The Strength of African American Women

     Art symbolizes a person’s thoughts and emotions whether they be happy, sad, or anger. During the black radical art revolution, African American women used art to help bring about their anger with the world and look for the sought-after respect they deserved. One masterpiece during this time frame that I found to be intriguing was Barbara Chase-Ribound’s Confessions of Myself. Made from bronze and wood and standing almost 8 feet tall, this work symbolizes the strength and hardship African American women endure daily. Black women are the strongest part of the African American household. Maintaining the home, supporting their husband, caring for the children, all while not being respected due to their race and gender. This masterpiece stands tall and is durable, much like the African American women that decided to fight for what they believed in.

Confessions of Myself

     Riboud’s work was also used as a tribute to Malcom X and with good purpose. She stated in an interview that the work was not to be Malcom X but rather use materials that symbolize him. Work such as this would make the observer think of Riboud as the tough symbolic person. To hear her state that instead it was used to bring light to Malcom X shows the lasting effects that Malcom X and his activism has on African American. Malcom X fought the unity and the progression by any means for African Americans which makes him a great theme for Riboud’s art.

     When I look at this work, it reminds me of Chakaia Booker, another African American artist that creates books but mainly sculptures. Her sculptures are made from similar products that Riboud used and include rubber, wood, and metal. Her sculpture created back in 2006, Never mind, reminds me of Riboud’s Confession for Myself. You see another masterpiece created out of tough, rugged materials that symbolize struggle, racial stereotypes and equality. I immediately see what resembles a vagina in the middle combined with black materials implies this represents African American women. The surrounding pieces look aggressive, defensive, and frustrated. This could symbolize that African American women are always fighting, fighting for respect, equal rights, and the want to not be seen and judged immediately. History has trained society to judge instantly thus leaving African American women to constantly always be on guard.  

Chakaia Booker - "Never mind", 2006

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chakaia_Booker

Women Warriors

We Wanted a Revolution: Black Radical Women, 1965–85, I came across Dindga McCannon  she speaks about making a revolutionary sister. She describes the ways she made her painting, the head piece on the painting was made from recycled mini flag poles. Dindga McCannon discussed that In the 60s and 70s many women weren't warriors and she made one of her own. Looking at this painting I vision a Black African American women, fighting for freedom. Representing her color/ Race and culture. Dindga also mentions that the painting is made by pieces from the hardware store- " another place women  were not welcomed back then."



https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/we_wanted_a_revolution


Another artist that came to mind, is Lorna Simpson a Brooklyn-born artist. Lorna work includes history and fiction.  Lorna Simpson " imagery is culled from both original photographs and those she collects from eBay and flea markets". (pg 1)

https://www.artsy.net/artwork/lorna-simpson-riunite-and-ice-collage-number-12

This painting represents a African American women in contemporary society. Whats common between the both of the paintings are the African/ black culture. the color of the women's skin, I may also include the beauty of structure built on their head. Both paintings/ artist reveals African hairstyles and tools.

artist

The artist who would like everyone to be apart of the conversation and have everyone think of the reason behind in pictures is Louis Masai. This artist doesn't like to be labeled as a street artist or even see himself as an activist, he wants his project to be thought of and have everyone open their eyes to where the hidden truth is set. One of his projects is called "save the bees" and its expressing how they are disappearing and how it can affect the future. He has spray painted many honey bees in numerous places to spread the word of their disappearance. U.S National Agriculture statistics reported a major drop in the honey bees population and how they play a huge roll in our global planet. Every painting expresses a reason why they are becoming extinct, show how beautiful they are, and realize what it will be like when they are gone. This art can be looked at as movement to help save the bees or show the danger humans are creating in our personal environment. Chemicals and more unnatural substance that are caused by careless humans can destroy pure beauty.

