DCAC Brings International Women’s Day to Outer Banks
By Kip Tabb –
At the Dare County Arts Council gallery show.
More than a celebration of women, the Outer Banks International Women’s Day this past Friday is part of an tradition dating back to 1908 when the movement began in Germany.
Although a number of activities have been planned for this weekend in conjunction with the day, last night’s Dare County Arts Council show and talk seemed to epitomize what this is about.
The art show itself was extraordinary in its diversity, power and skill. The People’s Choice award, Nude #7 by Carrie Rose Tillett-Saks–a remarkable almost life-size nude of an African-American woman–is a vibrant, stunning piece. The show itself was remarkably well attended.
However, the presentation after the show at Full Moon Cafe may have been the highlight of the evening.
Organized by Fay Daniels, the DCAC gallery manager, the presenters were a wonderful blend of local and national women whose impacts extend beyond women’s issues.
Teuta Shabani Towler was the MC–or historian–for the evening, discussing how the International Women’s Day has evolved from it’s inception.
The keynote speaker, Jagdish Singh–76 years old, born in the Punjab in India–epitomizes the American dream and the wealth of experience that comes from welcoming all cultures to our shores.
Hers is an amazing story of not allowing bigotry and prejudice to hold either her or her family back. Her story is one of faith in her family, faith in herself and the belief that by working together we all benefit.
There were other speakers as well.
Local journalist and freelance writer, Cate Kozak, representing the League of Women’s Voters, gave an impassioned plea for the long overdue passage of the Equal Rights Amendment. The amendment needs just three more states to ratify it, and North Carolina is one of them.
Finally, recently retired managing editor of the Outer Banks Sentinel, Sandy Siemens-Ross told a wonderfully humorous story about the folly of not believing in yourself that is, unfortunately, too long to include here.
