Sunday, August 16, 2026

Master Glitch: Feminist Image Group (FIG) at Techne Art Center

 by Patricia Frischer


 Marty Ornish

Master Glitch is a show of unity.  The works speak for themselves, needing no clarification from the artists. The Feminist Image Group (FiG) organization name tells it all. These are feminist artists. They draw attention to issues of concern to women. Their “mission is to champion equality, diversity, and empowerment in the arts through exhibitions, collaborations, and community-building”.

The topics covered on display are as varied and topical as one can imagine. Started in 2009, by Anna Stump, our world has seemingly not improved with the current political unrest. But there is still beauty and humor to be found here.

Master is taken to be someone who has become proficient in a certain field. But master is also the masculine form of dominance. Just like Mistress has changed from the female head of a household, to the sex partner of a married man. Glitch, in this context,  is an interruption in the normal flow of things, but it also symbolizes that moment in time when things can change.  

Marty Ornish is the true example of “women’s work is never done”. She takes old threads and gives them new life. They are soft but they speak loudly.

Anna Stump takes found needle point rescued and embellished with messages that ring so true. “Safety is an illusion.” “My God is Not Listening.”

Daphne Hill “interrupts the male glaze” from these playboy pin-up images by layering them with children’s illustration. The result is that we get to reclaim our femininity.  

Linda Litteral is speaking up about sexual abuse and domestic violence when she gives us a wall of ceramic faces, some turned away with child-like messages on the reverse. But most have eyes closed, and silent mouths. Her chest sets with charming tea sets, however, as asking us to have a conversation. 


 Marty Ornish

Anna Stump

Anna Stump

Daphne Hill


 Linda Litteral

Linda Litteral

 Linda Litteral


Jeanne Dunn has taken images from Lee Miller, surrealist and photojournalist, and made them a back drop for the recreation of a scene from one of her photo documentations of World War 2. In her statement, she asked, is not the same thing happening today “absent the ovens.”

Jiela Rufeh uses the power of small gestures, a slew of words, a protest march (just a moment in time), but up close or from a distance these actions are meant to be catalyst for change.

Helen Redman presents her monsters and monsterias which are frightening but she hopes also motivating. She states we are “all on the spectrum, dancing with survival.”

Lisa Hutton’s use of Art Nouveau to make palatable (thus draw attention to) the abuses to our environment.

Stacie Birky Greene also draws our attention to the blight of animals, especially endangered birds.

Nanette Newbry is not fooling anyone when she states, “She was a very good girl.” The use of encaustic is always a way to show that life is layered and mysterious. 

Jeanne Dunn, detail

Jeanne Dunn


Jiela Rufeh, detail

Jiela Rufeh

Helen Redman


Lisa Hutton

Lisa Hutton

Stacie Birky Greene

Nanette Newbry

We are so glad that Cindy Zimmerman can’t accept the way things are. Her brain glitches give us a world better than the real one.

G. Pasha Turley says,I don’t explain, I can only explore” and her box of images is proof of that.

Doris Bittar’s ancestral home in South Lebanon no longer exists on Google Maps so she brings it back to life in this complex work.

Bridget Rountree has long been working with things that don’t fit together. By resolving the composition, she makes a place to hold more than one truth at a time.

Kim Reasor knows that wildlife is being robbed of its passages through nature from over building and the rollback of environmental protection laws.

Susan J. Osborn finds the joy in her collaged created worlds

Kathy Nida literally presents hate and fear and gun control in her quilted tapestries

Irene Abraham works with the subatomic and microscopic, but her abstractions are where the glitches occur as uncertainly is allowed full reign.

Jane E Hindman gives us this haunting and haunted figure made even more poignant with the words, I am going to be dating her in ten years. Can you believe it?

Terri Hughes-Oelrich has created a whole new substrate made from waste material like coffee grounds and orange peels. Patterns are created as the surface dries and cracks. 

 Cindy Zimmerman

G. Pasha Turley

Doris Bittar

Bridget Rountree

Kim Reasor

Susan J. Osborn

Kathy Nida

Irene Abraham

Jane E Hindman

Terri Hughes-Oelrich

Overview of part of the exhibition space at the reception 

There are 150 works in this show from 28 FIG artists and the others not in this article include Kirsten Aaboe, Judith Elaine Christensen, Kelly Clark, Ann Olsen, Momilani Ramstrum, Alise Sheehan, Ruth Wallen, and Kelly Watson. The enormous space at Techne Art Center continues to be a mecca for our arts community.  

Master Glitch: Feminist Image Group (FIG)
Aug 7 to Sept 30th, 2026
Techne Art Center
1609 Ord Way, Oceanside 92056
Gallery open Thurs, Fri, Sat 1-6pm
More info: Nanette Newbry 917-972-1752
Chuck Thomas  917-972-1752

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