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FEMINIST THREADS, OR, IT’S ALL ABOUT THE LADIES

By Rachel Epp Buller February 22, 2010

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A few reflections from CAA 2010

During my brief stay in Chicago last week for the College Art Association annual conference, it was impossible to miss the exciting presence of feminist concerns running throughout the sessions, exhibitions, and affiliated societies.

Anna Shteynshleyger, “Father and Son,” pigment print, 2004-2009. Shteynshleyger’s works were on display at the Renaissance Society through February 14, 2010. Image: courtesy of The University of Chicago

On an organizational level, there were meetings of the standing CAA Committee on Women in the Arts, the National Women’s Caucus for Art, and The Feminist Art Project. Do these societies overlap in their concerns? Yes. Are they worthy organizationshttp://www.nationalwca.org/wordpress/wp-admin/post-new.php? Certainly. Is it entirely clear how each group differs from the other? Not exactly. All seek to promote the interests of women and gender issues in art, some from the inside (CWA) and others from the outside (WCA for years has had a separate but concurrent conference, or Confab). The Feminist Art Project (TFAP) promotes itself as a national initiative that celebrates both the Feminist Art Movement and the political, cultural, and aesthetic impact of women in art and art history.

Full story at: http://ereview.org/2010/02/22/feminist-threads-or-its-all-about-the-ladies/

Proposal:  “Man as Object: Reversing the Gaze”
Ceres Gallery, 547 West 27th Street, New York, NY
May 24th through June 18th, 2011

The Women’s Caucus for Art (www.nationalwca.org), a leading supporter of women artists since 1972, is requesting art on the theme of “Men as Object: Reversing the Gaze”.  This proposal for an exhibition for Ceres Gallery is a collaboration between the Northern California, South Bay Area and Michigan WCA chapters and is open to all US women artists.

Send the following to karengutfreund@yahoo.com
Images that pertain to the theme
Image list with number, title, media, size and date for each image
Artist resume

Deadline to send images:  Wednesday April 14th

The art we receive will be given to Ceres as a proposal for an exhibition.  If we are chosen, we will have another call for art that will allow artists time to create new work.  Please also email karengutfreund@yahoo.com if you would like to be kept on the mailing list for this and other feminist projects.

Prospectus for “Reversing the Gaze”

Since the early years of Feminist Art, women artists have responded to their subjugation in art by male artists by using their own bodies as the subject matter in their work. We credit feminist art of the 1970’s with giving artists today the “permission to be personal”.

There is a difference in women’s art from the work of male counterparts. We see the nude woman from different angles. The feminist artist chooses a personal vantage point, apart from that seen in men’s portrayals of women. The thesis of woman as both surveyor and the surveyed continues.

“Men act and women appear. Men look at women. Women watch themselves being looked at. This determines not only most relations between men and women but also the relation of women to themselves. The surveyor of women in herself is male: the surveyed female…thus she turns herself into an object- and most particularly an object of vision: a sight”.  Ways of Seeing, by John Berger

The goal of this exhibition “Man as Object: Reversing the Gaze” is to turn the tables and to exhibit works that put the male in the position of subject and spectacle.  Not only will the male be taking on the female role, but the surveyor is now female, no longer a “masculine” part of the female, thus creating a truly Feminist stance. The male is the spectacle for a woman’s enjoyment or mere viewing.

This is effective in two ways: as the male viewer encounters the male nude, he is forced like many women before him to turn the mirror on himself and secondly to feel the powerlessness of being owned or submissive. The individualism of the artist, the thinker, the patron, the owner, and the woman is transformed. The person who is the object of their activities, the man, is treated as a thing or an abstraction.  By reversing the unequal relationship between men and women that is so deeply embedded in our culture, men will do to themselves what they have done to women for centuries.  They observe themselves and their own masculinity as women observe their own femininity.

This exhibition will explore women’s responses to a male dominated world in a different way than an exhibition of women’s images of themselves. It will mark an important development in Feminist Art which has long concentrated on images of women meant to challenge stereotypical notions of womanhood.

A gallery filled with works depicting men, created by women, comments on the prevalence of the male gaze in art and of the continued domination of male artists exhibiting in galleries and museums.
Please email or call me with any questions, 408-823-9524.  Thank you so very much in advance!
Karen Gutfreund
Vice President - Peninsula WCA
Exhibitions Chair - SBAWCA
CALL FOR ART!

 Women’s Caucus for Art

 congratulates its

 2011 Lifetime Achievement Awardees

Beverly Buchanan
Diane Burko
Ofelia Garcia
Joan Marter
Carolee Schneemann
Sylvia Sleigh

Save the date for the awards events:
Saturday evening, February 12, 2011. 

