Contemporary Art from the Permanent Collection, July 30, 2007 - September 9, 2007, San José Museum of Art.

Image As Object, January18, 2006 - March 4, 2006, Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery, Porter College, University of California, Santa Cruz.

Beyond Tradition: Permanent Collection Photographs, September 27, 2003 - August 22, 2004, Historic Wing, Paul L. Davies Gallery, Second Floor, San José Museum of Art.

Is the Medium the Message?: Contemporary Art from the Permanent Collection, March 2, 2002 - June 2, 2002, New Wing, Metro A, Skylight and South Galleries, Second Floor, San José Museum of Art.

Label copy created for Beyond Tradition: Permanent Collection Photographs (2003-2004)

Austin’s series examines the relationship between everyday objects and their roles in shaping identity. By placing images of a gun and a hairbrush on either side of an androgynous child, Austin positions the child between two opposing gender symbols. In doing so, she poses a question about polarized identities of masculinity and femininity. At age 14, Austin was diagnosed with cancer and her leg had to be amputated. Weighing only 65 pounds after chemotherapy, she remembers feeling "...sexless and different.” This experience triggered her interest in dissecting issues of sexual identity through her art.

This object was included in the following exhibitions:

• Is the Medium the Message?: Contemporary Art from the Permanent Collection , 3/2/2002 - 6/2/2002

• Fabric Dimensions: 26 x 70 in. (66.04 x 177.8 cm)

This object is a member of the following portfolios: