Need to measure your waistline?
Don’t bother searching for measuring tape at your local Home Goods, Target, Home Depot, or True Value — the artist Fleur Spolidor has snatched them all up for her exhibit, “The Unforgiving Yardstick: A Look at Women’s Roles and Struggles in Westchester County,” now showing at the Rye Historical Society’s Square House Museum.
And she didn’t stop at the standard yellow tapes — she claimed the red, blue, green, gold, and orange ones too.
Those missing measuring tapes are a powerful symbol in this thought-provoking exhibition. “The Unforgiving Yardstick” showcases 10 striking painted portraits of pioneering women with deep Westchester ties — women who pushed boundaries despite the constraints placed upon them. From an actress and an aviatrix to a sociologist, a former slave, a politician, and a congresswoman, each subject’s story is vividly brought to life.
“This exhibition looks at the lives of women who were succeeding in fields in which nobody thought they could succeed,” said Christine Moore, archival researcher at the Rye Historical Society. “We also need to remember that women take care of everybody around them…the story is not told.”
Adding another layer of depth, each portrait is paired with a large embroidery hoop intricately woven with a collage of language, images, and symbols that reflect the essence of the woman depicted. As for the colorful measuring tapes, they are spliced and layered behind the artwork — a striking metaphor for how these women were constantly measured, judged, and defined by societal expectations throughout their lives, both within their families and communities.
As you move through the exhibit in this serene and history-steeped home — once host to the likes of George Washington and Alexander Hamilton — you’ll meet Delores Johnson, Westchester’s first female police captain, who joined the New Rochelle police force in 1965, when female officers were required to wear skirts and dainty hats, making them look more like flight attendants than law enforcers. You’ll also encounter Jennifer Johnson, a paralympic athlete from Port Chester who dominated in table tennis and wheelchair basketball, bringing home gold medals.
You’ll also meet Greenhaven’s Ethel Barrymore — stage and screen legend after whom the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in Manhattan is named, and yes, an ancestor of Drew. Though celebrated for her dazzling performances, she endured a turbulent marriage and struggled with alcoholism, all while raising a family. Aviator Ruth Nichols, who called Rye home (fun fact: she was Rye resident Amelia Earhart’s friend and rival), fought to break records in the sky, but often was dismissed by the press as a mere “flying debutante,” a label that undermined her groundbreaking achievements.
Then there’s Congresswoman and Rye resident Caroline O’Day, a devoted pacifist who cleverly used fans to communicate her political views — including advocating for women’s suffrage. In her honor, the exhibit features a selfie station with fans, so strike a pose for Instagram. Also in the mix, among others, is Peg Lyon, a tri-racial slave in Greenwich, emancipated in 1800, who achieved land ownership by 1820. One of her descendants, Teresa Vega, serves on the Rye Historical Society Board of Trustees.
“I love the mix of historic and contemporary women, and how the exhibition highlights the stories and legacies of women from Westchester who have shaped the community past and present,” said Sofia Rishel, exhibition intern.
The portraits and artwork are merely one part of this immersive exhibit. Collaborating with the Rye Historical Society’s staff, volunteers, and interns, the team unearthed a trove of artifacts from the society’s archival treasures. Photographs, corsets, a wedding dress, a centuries-old bicycle with accompanying bloomers — even a meticulously preserved 150-year-old piece of wedding cake (forks not provided) — all enrich the narrative and connect to the time and world these women inhabited.
“It’s a pretty complex exhibition with many layers,” said Spolidor, and by layers she is not referring to the cake. “You can experience this exhibit through the artwork, the artifact collection, the stories — the struggles and the inspiration. There’s always something new to uncover, which is why you can come back again and again.”
This depth is intentional, she said, reflecting both the rich textures and collage in her work and the intricate stories woven throughout the exhibit. “Women’s lives are complex, so it makes sense that this exhibit has many layers,” she added.
Spolidor’s project began when she reached out to the Rye Historical Society, eager to learn more about her new neighborhood. Having relocated to Rye from California’s Bay Area only a few years ago, she wanted to explore the town’s diversity and create art that illuminates the women who helped shape its history.
With the support of an Arts Alive Individual Artist Grant from ArtsWestchester and a partnership with the historical society, “The Unforgiving Yardstick” took shape.
“This exhibition is very much about the community of Westchester and Rye,” said the historical society’s program director, Natalie Hofstedt. “It’s great to have our archives amplify the stories of the women represented in the show.” Recognizing its impact, Hofstedt is working closely with Spolidor, the board, and staff to develop school programs and community events around the exhibit.
Originally planned as a one-month showcase for Women’s History Month, the exhibit was extended for an entire year — a testament to the effort and collaboration behind it.
There’s something for everyone — a historic Barbie, a rusty typewriter, even a relic from a time when cops patrolled the beach, measuring the distance between a woman’s swimsuit and knees. Among the most striking pieces are replicas of a corset, swimsuit, and cycling bloomers, meticulously crafted by Spolidor using nothing but measuring tapes. (The bicycle is a symbol throughout the show of women’s freedom.)
And then there are the women themselves — captured in vibrant portraits whose eyes seem to follow you across the room.
“It’s really about education, diversity, and uncovering the stories of these women,” said Spolidor. “Through them, you learn the history of this place, because they helped shape it.”
The exhibit is open Tuesday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Square House Museum on Boston Post Road. Admission is free, but donations are welcome.