Check out pictures of the
Young Women’s Caucus Apron Show Photo Album

http://youngwc.blogspot.com/

Hello all-
I am in the process of setting up a hotel block for the February 2010
WCA conference in Chicago.
We have chosen the Hotel Allegro http://www.allegrochicago.com
It is a very nice, boutique hotel. It has great amenities and ample
space for mingling. This will also be WCA headquarters and the place
to go to pick up all your conference info.
The Allegro is about 5 blocks (.5 mile) away from the Cultural Center
(LAA awards) and about 10 blocks (1 mile ) from the Hyatt (CAA).
We have a great rate of $125 a night (2 double beds, queen or king)
and $ 250 for a suite (1 king bedroom and living room).

The CAA conference will run Wed. Feb 10 -Sat. Feb.13
The WCA conference will run Thur Feb 11-Sun Feb 14 with the Board
meeting on Mon Feb 15 until 3pm.

In setting up the room block, we have the following issues..
-  once we use up the block we may not be able to add more rooms at
the at the same rate.
-  we need to use 80% of the rooms we hold. If we do not WCA is liable
for the unused portion.
-  this is Valentine’s weekend so hotel space may fill up fast.

I am trying to see how many rooms I need to hold.
Please email the following information asap.
1. If you plan on attending the conference
2. If you plan on staying at the Allegro
3. If staying at the Allegro, nights you plan on staying ie Wed-Mon

Please pass this on to your chapters.

Thank you for your time and help.

Janice Nesser
President-elect, WCA
janice_nesser@nationalwca.org

Here is the latest WCA conference schedule:

Thursday, Feb 11
5:30-7pm WCA 1 1/2 affiliate panel -Investigating the Need for Women’s
Art Galleries, Exhibitions and Organizations: From Our Center .
Regency B, Gold Level, West Tower, Hyatt Regency  (free and open to
the public)
8-10:30 pm- WCA sponsored CAA panel The Power of the Image; Studio
Artist and Civil Society . Grand CD South, Gold Level, East Tower,
Hyatt Regency (must be CAA conference attendee)

Friday, Feb 12
12:30-2pm - WCA welcome reception and screening of the winners of the
international Video Shorts competition. Hyatt Regency (free and open
to the public)
6-9pm - Bus tour- Reception/openings national WCA exhibition ‘From the
Center’ Woman Made gallery and Chicago chapter exhibition ARC gallery

Saturday, Feb 13
7:30-9 am - Chapter council meeting Grand CD North, Gold Level, East
Tower, Hyatt Regency
9-4 pm - TFAP panels
The events following at Chicago Cultural Center….
4:30-5:30 pm - Chicago awards
5:30-6 pm - Chicago  reception
6-6:30 pm - crossover reception of Chicago and national WCA
6:30-7:30 pm - Lifetime Achievement Award dinner
7:40-10 pm - LAA presentation

Sunday, Feb 14 (TENTATIVE)
8:15 am  Bus leaves from Allegro
Finding your Center exercise
Chapter council meeting
Young WCA panel
International Museum of Surgical Science - ‘Hidden Agenda,’ Carol Bjerke
National Mexican Museum of Art
Beverly Center, JWAN exhibition ‘Drawing the line’
Hyde Park center -possible art making workshop
4:30 pm - bus returns to Allegro

Monday, Feb 15
7:30-9am - NY 2011 committee meeting (place -TBA)
9-3pm - WCA Board meeting

Registration for the WCA conference, bus tour registration and LAA
ticket information will be available on the website in the next few
weeks.

Saturday, October 24, 2009, 2:00 – 4:00 PM
UN Day Benefit for Women and Water Rights: Rivers of Regeneration Exhibition
The Woman’s Club of Minneapolis, 410 Oak Grove Street
On behalf of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) / MN Metro Branch, WCA members are cordially invited to honor United Nations Day and support the upcoming 2010 art exhibition. Hosting the event is Zehra Keye, WILPF member and North Central Regional Representative to UNA-USA. Come and learn more about the exhibition, related programs, and its motivation. Invitations with enclosed response card have been mailed to local members. Along with the University of Minnesota Department of Art and WILPF, the WCA is co-sponsor of the Exhibition scheduled to open February 23 at the U of M Katherine E. Nash Gallery. If you have questions regarding the Benefit or would like to register by phone, call committee member Carol Bessler at 612-788-1145.

Carol Bessler
Member, Women and Water Rights Core Committee
Member, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom / MN Metro Branch
P: 612-788-1145
E: carol1145@live.com

JOIN CAA IN CHICAGO FOR FOUR DAYS OF NONSTOP ART AND LIVELY DISCUSSION

The CAA Annual Conference is the world’s largest international forum for professionals in the visual arts. More than four thousand artists, art historians, curators, educators, and students are expected to meet February 10–13, 2010, at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago.

Annual Conference registration is now open! CAA was able to renegotiate cheaper hotel rates to help save conference attendees even more money. To pay the lowest rates, register for the conference and book your travel accommodations today!

