DAMES : AMPLIFIED

DAMES : AMPLIFIED

Opening Reception on Thursday August 29th | 5-8pm
Live-Painting with Artist: September 1 | 2 – 5pm
Artist talk | Wine & Cheese: September 5 | 5 – 7pm (RSVP required - Eventbrite)
Coffee & Snacks: September 7 | 11 – 2pm (RSVP required - Eventbrite)
Third Thursday: September 19 | 6 – 9pm
Closing event: October 24th | 5 – 8pm

Unchained.Art Contemporary Gallery is thrilled to present ‘DAMES : AMPLIFIED’, the first solo show in the United States for hyper emerging Canadian artist Raeanne Schachter. This exhibition marks a significant milestone in her career, showcasing a completely new body of work that reflects her evolution as an artist. 
This exhibition is not just a showcase of her artistic trajectory but a testament to her unwavering commitment to join the ongoing dialogue on gender and freedom. Schachter’s world of bold and unapologetic Dames is uninhibited, fearlessly vocal, and expressive. 
Schachter’s vision for this new body of work is to expand their vocabulary and presence through new mediums and techniques.

Artist Statement:
“The works in my current series, ‘DAMES : AMPLIFIED’ feature women who have much to say. The shifting, seemingly disparate use of mediums, methods and materials swing away from caution to amplify women's playful, unstoppable voices!
In this series, bright colours, bold lines, texture and distorted perspective express emotional temperatures and psychological intensity. As I cut into canvas, integrate found objects and LED light, these emboldened Dames develop in breadth of vision and voice. Likewise, some colour pallets are preconceived, grounded in theory and mineral-based, while others are spontaneous, modern and high in chroma.
The Dames portraiture challenges and expands traditional representations of women and join the vital conversation among contemporary women artists giving agency to everyday women. These Dame sculptures and paintings take up cultural and social themes that address gender stereotypes and the latest attack on women’s rights and freedoms.
Through exploration of interiority The Dames navigate common societal barriers. Dame Evelyn Glennie, a deaf solo percussionist who admirably navigates these barriers, contends that we ’listen with all parts of our bodies’ to truly hear. While visiting the exhibit, I invite you to hear the diverse voices of these women. As you eavesdrop on conversations among the Dames, you may begin to see through their eyes, noticing what you hear and feel.”

For the first time, male figures appear, adding another layer of complexity and dialogue. Schachter’s creative process is driven by the dynamic act of placing paint on canvas and the playful reconstruction of discarded objects into sculpture. Creating art from her thoughts and feelings is how she amplifies the voices of women who have not been heard. Schachter draws inspiration from themes of oppression and shame in both contemporary life and literary works like Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. The strength and determination of women she knows personally, and those she admires from afar, such as Dame Evelyn Glennie, fuel her artistic journey. She resonates with the pioneering feminist art of the second wave, inspired by trailblazers like Judy Chicago and Barbara Kruger, while pushing the conversation forward in today's context.
Each artwork in this collection has its own story and timeline - some have taken years to complete. Schachter utilizes a mix of ancient techniques like lost-wax casting and spontaneous methods arising from chaos. Despite their differences, each Dame in this collection carries equal weight and deserves to be heard. Schachter’s work is a dynamic fusion of traditional and contemporary art forms, highlighting a fearless approach to her practice.

About The Artist:
Raeanne Schachter, born in 1966, grew up under the vast skies of the Canadian prairies. Her early tryst with creativity began with a Kodak Instamatic 100 camera, a memento now displayed prominently in her studio. After graduating from the Photographic Arts program at Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, she moved to Toronto to apprentice under some of Canada’s leading commercial photographers and worked as Photo Editor for Music Express Magazine. Her journey took her from behind the scenes in the music industry to coordinating music for the 2010 Winter Olympics and documenting the making of these ceremonies for the International Olympic Committee.
A 2018 art history tour and workshop in France marked a pivotal shift in Schachter's trajectory, sparking a new curiosity that led to creating art for personal expression. She discovered her muse, The Dame, culminating in a unique style and voice that tells women's stories through abstracted portraits and figures. Her achievements include notable solo exhibits and her role as Guest Resident Artist at Granville Island in Vancouver, B.C. Her works are part of public and private collections across North America and Europe. She is an Active Status Member of the Canadian Federation of Artists and Director of The Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Art Studio Tour.
Today, Schachter resides in Maple Ridge, near the Coastal Mountains of British Columbia. She cannot resist bold statement sunglasses and earrings, including a pair of cowboy hat-disco ball earrings acquired during her last trip to Austin.