The art show opening a dialogue for side-lined girls

It’s no secret how vital it is that women of all shapes, sizes, races, creeds, and identities have spaces and places where they can freely express themselves and talk about issues affecting them on a daily basis. And because no one woman is the same, an open dialogue is important for change to happen.

That's exactly what Teen Dream is. An all female-identifying art exhibition, where creative girls aged 13 to 21 and entrepreneurs leading their fields have a space to showcase their work, their internet breaking accomplishments so far, and discuss what they go through as women, because far too often they are sidelined by the privilege of those with dicks, those whose skin is lighter, and those with the privilege of wisdom that only comes about with age.

Teen Dream will be the catalyst for much-needed dialogue on what matters most to young girls growing up in today's incredible yet stifling world. Everything from issues concerning mental health, relationships, and family dynamics, to periods and women's reproductive rights.

At its core, the show is inspired by Teen Dream curator, Brittany Natale’s mother, a 1980s Parsons School of Art and Design Illustration graduate, who has faced much adversity in the male-dominated art world. Her drive and perseverance energise Teen Dream.

Below we caught up with Teen Dream’s curator, Natale, ahead of its opening next week.

“Seeing others use their past experiences as a creative propellor is so paramount for young individuals to realise that they too can be multifaceted” – Brittany Natale

How much has your mother influenced your career and you in general?

Brittany Natale: The women in my family - my mother, my maternal grandmother and my grandmother's sister (my great-aunt) have had a very profound impact on every area of my life, especially in my love for the arts, since they are all very creative women. My grandmother is a painter and if you go to her home each painting on the wall is either by her or my mother. My great-aunt, her sister, used to be a pianist who studied at Performing Arts in NYC in the early 1960s and later went on to take classes at Juilliard. From a very young age, they instilled in me an appreciation for the arts – I grew up off the 7 train and would spend a lot of my middle school and high school years at tango performances in Sunnyside, Queens, lectures at the Met, or weekends at MoMA PS1, because of them.

My mother, who was born in the Bronx but grew up in Queens, NYC is a 1987 Parsons School of Art & Design Illustration graduate who faced so much adversity in the male-dominated art world. She could never pursue art full-time to make a living because of this, and I remember sitting on the kitchen table of our Queens apartment watching her watercolor or wood-burn after she got home from work or on the weekends. She would always encourage creativity with my sisters, brother and I but would always tell us that the art world, especially for women, was "tough" and "cut-throat" – she even had stories about getting her portfolio ripped up by an interviewer and crying home on the subway afterwards. Looking back now I think she was trying to protect us from these same potential painful experiences she had. Still, she always found time for this passion, even while raising four kids while working 2 jobs as a single mother after my father left when I was 13. For holidays, I still always ask for a drawing by her, last year I got one of Chateau Marmont.

Knowing how smart, strong and creative these women are, but also how much they have dealt with in their lives, whether it be from society, men or otherwise, really has affected me. I knew from a young age I wanted to do something that contributed to the support of women, especially those using art as a platform to make a difference.

How did you pick the young women participating in the show?

Brittany Natale: Through my involvement with zines, such as Zine Club Mag and Crybaby Zine, I was able to become connected with so many amazingly talented young artists. I have also been a Rookie reader for a long time now and have always admired the contributors that help make it so awesome. Social media also played a big role – through Instagram I was able to be exposed to many creatives as well. Of course, this show is just a sampling of the many young female-identifying artists that are paving their way today.

“There’s such a beauty in the ‘Me too! But I thought I was the only one,’ connection” – Brittany Natale

In your opinion, how important are safe spaces like Teen Dream for women of all age groups, to express themselves and their viewpoints?

Brittany Natale: Having safe spaces for women to freely express themselves, their viewpoints and their feelings is so, so important. Many times we keep inside what is bothering us – from family problems to health issues, to relationship struggles to anything and everything in between – because we feel the pressure to keep up the, what I call, "100 per cent, 100 per cent of the time" illusion, so that we do not get told we are "emotional", "crazy", or "difficult". Having safe spaces, such as Teen Dream, that really allow females to open the dialogue via their art and talk about what is really important or is of a concern to them, creates solidarity and builds a support system. There's such a beauty in the "Me too! But I thought I was the only one," connection.

Is it important for there to be visible role models in creative industries like your mother is for you?

Brittany Natale: Having role models in creative industries, whether it be members of your family, friends circle or just someone you look up to but don't personally know, is so important. One of my best friends, that I've known since elementary school, has had such a turbulent childhood but she is now a UCB performer and channels those emotions and experiences creatively into something that not only lifts her up but inspires others as well. Seeing others use their past experiences as a creative propellor is so paramount for young individuals to realise that they too can be multifaceted – that that is the beauty of life. Just because you are sensitive does not mean you are not strong, just because you are outspoken doesn't mean you can't also be empathetic, and so on. Art speaks volumes.

What is your ultimate aim for Teen Dream, especially after the art show?

Brittany Natale: I hope to grow Teen Dream and eventually put on more shows, in the future adding a music and film component as well, to help inspire and increase the reach. I think of Teen Dream as an onion – with so many layers and goals and backstories behind it. But one of my main aims of the show was to add to the resources that are available for young artists to show and share their work with the world. There are so many amazing outlets today that support young arts, from Tavi Gevinson and Rookie mag to Grace Miceli and Art Baby Gallery to Art Hoe Collective (and a bunch more!). Organising this show and putting together this collective is just my little contribution.

In addition, a strong interest of mine is to just generally put on issue-focused art shows and art events that engage, connect and inspire young individuals. My previous show was in collaboration with conceptual artist and close friend Matt Starr and involved getting young creatives excited to vote – we ended up registering over 200 new voters through it. Using art to help de-stigmatise mental health and mood disorders is another area I'd like to explore as well.

Team Dream will feature Remi Riordan, Alyson Zetta Williams, Sage Adams, Alice Liu, Lee Phillips, Savana Ogburn, Emily Wood, Abbey Gilbert, Genevieve Nollinger, Megan Schaller, Fabiola Ching, Amira Rosenbush, Tyra Mitchell, Lydia Claire and Lula Hyers

Teen Dream Art Show at the Wayfarers in Bushwick, Brooklyn from April 16 - April 17, 12-5pm