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Women Only! In Their Studios
February 16 - March 30, 2008
Women Only! In
Their Studios is on view at the Lowe Art Museum,
University of Miami from February 16 through March 30, 2008. Contemporary
women artists who have exhibited extensively in galleries and museums in
the United States and worldwide deplore how little their work is recognized
by the American public. This exhibition is an eclectic assemblage of fifty
paintings, photographs, works on paper, sculpture, quilts, and videos by
twenty women who broke through the glass ceiling, in fact shattered it,
but incredibly are not yet household names, as well as photos of artists
studios. Each artist is an innovator who added distinct marks along the
path of modern art -- from abstract expressionism to conceptualism and appropriationism,
and everything in between.
The viewer will be invigorated by a rich modern American
tapestry since the artists are culturally as diverse as the strands that
make up our great melting pot: white, black, American Indian, Chicano, Chinese,
Jews and Christians. Their basic expressive means are as boldly distinctive
as their cultures are different. Included are Jennifer Bartlett, Amalia
Mesa-Bains, Camille Billops, Elizabeth Catlett, Linda Freeman, Ann Hamilton,
Grace Hartigan, Jenny Holzer, Barbara Kruger, Elizabeth Murray, Howardena
Pindell, Laurie Simmons, Faith Ringgold, Miriam Schapiro, Jaune Quick-To-See
Smith, Joan Snyder, Pat Steir, Gail Tremblay, Jackie Winsor, and Flo Oy
Wong.
Enlivening the exhibition are twenty autobiographical reflections
that provide first person insights into artistic inspiration, drive, and
process. The exhibition at the Lowe is part of a seven city national tour
over a two and a half year period. The next venue for the exhibition will
be the Eleanor D. Wilson Museum at Hollins University, Roanoke, VA, from
April 20 through June 29, 2008.
The exhibition was curated by Eleanor Flomenhaft and the
tour was developed and managed by Smith Kramer Fine Art Services, an exhibition
tour development company in Kansas City, Missouri.
Complementing Women Only, the Lowe presents a selection
entitled, Labors of Love: Women Artists from the Permanent Collection.
This exhibition is curated by Gita Shonek and will be on view in Matus Hall
through 2008.
About Smith Kramer Fine Art Services
Founded in 1981 by David Smith, Smith Kramer Fine Art Services
has enjoyed twenty-five years of growth in serving the art community. In
partnership with the institutions and collectors, Smith Kramer Fine Art
Services budgets, markets, crates, insures, transports, and handles all
services of the exhibition from concept to completion. -- edited
text, courtesy Smith Kramer Fine Art Services. Also see
The David Smith Story: Sharing the Arts
(11/14/97).
(above: AMALIA MESA-BAINS, Transparent Migration, 2002,
sculpture: mirrored armoire, glass, textile. Courtesy of Amalia Mesa-Bains)
(above: ELIZABETH CATLETT, Stepping Out, 2000, patinated
bronze. Courtesy of June Kelly Gallery and Elizabeth Catlett)
(above: LINDA FREEMAN, A Little Madness, 1999, oil.
Courtesy of Linda Freeman)
Click here
for more images
Introductory wall panel text from the exhibition
- Women Only! In their Studios
- Curated by Eleanor Flomenhaft
- Studio and Portrait Photographs by Lucille Tortora
-
- Contemporary women artists who have exhibited in galleries
and museums in the United States and in most cases worldwide deplore how
little the American public recognizes their work. Our exhibit endeavors
to acquaint a larger audience with the accomplishments of twenty exceptional
women artists. Included are Amalia Mesa-Bains, Jennifer Bartlett, Camille
Billops, Elizabeth Catlett, Linda Freeman, Ann Hamilton, Grace Hartigan,
Jenny Holzer, Barbara Kruger, Elizabeth Murray, Howardena Pindell, Faith
Ringgold, Miriam Schapiro, Laurie Simmons, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Joan
Snyder, Pat Steir, Gail Tremblay, Jackie Winsor and Flo Oy Wong.
