Abia Akram on screen. “Women Without Borders: A Visual Study of Pakistani Women’s Lives” at PCC (Photo – Jennifer Hall Lee)
“Women Without Borders: A Visual Study of Pakistani Women’s Lives” will open on June 26 at 4:00 pm at Pasadena City College in both the Boone and V Galleries.
By News Desk
In 2023 Altadena filmmaker Jennifer Hall Lee traveled to Pakistan for five weeks to interview women throughout the nation about feminism, patriarchy, the Pakistan women’s movement, and their ideas for the future.
The work was exhibited at the Pakistan Council of the Arts in Islamabad in November 2023. The exhibit was welcomed by Pakistani civil society, with Minister of Arts and Culture Jamal Shah making remarks at the opening reception.
Now, the exhibition is being shown for a second time at Pasadena City College. At the opening reception on June 26, Ms. Lee, Dr. Yaqoob, and Ms. Abidi will be joined by Pasadena Unified School Board Trustee Michelle Richardson Bailey. Trustee Bailey will read a personal letter about the exhibit by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The exhibit is made possible by a Community Excellence Grant from the Pasadena City College Foundation, as part of Pasadena City College’s Centennial Celebration. Additional support comes from the United Nations Association – Pasadena.
Ms. Lee traveled with Dr. Munazza Yaqoob of the International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI), members of the Critical Thinking Forum of the IIUI and Ms. Hina Abidi, past President of the Pakistan Arts Council in Pasadena. The women traveled from the mountains of Chitral to the deserts of Umerkot and many cities in between, conducting interviews along the way. Upon their return, the team printed their photographs on jute with hand-sewn borders by the women employed at Behbud Crafts of Islamabad. The interviews were summarized and printed for inclusion next to the photographs, and video excerpts of the interviews were curated as well.
“This show is the result of a ten year friendship with Dr. Yaqoob that included multiple international visits and an unfinished Fulbright award,” said Jennifer Hall Lee. “I believe this work is extraordinary. Now that women’s rights are being revoked globally, including the United States, it gives me a deeper perspective as to how patriarchy thrives.”
Dr. Munazza Yaqoob said “Jennifer traveled to Pakistan three times during this decade, while I visited both Los Angeles and Pasadena. Through our collaboration, we gathered a wide range of stories highlighting the challenges encountered by women in Pakistan and their ability to confront the numerous restrictive cultural standards imposed by the patriarchy.”
The exhibit will be on view at Pasadena City College’s Colorado Campus, in the Boone Family Gallery (CA Building) and the V Building Gallery. The exhibit is free and open to the public from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm from June 26 through August 2.
Women Without Borders: A Visual Study of Pakistani Women’s Lives Opening Day, Jun 26: 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Through August 2 M-F: 11:00 am - 3:00 pm and by appointment Location Pasadena City College Boone Family Gallery (CA Building) and the V Building Gallery Free and open to the public
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