Early registration is available through December 11, 2009:

Members: $155
Student and retired members: $90
Nonmembers: $280

Advance registration can be made until January 22, 2010:

Members: $225
Student and retired members: $130
Nonmembers: $350

Onsite registration at the conference is as follows:

Members: $270
Student and retired members: $155
Nonmembers: $400

Institutional-members levels at the Academic/Corporate Membership and Library/Department/Museum Membership level can register up to ten faculty and staff members at the reduced individual-member rate (early or advance, depending on the deadline). Ask your school or department chair to find out if your institution holds a CAA institutional membership at these levels. Please email Member Services or call 212-691-1051, ext. 12, to find out more; or visit the institutional-membership section of the CAA website.

We look forward to seeing you in Chicago!

HI Everyone,

Thanks so much for getting the word out and sending postcards to the Peace/Non-nuclear War exhibition. 391 cards were received prior to my departure for Mexico City on Tuesday. This exceeded my desired 300 cards and amazing considering the short deadline and the summer holidays. Please check out the blog http://wcaartwavesinternational.blogspot.com/. You’ll be moved by the voices around the world coming together to speak for peace and against nuclear war. It’s a manifestation of people flexing their art activism muscle over this important subject.

Warmly,

Priscilla Otani
WCA International Committee Chair

ART AND ACTIVISM - SHARE YOUR PASSION!

February 25 – March 2, 2009

Activities & Schedule Accurate as of January 14, 2009
In a dynamic return to our roots as a welcoming, activist community of women
arts professionals, Women’s Caucus for Art’s LA 2009 follows a “CONFAB”
style that features networking, tours, inspiring awards, exciting
exhibitions and many participatory events and encourages participation in
the conference offerings of the College Art Association (CAA) and the
Feminist Art Project (TFAP). Be sure to join us at our 2009 Confab in Los
Angeles. What has heart and meaning for you? Take this opportunity to
inspire others with your vision and to be inspired by theirs. Connect with
our national WCA community. Get the latest news and views concerning women
in the visual arts. Experience the power and inspiration of the Lifetime
Achievement Awards dinner and ceremony. See the schedule and hotel
information below.

Register online at www.nationalwca.org/conference/currentconfer.html

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are planning to attend our WCA LA 2009 Confab please
give us a heads-up so we can be prepared for you. Email Sandra Mueller at
sandramueller@scwca.org to provide her with your arrival and departure
dates.

***************************************************************************

REMINDER: Please support our 2009 Lifetime Achievement Awards! If you have
not already made a donation, please go to our website to make a tax
deductible donation or purchase raffle tickets to win awesome art online at
www.nationalwca.org. Any amount is appreciated. You can also purchase
raffle tickets from your chapter president, or at our table at CAA’S Book
and Trade Fair, Table “I.” Not attending our Confab, why not buy a ticket
to the Awards dinner and give it as a gift.

***************************************************************************

CONFAB PRICE AND SCHEDULE

For just $65 join us on the bus tour for networking, fun and information. To
keep the Confab price low we are only charging attendees for the bus tours.
Food costs for Saturday and Sunday mornings Chapters’ Council meetings and
Sunday events are covered by donations.

$20 –Bus Tour, Friday Night, 2/27/09 to “Women Artists on Immigration”
Exhibition and Reception, and WCA’s Video Shorts Fest, Korean Cultural
Center Art Gallery. (Bus departs approx. 5:45 PM from the LA Convention
Center)

$45 –Bus Tour, Sunday, 3/1/09, 9:30 AM-4 PM, to WCA Art & Activism Day with
WCA Town Hall and Chapters’ Council at American Jewish University, Buffet
breakfast and lunch provided (Includes “Like Water on Rock” exhibition and
reception and bus tour to Laband Gallery at Loyola Marymount University and
other venues. (Bus departure time and departure point provided later)

$65 –BUS TOUR TOTAL

$105 –WCA’S 2009 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS & DINNER, 6:30-9 PM
Wilshire Grand Hotel, 930 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles

$160 –WCA Current (2009) Members Only Package (all bus tours & dinner)
in Honor of 30th Anniversary of the Lifetime Achievement Awards!! If you are a member
and have not yet purchased your ticket to the Lifetime Achievement Dinner and Awards Ceremony
choose the package price which includes the bus tours and the Lifetime
Achievement Awards. Members must have renewed for 2009.

NOTE: If you have purchased the Lifetime Achievement Awards ticket for $105
after December 31, 2008, and want to upgrade please contact Karin Luner at
karin@nationalwca.org

***************************************************************************

2009 WCA CONFAB SCHEDULE

NOTE: CAA events are in the Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 South
Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, California 90015. There are several
restaurants in the Convention Center as well as concession stands. The
entrance fee for the CAA Book and Trade Fair is $25 unless you are
volunteering to sit at the WCA table for two hours. CAA website:
www.collegeart.org

Wednesday, February 25

12:30 – 2 PM “Feminist Artists and Motherhood: Breakin’ in Two” with Moderator:
Margaret Lazzari, Chair of USC Fine Arts Department; preview screening of
film & roundtable with artists, writers and scholars.

