Feminist Art

 

    Women have gone so far these past decades. Women have broken stereotypes from being a woman who focused on housework to becoming a part of a strong workforce who work in various jobs worldwide. In the past, women have been fighting for their rights since the 1800s, particularly in ART. Men dominated the world of Art in the last century, and although female artists were already present this whole time, only a few were recognized because of gender stereotypes.  Female Artists were not allowed to do their exhibitions and gallery representation because of their gender (Art Story). As tradition has taught, in Art history, women’s bodies were mainly seen as models. It was not until 1960 that women initiated the Feminist Art movement. Feminist Art does not criticize men for superiority but only promotes equality among genders. Below are some female artists that became significant during the Feminist Art movement because of their exquisite artworks.

 

Judy Chicago, The Dinner Party, 1974–79, ceramic, porcelain, and textile, Brooklyn Museum

    One of the first artworks that inspired the Feminist Art movement is the "Dinner Party" by Judy Chicago. Chicago is one of the influential artists who initiated the Feminist Art Program (FAP). The image above is an example of her installation artworks comprising centerpieces on a banquet table that honors thirty-nine powerful and significant women in history. It is remarkable how things were all together to make extraordinary art. Great choices of materials were used, like table runners, chalices, porcelain plates, and utensils. The embroidery technique was impressively done, like the gold thread in crafting the names in the table runners and the colors used in the objects.

Judy Chicago, Emily Dickinson place setting from The Dinner Party, 1974-79

   Brooklyn Museum (Photo: Philipp Messner

             

             Judy Chicago, Eleanor of Aquitaine place setting from The Dinner Party, 1974-79 Brooklyn Museum (Photo: Mark B. Schlemmer) 

    The two centerpieces have meanings that entail womanhood because of their female genitalia shape designs, which many people found disturbing. It became controversial to others because it highlights female anatomy; therefore, it was criticized by many and turned down for museum exhibits. It is interesting how people appreciate the nude paintings in the previous era but not this type of artwork. For some, this was altogether unpleasant, for others, fascinating. However, both women and men experienced something quite unusual: seeing the female subject matter in a female context rather than in relation to male art history.

Figure 1.Miriam SchapiroThe Beauty of Summer, 1973-1974, Acrylic, fabric on canvas, Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

                     

Figure 2. Miriam Schapiro, Anatomy of a Kimono, 1974, Acrylic and fabric on canvas - Private Collection

 

    Another influential artist of Feminist art is Miriam Schapiro. She collaborated and worked with Judy Chicago in developing the Feminist Art Program. She is known for the term “Femmage” which she initiated, means Feminine and collage pieces combined. The two artworks above are examples of her Femmage art. They are also considered Assemblages type of art because the pieces of fabric are combined to make incredible artwork. Women are known to be great textile artists. Unfortunately, before, women’s crafts were not recognized and were underappreciated. Schapiro proved this wrong by using various fabrics and transforming them into a monumental feminist statement (Art Story). In addition, she used her artworks to educate people about Feminism and Art. Both artworks have exquisite fabrics that are comprised of different colors. Figure 1 mainly consists of flowers with vibrant colors. Figure 2 highlights shades of dark stains on the left and bright colors with red-orange hues on the right. I had the chance to participate in this Collage Art when I was in high school, where we were asked to do mixed media: A combination of vibrant clothing and lace and paint and other crafts. Unfortunately, I did not win but creating the design made me appreciate ART more. More so when I saw the inspiring pieces from the winning participants: Schapiro successfully generated art opportunities to enable artist to create designs using crafts accessible to minority worldwide.

  

     Yoko Ono, Cut Piece ,1964, Yamaichi Concert Hall, Kyoto, Japan 

    Art can be in various forms and can be done through a theatrical performance. Yoko Ono was one of the first artists that introduced performance art. In the video above, Yoko Ono performed an act called  “Cut Piece” in 1964 in Kyoto, Japan. She sits on the stage, showing no emotions while the audience takes turns cutting a piece of her clothing that gradually falls away from her body. This is an example of Feminist Art because the video can be portrayed as an example of gender issues that women faced during that time. It also helped voice out their woman's rights. I like how she maintained her composure throughout the act. You can see in her reaction that she becomes uncomfortable when the last guy cuts most of the pieces in her clothes. She looks uneasy yet determined and prepared to take whatever comes, knowing she is giving her all. 

 

Bag Piece, 2022, Kunsthaus Museum of Fine arts, Switzerland

 

    The second video is inspired by Yuko Ono's 1964 "Bag piece" performance. It was reenacted in 2022 at the Kunsthaus Museum of Fine arts in Switzerland. You cannot see the person when they performed, but you can feel the emotions in their actions. It is fascinating how eccentric movements can say a lot of things. I like how it is performed in an inviting space that is surrounded by different artworks. It gives you a creative mood just by watching. The act can be simple but captivates you with how they perform with the bag. I can see how one can be very different when in the bag. You become just a spirit talking soul to soul, oblivious of the world's conflict.

    

    Feminist artists have been pivotal in expressing women’s issues in Art. Women of today showed they aren't only model objects in Art but are now the ones creating Art with their freedom. As stated above, female artists are now finally gaining recognition, as seen in the number of women presenting in galleries and being recognized in the Art world.

 Works Cited

“Feminist Art Movement Overview.” The Art Story, https://www.theartstory.org/movement/feminist-art/.

