By Kashif Stone, Staff Writer

Published in print Mar. 25, 2015

In commemoration of Women’s History Month, Geeksboro Coffeehouse Cinema kicked off its art exhibition “SHEroes” Saturday featuring several portrayals of fictional heroines designed by local artists.

“Wounds”, designed by Kristin Mehaffey (Greensboro, N.C.), features heroine Sheik a character from “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time”. The piece, which was created using masking tape, colored pencils and acrylic paint, embodies wounds the character receives from physical battles. One doesn’t see much of her skin because of all the bandages covering her body that create the illusion of the work’s title. To Mehaffey, Sheik displays all aspects of strength physically as a warrior and through regality as a princess. The artwork is currently available for sale priced at $30.

“I’m Glad to Have Met You” is another artwork featured at the exhibit. Curated by Heather Stanley (Greensboro) this piece was painted on a canvas using acrylic and features Himawari, the protagonist crush in manga series “xxxHolic”. Although this heroine displays an innocent outer demeanor she is known to bring misfortune to those closest to her. Her misfortunes are so strong it usually ends in death.

Despite feeling alone and isolated, Himawari manages to maintain a cheerful personality trying her best not to burden others. Stanley says she was touched by this character due to her own social anxieties, relating to her isolation. To Stanley, being a hero isn’t always a grand act that others notice. “It can be a seemingly small act,” she wrote, “to make things a little better for someone else…the smile despite the struggle.” This piece is also available for purchase and is priced at $65.

One of the most darkly contrasting and mind-boggling pieces at the SHEroes exhibit, “A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night/ Bad City” created by Justin Maness (Asheboro) is a piece that will have you dazed within its seemingly perfect visual conception. The work is a depraved neck of woods where death and bad things are virtually inconsequential. The girl portrayed in the piece is a vampire, lonesome and preying on junkies, repugnant bullies and even sometimes the occasional misfortunate homeless guy.

Maness says the Iranian thriller, released in 2014 and directed by Ana Lily Aminpour, carried a unique aesthetic that left a notable impression on him. “To me she is a great example of a strong character,” he said. “In the end there is a question of justice as the hellish skateboarding vampire entity changes the life of one human friend in the process of rescuing another friend, and a cat, from an ugly bind.” Although the film has a dark presence shadowed by the sadness of what seems to be a whimpering cat, this work embodies the essence of the epitome of a vampire who lures the night. Originally priced at $40, this beautiful creation of art has already been sold.

Perhaps one of this reporter’s favorite pieces on display at the exhibit, “Divine”, relays a message that all women should integrate into their lives: stay true to who you are! Created by Brandi Baldwin, this work was also painted on a canvas using acrylic. Its central female character, though wild and sometimes grotesque, is never afraid to be herself. Baldwin says that she never intends to be as raunchy as “Divine”, but thrives to stay true to herself.

The SHEroes art exhibition was curated by Geeksboro co-owner Rachael Scott, and Micho Miller was responsible for promoting the exhibit and getting the artist to participate. The exhibit will be on display at the shop, located at 2134 Lawndale Drive, until the end of April.