3:30- 5 PM “WCA EcoArts Meet Up” with Artist, Kim Abeles, at Evo Lofts, 1155 S.
Grand – 3 blocks from LA Convention Center

Thursday, February 26

12:30-2 PM ”CAA Committee on Women Pan-Feminism” Panel (free), LA Convention Center

2-8 PM “Art, Wine & Books” in Pasadena” with Feminist Tour of Norton Simon
Museum, Madeline’s Wine Bar & ‘Broken Colors’ reading at Vromans’
Bookstore. Email avengernelson@scwca.org - transportation included.

5:30-6:30 PM Artist/Gallerist Dialogue with Feminist Artist, Freyda Miller,
on her “Fertile Dreams” Exhibition, Art Dimensions Gallery, 1326 Westwood
Blvd, Westwood (Use own transport)

Friday, February 27

10-12 AM Metro Art Tour of Public Art by Women meet at 7th St. Metro Station
(Metro Center), Free

1:30 PM “Broken Colors” Book Signing at WCA Exhibits Table with WCA member
Michelle Zackheim, artist and novelist, at WCA’s table, Table “I”, in the CAA Book and Trade Fair.

2:30- 5 PM “Inventive Concepts: Models of Participatory Leadership in the
Arts Panel” with Karen Frostig, Lesley University; and Martina Reuter, Wochen
Klausur; at the Los Angeles Convention Center

7-9 PM “Women Artists on Immigration” Exhibition Reception at Korean Cultural
Center of Los Angeles (includes WCA’s Video Shorts Fest), 5505 Wilshire
Blvd, Los Angeles. (Bus departs approx. 5:45 PM from the LA Convention
Center)

Saturday, February 28

7:30-9 AM WCA Chapters’ Council Meeting (Business Meeting) with Chapter
Networking, Regional Connections, Chapters’ Council Board Members
Nominations, LA Convention Center (All WCA members welcome)

9 AM-5 PM The Feminist Art Project Day of Panels LA Convention Center (free
and open to the public)

9:00–10:30 AM “Black Women, But, Are They Feminists?” with Suzanne Jackson,
Senga Nengudi, Carrie Mae Weems and Linda Goode-Bryant.

10:45 AM–12:15 PM “Salon des Refuses” or who was/is “in” and “out” of the
recent feminist exhibitions with Maren Hassinger, and Rachel Rosenthal.

12:30–1:45 PM “Transnational Feminism” with Yong Soon Min and Connie
Samaras.

2:00–3:15 PM “Artists Converse on Feminism” with Maria Buszek, Andrea
Bowers, Cheri Gaulke and Catherine Opie.

3:30–5:00 PM “Women Performance Artists Today” with Jill O’Bryan.

6:30-9 PM WCA’s 2009 Anniversary Lifetime Achievement Awards Dinner &
Ceremony at the Wilshire Grand Hotel, 930 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles

Sunday, March 1

WCA Art & Activism Day, 9:30-4 PM

9:30-11:30 AM - WCA Town Hall & Chapters’ Council national board members
election at American Jewish University, 15600 Mulholland Dr., Los Angeles (Bus
offered-departure time/location to be determined, buffet breakfast and
lunch provided)

11:30AM-1:30PM -“Like Water on Rock” JWAN Exhibition Reception at
Platt/Borstein Gallery, American Jewish University, 15600 Mulholland Dr.,
Los Angeles

Bus to “Gallery 32 and Its Circle” Laband Gallery at Loyola Marymount
University 1 LMU Drive, Los Angeles (near LAX airport), an exhibition
featuring the activist work of Betye Saar (WCA Lifetime Achievement
Awardee), David Hammons, and Emory Douglas.

Monday, March 2

8 AM - 3:30 PM WCA National Board Meeting, Los Angeles Museum of
Contemporary Art, 250 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles.

All WCA members invited to participate in all events.

OTHER RELATED ACTIVITIES

2:30-5 PM - February 27, Awardee Ruth Weisberg interviewed by Barbara Isenberg, CAA,

6-8 PM - February 27, Awardee Joyce Kozloff reads Co+Ordinates at Hennessey & Ingalls in Hollywood

8AM to 5:00 PM March 1 - The Feminist Art Project (TFAP) Bus Tour of Public Art Works by Women with Jerri Allyn, Meg Cranston, and Debra Padilla, lunch at the Getty Museum, Price: Advance (Register at CAA website) $20, Onsite $25; Limited availability.