See Sacramento through the eyes of women at Muse Hues art exhibition Saturday

On Saturday, The Washington Neighborhood Center presents, “Muse Hues,” an art exhibition focused on celebrating the robust and often overlooked artistic abilities of women artists in Sacramento.

The all-woman showcase will feature paintings, photography, sculpture work and fashion design ranging from fine art to street culture.

“I made a promise to myself that I needed to curate shows where we can celebrate female artists,” said curator of the show Danilo Tividad. “What better time than during Women’s History Month?”

Women’s History Month is dedicated to recognizing the historical contributions women have made to culture and society. A single week of recognition beginning in the 1980s became the entire month of March due to its importance of representation for women.

Tividad said he decided to curate a show that highlights female artists after realizing he had been curating art shows in which he unknowingly exhibited art disproportionately created by men.

“And then it just clicked with me, why is it always a male-dominated thing?” said Tividad. “There are strong female artists in the art scene with the same techniques and talents that should be celebrated.”

For artist Celina Vallejos, the show is more than just putting art on a wall, it is an opportunity to connect and feel empowered alongside creative women she can relate to.

“It’s huge because women are such an inspiration to males and to ourselves,” said the painter and photographer about the rarity of featuring in a show with an all-women lineup, “I think people should really come to the show to take a look through the eyes of the women from this city and see our perspective of how we experience this thing called life.”

Vallejos said she wants to share her story as a young Chicana artist from Sacramento through her work and blur the lines between what male and female art should look like.

In her studies majoring in fashion design, the Sacramento State student said there were only a handful of female artists she learned about compared to the plethora of works from their male counterparts.

“It starts with us to make that change,” said Vallejos on the progression of female representation in the art world, “I wonder what it’s going to be like when this era is taught to the future with all these great female artists we have today.”

Tividad said that curating a show like “Muse Hues” is a step in the right direction in representing women and will continue to create equal opportunities for artists.

He said he is excited about involving diverse groups and their platforms as he assists in curating art shows for The Washington Neighborhood Center, which has provided art and cultural programs to the community for over 68 years.

“I feel like the center is being reinvented as we speak,” said Tividad about the center evolving with its neighborhood so newer generations can benefit from its programs, “It’s just important to keep this center alive for the structure of the community.”

Among the artist showcasing their work is the founder and creative director of the women’s organization Boss Ass Women of Sacramento, Mari Padilla.

“It’s amazing that this show is being curated by men,” said Padilla on partnering with Tividad for the event. “To see the appreciation that men are having for women is amazing and I’m glad to have my hands in this.

Padilla will speak with audience members about how they can get involved with BAWS, which is devoted to empowering the women in Sacramento by hosting events and providing a platform for entrepreneurs and entertainers to be spotlighted.

She said both her and Tividad believe this is an amazing opportunity to blend both their platforms and bridge the gap between the women’s empowerment movement and men.

“This is one of the first shows where I have partnered with men and I’m super excited that they even had the thought about celebrating women,” said Padilla, “I’m hoping that this show brings on more collaborations with platforms that are owned by men that are interested in supporting the women of Sacramento.”

Tividad said this collaboration is the beginning of something great.

“Just to have a movement like this that brings people together is huge and empowering to me,” said Tividad. “We can really shine here with the new and fresh talent we have in our own city by bringing it to the forefront.”

If you go

Muse Hues

Cost: Free

When: Saturday, March 14

Time: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Where: The Washington Neighborhood Center, 400 16th St. Sacramento