HMHS 50/50 Club, The Haddon Fortnightly partner for art show featuring female artists on Feb. 25
On Saturday, Feb. 25, The Haddon Fortnightly building will be transformed into an art gallery for the day.
Haddonfield Memorial High School’s 50/50 Club is partnering with the borough’s women’s club for its inaugural “Through A Woman’s Eyes” art exhibit, showcasing the talent of local and regional female artists. The event will benefit Girls Learn International, which strives to ensure quality education for girls around the globe.
“We thought it would be really cool if we could do an art show that was a celebration of women and the feminine perspective,” Hamna Khalid, 50/50 Club co-vice president, said. “I always feel very empowered and very inspired by things like this. Hopefully, people come away from it feeling inspired.”
The idea sprouted last spring from a conversation about feminism between 50/50 Club co-vice president Hadley Christman and The Haddon Fortnightly Education Chair Denise Sellers. During the discussion, Sellers told Christman to let her know if there was anything The Haddon Fortnightly could do to help the 50/50 Club.
“The women’s club is always looking for ways to encourage leadership in young women,” Sellers said, “and I told her if there was any way we could help, we would love to work together with them.”
The two clubs landed on the idea of an art show.
“We told them we would be willing to mentor them and do the project and provide them with the space at our clubhouse,” Sellers said, “and that’s how this all evolved.”
Submissions were slow coming in at the start of January, but eventually they picked up, and there are now more than 100 pieces of artwork that will be on display at the show, including drawings, paintings, sculptures and photographs. The body of work showcases more than 35 female artists of all ages and backgrounds.
“I think it’s interesting to see how different each piece is and how it goes off that female perspective,” 50/50 Club creative director Danielle Batterman said.
“There’s definitely a wide range of submissions,” club president Hannah Hartt added.
When the group of friends started the feminism-based 50/50 Club two years ago, the now seniors never imagined they would be orchestrating such a large-scale community project.
The club’s inception wasn’t exactly met with open arms.
“When the club first started, we had a bit of a backlash,” secretary Ruthie Baxter admitted. “But people are less intimidated by feminism now. There’s more of a dialogue happening than there was even just a few years ago.”
The young women credit several things to this change, including the club’s decision to become a chapter of Girls Learn International. Hartt also said things going on in the country today have raised awareness.
“It’s empowering to know what’s going on,” she said, “and to feel like you can make a difference.”
In addition to raising funds for Girls Learned, the 50/50 Club focuses on awareness and advocacy. Past activities include participation in the UN Women’s Orange the World campaign and hosting screenings of films such as “He Named Me Malala,” “Suffragette” and “Hidden Figures.”
The group is excited about the art show, which has been in the making since its first meeting with the Evening Membership Department of The Haddon Fortnightly last summer. The show will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is a suggested donation of $10, and the day will include raffle baskets, light refreshments and prizes.
Like the high schoolers, members of The Haddon Fortnightly are excited with what the art show has become, too.
“We’re just continuously surprised at what (the students) have accomplished. We try to stay in an advisory role…we really encourage them to make the decisions with a little bit of insight from us,” Sellers said. “They amaze us at every meeting with what they’ve come up with and how much hard work they’ve put into it. It’s really pulling together, and we feel really positive about it.”
Margaret Gammie, 50/50 Club advisor, echoed Sellers’ sentiments.
“They’ve done such a phenomenal job. It’s been constant activity, and the fact that they’ve coordinated this while going through college applications and their senior year,” Gammie said, “I’m just absolutely amazed by the talent that they have.”
Hartt said she is impressed with how the community came together for the show — from students to teachers to businesses — and hopes people appreciate the amount of work that went into the exhibit.
The synergy, Sellers says, is “so typical” of Haddonfield.
“It’s one of those communities where everyone works together. If you reach out to people and say, ‘Can you support this?’ They will,” Sellers said. “And I think we’re all committed to the schools. That part of it is really a no brainer. We want the best type of opportunities for the kids.”