-
- Thirty five years ago there were virtually no feminine
artists shown in most museums or galleries. Intelligent women were supposed
to be raising families; painters or sculptors were hardly noticed. Women
were enjoined to be polite, to keep feelings private that differed from
the social norm. Of course, art can be expressed secretly, and is often
in itself a revolt particularly against the past. But unrecognized talent
was insufficient for women of a certain mettle. Change was demanded. The
twentieth century ushered in new visions of things. Suffragettes brought
about woman's right to vote. Women became professionals as a result of
World War II's need for labor. They became accepted in many male dominated
work roles. But not until the feminist revolution in the early 70s, coming
on the heels of the Vietnam War, did women campaign vociferously for their
rightful place in the art world. Their art was created on a tabular
rasa. Content would come from their common experience. Feminine materials
and iconography would be integral to their art. Works were created with
fabric, wallpaper, sequins, beading, and anything that referred to their
lives without apologies and without stint. In fact they laid the basis
for the art of many male artists to express ideas that they had formally
repressed.
-
- This is an eclectic assemblage of works by remarkable
women who broke through the glass ceiling, in fact shattered it. Clearly
they are all totally centered. Each has reached a secure place within herself,
which was hard fought.
-
- -- Eleanor Flomenhaft
Object labels from the exhibition
- AMALIA MESA-BAINS
- Transparent Migration
- 2002
- sculpture: mirrored armoire, glass, textile
- Courtesy of Amalia Mesa-Bains
-
- JENNIFER BARTLETT
- Shadow
- 1984-1985
- etching, aquatint, spit bite and drypoint in color
- Courtesy of Bob Carlson, Gallery Karl Oskar
-
- JENNIFER BARTLETT
- 4 O'Clock
- 1992-1993
- charcoal, chalk and silkscreen on Saunders paper
- Courtesy of Signet Arts
-
- CAMILLE BILLOPS
- KKK Bootique
- 1994
- offset lithograph
- Courtesy of Camille Billops
-
- CAMILLE BILLOPS
- Zip Coon
- 1992
- drawing
- Courtesy of Camille Billops
-
- CAMILLE BILLOPS
- Mammy's Little Coal Black Rose
- 1992
- lithograph
- Courtesy of Camille Billops
-
- ELIZABETH CATLETT
- Webbed Woman
- 1995
- bronze
- Courtesy of June Kelly Gallery and Elizabeth Catlett
-
- ELIZABETH CATLETT
- Fluted Head
- 1997
- patinated bronze
- Courtesy of June Kelly Gallery and Elizabeth Catlett
-
- ELIZABETH CATLETT
- Stepping Out
- 2000
- patinated bronze
- Courtesy of June Kelly Gallery and Elizabeth Catlett
-
- ELIZABETH CATLETT
- There is a Woman in Every Color
- 1975-2004
- linocut, silkscreen and woodcut
- Courtesy of Sragow Gallery, New York City
-
- ELIZABETH CATLETT
- Black is Beautiful
- 1968-2003
- lithograph on paper
- Courtesy of Sragow Gallery, New York City
-
- LINDA FREEMAN
- Children see Through Darkness
- 1998
- oil on canvas, fabric borders
- Courtesy of Linda Freeman
-
- LINDA FREEMAN
- In the Month of Green Fire
- 2001
- oil, collage, and construction
- Courtesy of Linda Freeman
-
- LINDA FREEMAN
- A Little Madness
- 1999
- oil
- Courtesy of Linda Freeman
-
- ANN HAMILTON
- (phora·4)
- 2005
- iris print on Somerset Velvet paper (Radiant White 330g/sgm)
- Courtesy of Sean Kelly Gallery, New York
-
- ANN HAMILTON
- (phora·1)
- 2005
