I would like to take you on a tour of feminist art. The two artists I chose for my virtual tour are Judy Chicago and Lisa Fifield. I believe that, through their art, these women exemplified what true feminism was about: celebrating women.
Judy Chicago grew up in Chicago and conducted her professional art training at UCLA. The first piece I would like to show you is one that was created in 1971 (not in 1975).
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The reason I chose to put this picture in my tour (even though it is before 1975), is to give you an idea of her roots. She was originally into minimalism, a style that sought to strip forms down to their bare essentials. “Rainbow Picket” is a great example of these minimalist roots that Chicago eventually abandoned for her more famous feminist art.
The most famous of these feminist art works is “The Dinner Party” (circa 1979).
I have provided two links so you can get a picture of the piece as a whole and also a close up of some of the featured artists within the piece. This painting, I feel, represents the feminist ideal of celebrating women. The names include every famous women imaginable (the majority of which I have never heard of): from mythical females goddesses to Virginia Wolfe and some first ladies. This piece not only makes the public aware of these women that have been a huge part of our history, but celebrates each one individually as if to thank them for everything that they have done for the female sex. The different accomplishments in the plethora of fields that these women are a part of is testament to the fact that women can be anything, and that, no matter what the accomplishment, they should rejoice in what they have become.
Here are some images taken from Judy Chicago’s THE BIRTH PROJECT (circa 1985). She sought to bring more attention to the birth process and an increased appreciation for women :
“Hatching the Universal Egg E5 Birth Power”
“Creation Tapestry”
“Birth Tear”
“Birth Joy”
“The Crowning NP4″
Lisa Fifield was a native American women belonging to the Oneida tribe in Wisconsin. Although a lot of her art was about celebrating the native heritage, and their close relation to nature, I felt one of her works in particular represented a feminist ideal.
“A Murder of Crows” shows a naked tree with crows in it towering above native American mothers and their children. I think one thing that people confuse feminism with is sexism. Sexism is geared towards the idea of equality (or inequality) of the male and female sex. Although feminists do wish to erase sexism, it is not their central theme. Feminism, as I have said before, is about celebrating women. True feminists would not discount a women that decided to raise her children at home and forget about going to law school or business school. Feminists would celebrate her choice to embrace her children and recognize the sacrifice she made. I believe that Lisa Fifield’s “A Murder of Crows” is a great example of celebrating the comfort that only a mother could give.
December 15, 2009 at 7:47 am
I have to say that Judy Chicago was an amazing woman and an even more amazing artist in the female world. I, too, chose women as my subject for creating a showcase. I, however, chose the minority path to follow in regards to art pieces. I did follow Lisa Fifield somewhat throughout our learning, but I wasn’t exactly clear on your connection with feminism and her painting of a “Murder of Crows.” I realize that there are clearly mothers and their children visible, but what is this connection with the tree, the crows, and the title of the piece itself, or at least you opinion of the connection? I know that information on Fifield’s work is hard to find, but I would have liked to understand your connection.
Chicago clearly bases all of your selected pieces on the celebration of the woman, especially the birthing process. However, I guess I would have liked to see a little more history or information on each individual piece. I noticed that Chicago seems to surround her birthing pieces wit repetitive lines. Was there any connection to the topic, reasoning, or symbolism behind this repetition? I found it quite interesting.