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'Red Dress Sessions' explores women's power Courtney Williams. Photo by Debra Thornton Friday Dec 30, 2016 at 2:00 AM By Jeffrey Gillespie For the Tidings In addition to her extensive work in film and theater (and an honors degree in philosophy from Harvard University), Courtney Williams is a passionate advocate for the Red Dress Sessions, a series of creative and collaborative photography sessions that have spawned a book and a film on the subject of women and their archetypal power, something they are often reluctant to express. I caught up to Williams for a chat about the importance of empowerment among traditionally repressed groups and how those processes are affected in the current political climate.  JG: For those of us who don't know about the Red Dress Sessions, can you give us some input about their purpose?  CW: The Red Dress Sessions are the focus of a new documentary film and book (forthcoming from White Cloud Press) that ask the question, what does it mean for a woman to wear a red dress? Marla Estes, Debra Thornton and I interview women about their experiences wearing — or not wearing — a red dress. Remarkably, wild discussions erupt about power, sexuality, shame, anger, courage, strength, passion, trauma and, most importantly, being visible or invisible. Everyone's story is different but they all agree: You are visible when you wear a red dress. And visible as a representation of power and femininity at the same time. We are finding there is much ambivalence about being visible, which is significant because, how can a woman fully step into her power if she's not comfortable being visible (or being at all)? Each woman has an image of what her perfect red dress would be. Debra photographs her in a fine art portrait of that expression of herself. In the film we will create a live action world of her red dress, be it intimate or epic.  JG: There's always a strong need to be vigilant about women's rights and their relationship with visibility and invisibility, but now many people feel a new era of conspicuous misogyny is upon us. How do empowered women counter that trend?  CW: This presidential race and election revealed a level of pain, hatred and disenfranchisement within people that I think no one knew was that deep or coming from so many angles — the darkness coming out into the light, as it were. Aside from the ghastly comments made about women, the race was a theater of the unrealistic expectations we have for women and how much our society will not forgive women for not living up to an impossible ideal. I can't even picture what the ideal is — even as a caricature — it's a bunch of conflicting adjectives that no one can be all at once! I think women are coming to realize that we have internalized these punishing expectations, "internalized the patriarchy" as it were, living with "an inner glass ceiling." Bringing that awareness to light, forgiving ourselves, other women and the patriarchy, and creating the space to be what we are and see who our sisters, mothers, friends, lovers are, is what we can do now. The limiting habit is so deep that taking a full-body, physical action like wearing a red dress in public — being visible, in power, in femininity, with no apologies — is an act that can really turn your day around! And, it's not the right outfit for everyone. Some women have internalized their red dress — go girl!  JG: How do you, personally, operate as an artist under the current political climate?  CW: On the one hand, the same as always because there's a way in which your relationship to your art doesn't change with changing circumstances. But, Art is also a response to the now, and the current political climate necessitates that people take action on an individual and community level, and really get to know "the other" whatever that is relative to themselves. Our producing team is engaging people with our work, on an interactive global scale - social media, primarily Facebook with a Red Dress Sessions page; and we will launch a crowdfunding campaign on Seed & Spark in March/April. We want to hear and see how women, and men, respond to the proposition of the red dress. So much dialogue can happen online and this will help shape our story. We're making a doc, so our work is informed by hunches and responses. Women will be able to share their red dress stories online and the different platforms allow everyone who wants to engage in this movement! On the bright side, I think the current political climate gives us a chance to be visible, together, within political actions or artistic expressions, like an online global party! What are you going to wear?  Living Red Productions is Courtney Williams, Marla Estes, Debra Thornton and Steven Scholl, located in Ashland, Oregon. Their website is www.red-dress-sessions.com. Ashland resident Jeffrey Gillespie is a Daily Tidings columnist, arts reviewer and freelance writer. Email him at [email protected].