Art awakes us

https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/we_wanted_a_revolution

          Prepare the facelift by Emma Amos is one of those art pieces that stood out to me from the We Wanted a Revolution: Black Radical Women on the Brooklyn Museum website. It’s a painting of a woman with writing on her face. The writing picks at every imperfection of the women from the age spots to the bags under her eyes, every woman has encountered these issues, but what makes things worse is that the color of her skin is an issue. For decades’ women of color had to face what society saw as imperfection the color of their skin is considered to be ugly or something that doesn’t live up to beauty standards during the 1960’s. Besides the color of their skin, any other feature like the shape of the nose or mouth was seen as ugly. Milk white skin, small nose and small “kissable” lips were seen as beautiful during the 1960’s. Apart from the imperfection that is being pointed out, it also shows how women are supposed to stay beautiful all the time and must keep up with their beauty no matter what they are doing. Somehow, we must look like supermodels, while also working an 8-hour job and cooking for the family. Let’s be realistic that’s not how it works. This painting speaks on so many levels like racism and sexism that happened in the 1960’s, and this paint brings it to light.

http://banksy.co.uk/out.asp

Child Labour

           Another artist that also knows how to stir up some controversy is an artist by the name of Banksy. He has been on the scene of the art of graffiti for the past 20 years in England, and until this day no one knows who Banksy is. He has managed to keep his identity a secret for the public. He goes into the streets at night and creates graffiti, but not graffiti like gang tags he makes people wake up and see what is going on in the world. Many of his pieces of art aren’t always full drawings of individuals or objects, sometimes they are just phrases or quotes from himself. There is this one art that he created, and it says “if we wash our hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless we side with the powerful- we don’t remain neutral,” this stands out because of who is running the country now. We were powerless when he became president with someone who is powerful, but managed to fight back. Still, we are always fighting someone with much power making us less than neutral. 
           Many of Banksy graffiti art I can relate back to the clip we saw in class and of John Berger book where he explains that people are consumed by media and ads on TV. It catches our attention, it draws us in, and certain images can make us stop and think. Even some images can stay in our minds and have us think back. Banksy is one of those persons who makes people stop and think about what he just created. Banksy arts has people talking like during the year of the Olympics in England he created an art piece for a child making England flag pennants. The piece was to show child labor and what better way broadcast such an artwork than on the day of the Olympics

http://banksy.co.uk/out.asp

             Another art piece that I can relate back to the previous is once again from Banksy. This image is of the bottom half of a woman where a bush is used to well represent a woman’s pubic hair. The way I see this picture I can relate to the first because pubic hair isn’t seen as beautiful, it’s seen as someone who doesn’t care about their appearance. Having hair down there means you don’t care about attracting males. Just like Emma Anos painting, its similarities represent what is not seen as “pretty” in society. But what also makes them so different is Emma Anos painting was a fight for no more racism and for women of color to be accepted. Banksy artwork represents what women are fighting for today to be seen as equals and not to been seen by their looks. Each artwork has their own interpretation of the fight, the fight for sexism to end for women to be seen as more than just objects.     

Powerful Women, Powerful Statements

https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/assets/system-images/made/assets/system-images/remote/https_d1lfxha3ugu3d4.cloudfront.net/exhibitions/images/2017_We_Wanted_a_Revolution_EL154.023_WWAR_BAMPFA_Chase-Riboud_Confessions-for-MyselfRGB_edited_1500w_600_691.jpg

I cant express how powerful and meaningful this piece is to me. Barbara Chase-Riboud created this monumental piece called "Confessions to Myself" in 1972. A monumental sculpture made of bronze, wood, ropes, fibers and other materials. I imagine seeing this piece and breaking into tears. The layers of darkness and heavy objects cloaked and consuming what I believe could be a person underneath. And the title: Confessions to Myself. She could be confronting her denial. Or possibly her truth. The truth of the levels of oppression she has faced as a female individual of color and the truths of oppression her ancestors have felt for centuries. A major representation of social issues. Although Chase-Riboud missed the Black Arts Movement in America since she settled in France in 1960 she still was relevant in the movement. The power of her piece spoke volumes.

The Women Students and Artists for Black Art Liberation, Founded by Faith Ringgold and her daughters Michele Wallace and Barbara Wallace made sure Chase-Riboud was a part of the bigger picture. They protested the lack of women and people of color in the Whitney Museum's influential annual Exhibition in 1970. As a result Chase-Riboud became one of the first African American women to show at the Whitney Museum of American Art. 

