By: Anna Legere
The Fitchburg Art Museum opened their newest exhibit: Triibe: Same Difference this past Sunday, February 7th. Triplets Alicia, Kelly, and Sara Casilio teamed up with National Geographic photographer Cary Wolinsky in the creation of this exhibit. Triibe: Same Difference will hit home for everyone as it focuses on the social, political, and equality opportunity issues in our today’s world. The exhibit is challenging, thought provoking, interesting and completely relevant.
When exhibition goers enter the exhibit they are met with a dressing room full of props used in Wolinsky’s  photographs. These props include shoes, dresses, hats, wigs, and chastity belts.
Next they find themselves in a room where a series of  seven triptychs, a picture split into three panels, are spread around the room. This aids in giving the viewer the feeling that they are in a place of religion. Rows of church pews are in the center for viewers to sit and take in the art. These triptychs, called “In Search Of Eden”, challenges the viewer to question capitalism.
“We wanted to get down to the bottom of what is commercialism and what is religion?” said Casilo. Each triptych is named after a type of apple and represents a different idea about capitalism and commercialism.
Across the hall, the second gallery holds a series of photographs. These photographs feature all three of the performing arts group. Questioning gender stereotypes, the photograph “Compatibility Quiz” shows woman with the same faces leaning up against a bar. There is a businesswoman, neatly put together with a string of pearls, an artsy brunette, and a blonde revealing some leg. This piece asks “Which woman would get the most attention, and why?” The piece creates feeling of unease as it makes the viewer question whether this is fair or not.
Equality and the responsibility of pregnancy is exactly what the piece “Equal Opportunity” questions. This photograph has more than what appears at first glance. When viewers move around the photo it transforms into a completely different portrait. Three standing, pregnant females represent different stereotypes which transform into their male counterpart also with child. The photograph and its title urge viewers to reflect on where the responsibility of pregnancy falls, on the man, women or both.
Lastly, FAM visitors can watch a video on what the Triiibe is about. This video demonstrates the work Triiibe has been doing in efforts to protest the Iraq War in their performance “Inch by Inch”. They use yards of red material to show how many people have died in the war, each square inch represents 12 fatalities. Each is dressed as a soldier, a 9/11 office worker, and an Iraqi woman.
Throughout the exhibit visitors can interact with videos and different activities in the learning center and on the walls in the hallways. They are encouraged to chose a mask of the performer’s face and write a caption in the bubble expressing their feelings about the works.
To learn more about this exhibit visit the Fitchburg Art Museum and attended the Curator’s Tour on March 3, 2016 at 5:30 pm, the Guided Tour on April 7th, 2016 at 5:30 pm, or the Gallery Talk on April 24, 2016 at 1:30 pm.