Artnews: “The Feminist Evolution”

After reading Artnews December 2009 article “The Feminist Evolution,” I’m left feeling optimistic, static and angry.  Judy Chicago states: “Yes, more women are showing. Yes, more women are represented in collections. But they still fit into a meta-male narrative.  One of our goals is to integrate women’s history into the mainstream, so it is no longer a separate, minor phenomenon.  There is still an institutional lag and an insistence on a male Eurocentric narrative.  We are trying to change the future: to get girls and boys to realize that women’s art is not an exception-it’s a normal part of art history.” 

It will be a challenge to change the framework of a system that has remained consistent throughout history.  Especially when society is programmed to think a certain way.  However is this movement a trend or a systematic shift in collective thinking?  Regardless, I will move forward as an artist despite the challenges…

Louise Bourgeois

During the last semester, the presentation assignment for one of my students was the artist Louise Bourgeois.   She is 97 years old, still kicking and an inspiration to artists.

Link:

http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/bourgeois/index.html

Feel Your Boobies

From the website:

www.feelyourboobies.com

THE CAMPAIGN The “Are You Doing It?”® Reminder Campaign is the annual Feel Your Boobies campaign focused on our mission of utilizing unexpected and unconventional methods to remind young women to “feel their boobies”. What exactly does unexpected mean? Well, it means you probably won’t see a “feel your boobies” brochure at the doctor’s office…but you sure as heck might pass the Boobies Bus® on the freeway, or you might be laying at the beach and see an airplane towing a banner with our logo during our Boobies @ the Beach promotion, or, if you’re on Facebook, you just might be lucky enough to claim a free car magnet or sticker using our Facebook Application. “Feel Your Boobies” may seem simply like a fun and provocative slogan, but it’s really our way of asking “Are You Doing It?”® – well….are you?

THE BACKGROUND Feel Your Boobies® was founded in 2004 after our Founder, Leigh Hurst, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 33. She found her lump simply by “feeling her boobies”, not through a formal self-breast exam. What originally started as a few fun t-shirts she designed to remind her friends to “feel their boobies” has evolved into non-profit Foundation and international campaign focused on spreading this life saving message to young women using unexpected and unconventional methods. Why use unexpected and unconventional methods? Well, based on Leigh’s experience, many young women tune out messages about breast cancer because they don’t believe they are at risk or the messages are too clinical. Here at Boobies Central, we know that research shows that simply “feeling your boobies” (aka “breast awareness) is just as effective at identifying lumps or other breast changes as the traditional step-by-step process of “breast self-exams”. And that’s exactly why we’re here — to give you “a friendly reminder when you least expect it”. So get feeling girls, and remind a friend to do the same.

Articles by Jerry Saltz

Mel Prest emailed me three articles by Jery Saltx, questioning WHERE THE GIRLS ARE!

Take a look:

http://eyes-towards-the-dove.blogspot.com/2009/06/facebook-discussion-jerry-saltz.html

http://www.villagevoice.com/2006-09-19/art/where-the-girls-aren-t/

http://www.twocoatsofpaint.com/2009/11/critic-on-critic-jerry-saltz-tells-dc.html

Zaha Hadid

Recently, a student asked me:  ”What is the most memorable art exhibit you have seen?

Of course more than one exhibit stands out.  However, I had the pleasure of viewing the Zaha Hadid Guggenheim exhibit in 2006. Her art filled the entire museum with drawings, paintings, models and etc…

Here are some links:

http://pastexhibitions.guggenheim.org/hadid/overview.html

http://www.zaha-hadid.com/

Ruth Asawa at Rena Bransten Gallery

Last Friday, I took my Abstract and Interpretation students on a tour of San Francisco art galleries.  A highlight was the Ruth Asawa show at the Rena Bransten Gallery.  Her work is magical, lyrical and never ceases to amaze me.

Links:

http://www.renabranstengallery.com/Asawa_Tour09.html

http://www.ruthasawa.com/

http://www.famsf.org/deyoung/exhibitions/exhibition.asp?exhibitionkey=591

Where the Girls Aren’t by Jerry Saltz

http://www.artnet.com/magazineus/features/saltz/saltz10-2-06.asp

Nancy Spero

Summary of Nancy Spero’s amazing life and art career:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/20/arts/design/20spero.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Women%20artists&st=cse

Interesting Facts:

•    In 2006, only 23 percent of solo exhibitions in NYC art galleries were by women artists.
•    Many museum collections consist of only 5%-10% works by women artists.
•    Only 30% of Art Review’s Power 100 are women in the arts.
•    There are 80 percent female students at the School of Visual Arts. But in the real world, there are 70 to 80 percent male artists in galleries and museums.

(Sources: http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/2008/oct/14/art, http://shiftingcareers.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/14/artistmother-an-uneasy-marriage/ and http://nymag.com/arts/art/features/40979/)

Why “Factor XX”?

“Factor” can be defined as “something that contributes to or has an influence on the result of something.”

“X Factor” defined as “an unknown or hard-to-define influence.”

“XX” defined as being the female chromosome determination.

Can “Factor XX” be defined?

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