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/2836096/thumbs/o-NORA-ALISSA-UNTITLED-9-2012-900.jpg

Here is a piece I found on Huffington Post. There was an article celebrating art and culture perfectly named "These Saudi Women Are Turning Feminism into Art". I stumbled across this piece by Nora Alissa named Untitled 9. I'm not necessarily sure if it is a sequential piece since its its "#9". Nonetheless I'm still fascinated by the content.  I see women kneeling in prayer. How many women? I'm not necessarily sure since they're blurred. The interpretation I receive from this picture is oppression. Much Like in the piece nI adore so much above. These are "invisible" women. I feel they are women often ignored, unappreciated and unvalued. Women so oppressed that they are invisible not worthy to be seen. That makes this picture so powerful. There are so many directions it can take

Chase-Riboud's peice was a part of the Black Women Empowerment Movement and Alissa's piece is a new movement we are witnessing today. Same movement different ethnic group. Muslim women are the most recent targets of severe inhuman oppression. They too are fighting to be seen and heard. To be loved and respected. To be valued as human beings and treated equal to their male counterparts. Here for change!

Changing The System Through Art

https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/we_wanted_a_revolution

Revolutionary Sister by Dindga McCannon was created because in the 60's and 70's there was no women warrior, so Dindga created her own warrior. She wanted to create something that signified freedom for not just for women but for African American women. She used many things that were from the hardware store which women were not welcomed back then. Dindga describes her piece being hard as nails and that the colors she used were colors of liberation; such as, red that signifies for the blood they shed, green for the Motherland - Africa, and black which represents the black people. Another piece she used was a bullet belt which shows that the woman is a warrior and that she doesn't need a gun to be powerful.

To me this piece is very powerful and very inspirational as to what women of color can look up to. The warrior is something women needed back in the 60's and 70's because it represent that women can be powerful more than men. The material she used were from hardware stores and knowing that women were not welcomed in the store, it's insane. In the 60's and 70's women like Dindga were praised to show her form of activism through art. Her art is very moving and very creative. 

http://www.streetartbio.com/banksy

Banksy can be arguably one of the most controversial artist in the world. He is a street artist that uses dark humor with graffiti to spread messages of art, philosophy, and politics. His identity is still unknown but his street art is well known for almost 20 years now. The picture you see above is a man holding up a sign saying Keep your coins, I WANT CHANGE. This graffiti art might not seem like much but if you sit and think about all the things that are happening around us you might start to understand the picture. He is trying to send a message saying how the government is corrupt and how people don't want money, they want change so they don't have to be in a position where they are asking for money. People don't really understand that there is a whole world out there and if you watch the news or go on social media and hear about what's going on out there you would want change as well. 

I believe that the two artists I mentioned are similar due to the fact that they are both activists and fighting against the system. Back then there was a huge issue about how black women pursuing a career in art was a radical thing to do. Talking about the corrupt system and how poorly they treated women of color. Banksy is a graffiti artist and is also an activist and likes to send a message through his art. In this picture in particular it clearly shows how he is against the system and wants change. Each have similar ideas but different ways of expressing that thought or message. No artist is the same. But they can have similar ideas. 

History repeats itself

After visiting the Brooklyn Museum there was so much art work that grabbed my attention and also gave me an eerie sense of when these collection of art were made. Mainly because some of the art work depicts situations that are still happening today in the United States. From police brutality, the woman’s March and black lives matter groups; these events are still current in our lives and it shows that many people, especially white Americans, continue to hold on to the past. And not much has changed over the years, but many are aware of this issue and are showing resistance through artwork and other forms of art that brings people’s attention to this matter.

Looking at the many artifacts and sculptures made by many black artist there was one that really grabbed my attention at the museum. It was Barbara Chase-Riboud huge statue called Confessions for Myself. The all black bronze held together with wood and long ropes, gives a dark trapped emotion at first glance. It almost looks like a very tall person is wearing the heavy material. You can see the outline of a head and shoulders on the top part of statue, which makes it lifelike. When you step closer to the statue you can see the braiding and twisting of the ropes. This gave me an idea of how Barbra felt during the time of the Black Arts Movement and how the subjection of black female artist affected a large group of individuals during that time (Brooklyn Museum).

