wisdom and fierce maternal nature nurtured and protected their children. That's why my work depicts powerful, independent, dynamic, creative and influential women in mythology, history and literature worldwide. They are goddesses who personified wisdom, courage, inspiration, physical strength and independence,-historical rulers and creative women who redefined poetry, music, literature and fine art. These ordinary women, mothers, daughters, sisters and wives protected and spiritually nourished their families during the best and worst of times. All unsung heroes weaving civilizations together.

Women have always broken beyond the male dominated boundaries imposed on them. Historical female figures influenced the journey civilization through their courage, sacrifice and leadership on the home front, in the battle fields and through cultural endeavors.

This exhibition showcases women whose stories, cloaked in the mantle of patriarchy, were hidden, obliterated or trivialized. The viewer is encouraged to interact and contemplate the hidden symbols and metaphors embedded in the highly detailed imagery. These women are depicted not as victims but as warriors!

A short written statement accompanies each image allowing the audience to reflect on their personal stories and act on preserving them, whether through visual or written records.

Now, let's see what the exhibition holds for you and how my stories unleash the female warrior or a warrior for women in you or  someone you love.

Evangelia

Visit Daughters of Athena Art Exhibition at Columbus Cultural Art Center

August 5-September 10
hours: Monday | 1-4 p.m. & 7-10 p.m.
Tuesday – Thursday | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. & 7-10 p.m.
Friday & Saturday | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday | Closed