“Miriam Schapiro Art, Bio, Ideas.” The Art Story, https://www.theartstory.org/artist/schapiro-miriam/.

Girardeau, Merrill Lee. “Miriam Schapiro's Femmages at Museum of Arts and Design's Surface/Depth.” New York City Guide, CityGuideNY.com, 2 Mar. 2018, https://www.cityguideny.com/article/Miriam-Schapiro-Femmages-Museum-of-Arts-and-Design-.

Klein, Dr. Jennie, and Dr. Jennie Klein. “Judy Chicago, the Dinner Party.” Smarthistory, https://smarthistory.org/judy-chicago-the-dinner-party/.

KunsthausZurich. “Yoko Ono – Bag Piece 2022 Performance.” YouTube, YouTube, 31 Mar. 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1tOMWIAf1A.

 “Yoko Ono Cut Piece Clip.” YouTube, YouTube, 10 Feb. 2015,         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWczMBtPa04.

The Art during Great Depression

 

    The Great Depression taught us many things in history. It happened across Europe and Spain and hit hard in the US. The American people experienced poverty, the economy went down, and people lost their jobs and became homeless. Different kinds of art styles emerged during this time. The artworks artists made inspired them because of the Great Depression. Some artists use these artworks to help implement social change. Other artists around the time have also created artwork so they can be heard about their hardships and situations. However, some artworks tell a story of how they were able to bounce back and recover from adversity which helped boost the citizen's morale.

            

Ben Shahn, Jersey Homesteads Mural 1936-38, Roosevelt Public School (Right Panel)  

Ben Shahn, Jersey Homesteads Mural 1936-38, Roosevelt Public School (Left Panel)

    Let's take a look at one of the paintings that inspired the Great Depression. It is the mural that Ben Shann painted in the 1930s. This piece is located inside a public school in New Jersey. Ben Shan created this artwork to tell a story about the effects of the Great Depression and to show people's social problems during that time. Social Realism dramatically inspires his works. Social Realism is the representation of social and economic issues through art, music, and photography that helps people be aware of current events. Social Realist artists used art as a weapon to fight against the exploitation of labor (The Art Story). This piece shows the workers' social issues in making ends meet. He used warm colors in this painting. I see a lot of colors of blue and orange, Red and green. Shan is very detailed in this painting, even though it's mostly people with their respective events that are happening during that time. He used some shades to highlight the color. The architecture was utilized by changing the perspective to change scenes to portray the lives of the immigrants. This expansive and detailed mural tells Shahn's commitment to improve the human condition through narrative storytelling and his incredible skill at creating complex compositions.

          Philip Evergood,  An American Tragedy, 1937, Oil on Canvas,  Private Collection

   This is another artwork that talks about social realism. It is a painting by Philip Evergood called "An American Tragedy." Evergood is also an activist and used art to depict awareness of social injustice. He advocated for the civil rights of artists, especially when there was a budget cut and layoffs from the Federal Art Project. It shows people rioting against the policeman because of struggles of oppression during the Great Depression. It is a chaotic scene in which the artists use different lines to draw the characters in this piece. I like how he used rich colors to depict the tumultuous scene and is consistent with the color choices, like the striking blue color of the police officers to show colors of authority. Today we can see and even feel this tragic event by just looking at this painting.

  

Seymour Fogel, The Wealth of the Nation 1938, Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building

   Not all artworks depict people's oppression and misery during the Great Depression. This is a painting that Seymour Fogel makes. He was one of the artists that worked for the Federal Art Project. A program that the government made to help fund artworks like murals and paintings. It brought attention to the public of real-life events happening in America and also helped provide jobs to artists during the Great Depression. Fogel was inspired to make this painting based on Franklin Roosevelt's quote, "In our personal ambitions, we are individualists. But in seeking economic and political progress as a nation, we all go up or down as one people." This painting helps inspire and motivate the people that in order for us to thrive, we must all work together. Fogel didn't use a lot of colors in this painting. Instead, he used lighter shades to blend the color. It is realistic because it happens in our daily lives. It is also simple but does create a deep meaning behind it. I like how Seymour used this artwork to bring awareness to the public that the economy would eventually bounce back from adversity.

   Overall, Art has dramatically influenced the history of the Great Depression. Artists began addressing politics and using their Art to influence society. Artworks, whether it depicts negative or positive effects, both teach us a lesson. I became more appreciative of what we have in this generation because of the resources that are readily available to the public and the wide variety of jobs that are more accessible than before. The Great Depression taught us how the economy's downfall could significantly impact the people.

Works Cited 

“Social Realism Movement Overview.” The Art Story, https://www.theartstory.org/movement/social-realism/.

“Shahn's Jersey Homesteads Mural | Graphic Arts.” Princeton University, The Trustees of Princeton University, https://graphicarts.princeton.edu/2018/07/31/shahns-jersey-homesteads-mural/.

“Cohen Federal Building: Fogel Murals - Washington DC.” Living New Deal, 18 Mar. 2021, https://livingnewdeal.org/projects/wilbur-j-cohen-building-fogel-murals-washington-dc/.

“An American Tragedy (1937).” Art Through the Third Eye, 27 Sept. 2018, https://blog.mcdaniel.edu/thirdeyeart/2018/09/27/an-american-tragedy-1937/.