- iris print on Somerset Velvet paper (Radiant White 330g/sgm)
- Courtesy of Sean Kelly Gallery, New York
-
- GRACE HARTIGAN
- Grazie Rosetti
- 1995
- oil on canvas
- Courtesy of ACA Galleries, New York
-
- GRACE HARTIGAN
- Follies of 1927
- 1989
- oil on canvas
- Courtesy of ACA Galleries, New York
-
- GRACE HARTIGAN
- Blood and Wine
- 1975
- oil on canvas
- Courtesy of ACA Galleries, New York
-
- JENNY HOLZER
- Inflammatory Essays
- 1979-1982
- colored poster set in an unlimited edition
- Courtesy of © 2005 Jenny Holzer, Artists Rights
Society (ARS), New York
-
- BARBARA KRUGER
- Lust
- No date
- photographic print
- Courtesy of Barbara Kruger
-
- ELIZABETH MURRAY
- Untitled
- circa 1985
- color pencil on graph paper
- Courtesy of Signet Arts
-
- ELIZABETH MURRAY
- Untitled
- 2001
- from the Doctor's of The World portfolio
- pigmented digital output
- edition 5 of 100
- Courtesy of John Szoke Editions
-
- HOWARDENA PINDELL
- East - West: Music Making Angel
- 1986
- acrylic, postcards, tempera, gouache on museum board
- Courtesy of Howardena Pindell
-
- HOWARDENA PINDELL
- India: Siva/Ganges
- 1985
- acrylic, polymer, photo transfer paper on canvas
- Courtesy of Howardena Pindell
-
- HOWARDENA PINDELL
- Kyoto: Shisendo
- 1982
- acrylic, dye, paper on canvas
- Courtesy of Howardena Pindell
-
- FAITH RINGGOLD
- Who's Afraid of Aunt Jemima?
- 1983
- acrylic on canvas with dyed, painted and pieced fabric
- Courtesy of ACA Galleries, New York
-
- FAITH RINGGOLD
- The French Collection Part I, #2 Wedding on the Seine
- 1991
- acrylic on canvas with pieced fabric border
- Courtesy of ACA Galleries, New York
-
- FAITH RINGGOLD
- Tar Beach #2
- 2003
- silkscreen on silk
- Courtesy of ACA Galleries, New York
-
- MIRIAM SCHAPIRO
- The Garden
- 1990
- acrylic and fabric on canvas
- Courtesy of Miriam Schapiro
-
- MIRIAM SCHAPIRO
- Beauty of Summer
- 1973-1974
- acrylic and fabric on canvas
- Courtesy of Miriam Schapiro
-
- MIRIAM SCHAPIRO
- My Nosegays are for Captives
- 1976
- collage and acrylic on canvas
- Courtesy of Miriam Schapiro
-
- LAURIE SIMMONS
- Talking Glove
- 1988
- cibachrome print edition 2/5
- Courtesy of Laurie Simmons and Sperone West Water Gallery
-
- LAURIE SIMMONS
- Talking Coconut (String Dispenser)
- 1989
- cibachrome print
- Courtesy of Laurie Simmons and Sperone West Water Gallery
-
- JAUNE QUICK-TO-SEE SMITH
- Fear
- 2004
- mixed media on canvas
- Courtesy of Jaune Quick-To-See Smith and Flomenhaft Gallery
-
- JAUNE QUICK-TO-SEE SMITH
- The Child Within
- 2004
- mixed media on canvas
- Courtesy of Jaune Quick-To-See Smith and Flomenhaft Gallery
-
- JAUNE QUICK-TO-SEE SMITH
- King of the Mountain
- 2005
- oil on canvas
- Courtesy of Jaune Quick-To-See Smith and Flomenhaft Gallery
-
- JOAN SNYDER
- Becoming Magenta
- 2001
- oil, acrylic, paper mache & herbs on linen
- Courtesy of Betty Cuningham Gallery, New York City, New
York
-
- JOAN SNYDER
- Saying Goodbye IV
- 1994
- oil, acrylic, pastel, and wooden dowels on canvas
- Courtesy of Betty Cuningham Gallery, New York City, New
York
-
- JOAN SNYDER
- Wild Prayer
- 2001
- oil, acrylic, paper mache, herbs and beads on linen on
board
- Courtesy of Betty Cuningham Gallery, New York City, New
York
-
- PAT STEIR
- Little Ghost Going
- 2001
- oil on canvas
- Courtesy of Pat Steir and Cheim & Read Gallery, New
York
-
- GAIL TREMBLAY
- Exploding Star
- 1990