Feminism and women's art-making
Carissa Doying Cuny
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Hi,
I have been researching the impact of feminism on women's
art-making. I am at the point where I would really like to hear what
other women artists think about: feminisms - which one comes closest to
your philosophy, are you aware of feminist issues showing up in your work
- if so what and how, do you think feminism has any difference in your
work - do you feel you have more professional options, creative options,
life options.
This research may at one point become a book, for now, it is a
senior project. I have been working with professors in the English,
Women Studies, Psychology and, of course, Fine Arts departments here at
Augusta State University. If anyone is doing similar work I would love
to exchange ideas, resources, etc. with you.
By the way, this is not about male-bashing. Some of my best
friends are guys! My concerns are of opening up possibilities and
choices for everyone and building community.
Thanks,
Carissa
Doug Gray
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I know your request went out to the women artists on the list and
there are many talented women who will undoubtedly respond, but I
attended a slide lecture the other night on women and art. It was
presented by one of the faculty on our campus, Cheryl Francis, in
recognition of Women's History month.
Cheryl's presentation addressed many topics, but focused primarily on
art produced by women since the 1960's (with a few exceptions being
Frida Kahlo and Artemisia Gentileschi). Of course she addressed the
work of Judy Chicago and the Guerilla Girls.
Some of the topics that she addresses where:
1. Women artists during the 60's and 70's addressed the typical
notion of what was women's work and the way which culture defined
acceptable roles and career options, that there was a process,
illustrated in the art work produced at that time, where women defined
who they had been, who they are now, and who they wanted to be.
2. Women artist often, though not always, incomporated tradionaly
accepted media (such as quilting, dress making) into their work. She
should examples of how women made non-traditional items from materials
that were associated with women and their work. On e example was a
lacy sheer nightie equiped with steel wool sleeves and bodice.
3. She noted that women were more likely to work on colaborative
efforts that men.
4. She discussed the depiction of the female nude and how men portray
women differently than women portray themselves.
5. She also discussed the use of vaginal imagery in the work of many
women artists, explaining that women used the imagery for shock value
and as a way of reclaiming their own bodies.
6. She suggested that eventually women artists should be discussed
without mention of gender. She felt that Women's history month was in
some since maintaining a segregation of sorts, suggesting that the
rest of the year was devoted to men's history. She acknowledged that
this recognition was important now, but that eventually it would
become unecessary to devote a month to women, a month to
african-Americans, a month to Hispanics, etc. She hoped as do I that
race and gender will eventually become an invalid way of
distinguishing art styles and trends. Instead of studying women
artists in a separate class, they could and should be discussed in the
art history seminars as men are currently.
A couple of books came up in the lecture that might be of use to you
if you have not already found them. The first was a fairly
comprehensive text on the subject called "Women, Art and Society" by
Whitney Chadwick. The other was "Why there were no Great Women
Artists." The others name escapes me right know.
Hope this helps some. If you'd like I'll pass your email address on
to Cheryl so that you could talk with her dirrectly. It was a
wonderful and timely lecture. I'm sure that she would be willing to
share her ideas with you.
Doug Gray
Alpine, TX
Carolyn Boeri
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At 08:51 AM 3/29/97 EST, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Hi,
> I have been researching the impact of feminism on women's
> Thanks,
> Carissa
>
>Carissa,
Interesting, Carissa, I just did a short paper on 17th and 18th Century
woman painters. Only About half a dozen gained any recognition. They all
were feminist and were considered by many, mostly men, to be vulgar misfits.
Two hyphenated their names. One Italian, Artemisia Gentileschi(1593-1653)
has quite a history, which you can find on the Internet if you do a net
search with her name in quotes. Judith Leyster, Rosa Boheir, Elizabeth
Vigee-Lebrun, Rosabella Carriera, and Adelaide Labille-Guiard also painted
their subjective views of the plight of women during their time. They all
protrayed women as strong and independent. Most of their works had feminist
themes, ie; men preying on innocent women, woman getting back at evil man.
They were not neccessarily supportive of each other, unfortunately. Hope
this makes you curious to learn more.
CB in Vermont
Marcia Selsor
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Carolyn Boeri wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> At 08:51 AM 3/29/97 EST, you wrote:
> >----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> One Italian, Artemisia Gentileschi(1593-1653)
> has quite a history, which you can find on the Internet if you do a net
> Vigee-Lebrun, Rosabella Carriera, and Adelaide Labille-Guiard also painted
Please don't forget Angelica Kaufman (British Royal Academy) and Clara
Peeters
--
Marcia Selsor
http://www.imt.net/~mjbmls/
mjb...@imt.net