ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – Now at the Bonifas Arts Center, visitors can learn about the Upper Peninsula’s history through the story of some of its most notable women.
Now through May 28th, the Bonifas Powers Gallery is featuring “Extraordinary U.P. Women,” a traveling exhibit from the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center.
“It covers everything from pioneers to activists to education, medical, military—all sorts of women in the U.P. making an advancement in all of these different fields,” said Gallery Director Kate Oman.
The information on the exhibit panels is supported by artwork from the Bonifas Art Center’s permanent collection.
“For the military section, we have a couple images that depict military-like imagery,” Oman explained. “We have some pieces about the arts. Literally, we have a piece that says, ‘Women In The Arts.’ It gives you something to look at after you read all the text, and then the text helps enhance the artwork.”
Gallery visitors will learn about the lives of women like Ida Jarve Bergh, the Keweenaw County’s only female sheriff, and Elba Morse, founder of the Bay Cliff Health Camp. They will also be able to read about many of the women who lived in the U.P. during its earliest years.
“The women of a lot of the early-on era, they were brought along with the men,” said Oman, “but the women had a big footing to fill. The U.P. was a hard, rugged place. To be able to break down those barriers and make it happen was really important, and women were a strong backbone behind that happening.”
The exhibit is an opportunity to learn about U.P. history through the stories of those who often did not have platforms to tell their own stories.
“I just look along all of these images and think about what these women went through that I just get to take for granted,” Oman said. “Most of these women couldn’t vote. It wasn’t allowed, so they put their time and energy into helping support political aspects. Once we got the right to vote, then they were able to make a more impactful statement on the U.P.”
The exhibit also demonstrates how these women paved the way for women living in the U.P. today.
“These early women, they really went through some stuff,” said Oman. “I’m a transplant, so to learn about the women that helped make the U.P. and see what these women had to go through to make their name is really important.”
“Extraordinary U.P. Women” coincides with a Studio Gallery exhibit by Avery Jade Graham, a female artist from the Upper Peninsula. It will also be open during High Tea at 2, which features a fashion show by the Players de Noc, on April 25. Tickets for that event are available at bonifasarts.org.
