Artist Gabbe Grodin pays homage to the inspiring and powerful women in her life in her exhibition “WOW: Wonderful Old Women,” which opens with a reception from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 18 at Bihl Haus Arts, 2803 Fredericksburg Road, the historic building inside the gates of The Sorento Apartments. It runs through July 30. The opening reception will be a lively celebration featuring food, drinks and “Ladies’ Night Karaoke.”

“By using the word, ‘old,’ we’re trying to move away from a negative stereotype,” Grodin explained. “We’re using the word ‘old’ as a way to honor our elders. All of the portraits depict them in a dignified manner.”

Grodin, who is a long-time instructor in the Bihl Haus GO! Arts program for older adults, said her project is inspired by the book “Wonderful Old Women” (Outskirts Press, 2016), a series of interviews conducted by Bonnie Lyons, co-edited with Deb Fields and featuring photographs by Linda Harris. In the book, thirteen women, ages 80 to 97, tell their stories, reflecting on how they see themselves and their life’s journey.

This visual version of “WOW” features 14 life-size oil paintings of the artist’s students who hold their own artworks up for the viewer to see. More than 30 paintings and drawings from these students will also be on display.

The exhibition also features the monumental painting titled “My Matrilineage,” 58 portraits on a single 60 x 48 inch canvas of women who have inspired or influenced the artist. In addition to the portrait of author Bonnie Lyons, “My Matrilineage” presents portraits of Grodin’s mother, aunts and art teachers plus a few pop-culture icons like Xena the Warrior Princess, singer Nina Simone, and Barbra Streisand’s character in the film “Yentl.”

“All of these works were done during the pandemic shut-down, which allowed me to ‘spend time’ with my favorite people through the process of painting them when we were apart, a way to spend time in isolation with the people I love,” Grodin said. “I feel that this exhibition is an authentic expression of my love for the work that I do at Bihl Haus and my life as an artist.”

Art historian Xan Murphy interviewed Gabbe Grodin about her work. A zine of this interview will be on sale in the gallery (press copy available on request).

Grodin’s diaristic art practice is rooted in painting and she has taught painting and drawing for over 15 years. She holds a BFA from Indiana University (Bloomington, IN, 2004) and MFA from Rutgers University (New Brunswick, NJ 2011). For more information about her work, visit www.gabbegrodin.com.