The braiding of the rope to me conveyed a message of the long hardships, physical and emotional damage done over the years. This also reflects on to the many black artist who tried to break free from a system that continues to mistreat them. The statue provided an outlook on Barbra’s emotions during the fabrication of this statue.

Taken by my iphone

              Even though there is no color patterns depicted, the bronze pieces gives out a thorny visual that horizontally arrows towards the middle of the statue. The pieces stretches onto a narrow area on the center of the statue, which looks like the heart and gives a sense of not being able to open up without the heart getting poked or stabbed. After seeing the statue for the first time there was no description given about the artist or the use of the material. But what made this artwork amazing is that even though there was no description, the artist was able to give you an insight of their emotion. To me the use of these objects conveyed something powerful emotion. This one of my favorite pieces from Barbara.

In certain sections of the exhibition there was historical articles of the 1960's and 70’s shown on a glass table. Most were magazine, posters, and newspapers that provided information of the issues happening during those times. Many of it revealed the start of feminism and black power in the art world. Reading through the different magazines and posters, I came across letters written by a black artists who was working at an art facility in Ramapo College. The artist described her frustration and anger towards an incredibly racist title used in an exhibition created by a white artist named Donald Newman. Donald used the title The Nigger Drawings to showcase his artwork in a non-profit gallery called Artists Space, which caught much controversy for allowing the artist to display this. There were about four letters written to him and the gallery. Unfortunately, I did not take pictures of the letters or find them through the Brooklyn Museum’s website.

But I was able to find one open letter that included some artists mentioned in the previous letters I saw in the exhibition. The open letter was signed by both black and white artist which was surprising to me because I assumed many white artist, especially in that era, supported Donald’s decision. The white artist included in the letter were Carl Andre, May Stevens, and Howardena Pindell (Henry, Joseph).

Open Letter

Along with these letters was an audio tape that recorded the discussion between Donald and a few of the artists that expressed their concerns about his exhibition and why Donald named the exhibition with a racist title. His reasoning’s exhibited ignorance and carelessness for other peoples feelings, especially the black community. He stated in the audio that he wanted to bring awareness and provide a different outlook of how the word is used in his artwork, but many disagreed and found it a form of degrading black artists and a tactic of promoting his artwork to a larger crowd. At one point in the recording, a women tried to get a clear answer from Donald on why he named it, but then someone speaks over him and defends his response before Donald can even say anything. After hearing most of the audio tape I was shocked on how they allowed Donald to get away with it and not suffer any consequences.

During the controversy there was a segment that the New York Times published on April 14, 1979. It was called Coalition is Accused and Donald tells his reason on why he named the exhibit with such an offensive name.

“Donald Newman, the artist, said yesterday that he still thought the title was a good one. His reasons for using it were “complex and contradictory,” he said, but among them was the fact that he considered “nigger” a “hateful and prejudicial term that would make the viewer wonder why an artist would title a work like that and what it refers to.” None of his black friends had objected to the title, he said, and he had “never imagined that a segment of the art community would object to it.” (Glueck, Grace)

          His response makes it difficult to believe that he didn’t think that people would disagree to it. We know art is a judge free space, but for Donald to assume nothing bad would come off by using a racist word, is rather foolish since these artworks were being shown to the public and not a select few. After the shock-wave of artist expressing their rage on this matter, the gallery issued a public apology to everyone that was offended.

          This event brings a shocking resemblance of a particular individual who America hates currently and it's our president Donald Trump. Who continuously says and does the most outrageous things without suffering any consequence. It’s scary to see how the government finds nothing wrong with him and especially that we are reverting back to the ways of the past; allowing racist people do whatever they want and seeing it as apart of "their rights".

True Beauty Standards

The piece Emma Amos made entitled "Preparing for a face lift" speaks volumes to our societal standards on what beauty is. If you take the time out to analyze the piece, you can see the markings that appear on this Black woman's face. Some of the statements say "dark spots" and "grocery bags", insinuating that maybe this Black woman should use makeup. Another saying that stuck out to me was the one that said "why not you." Why can't Black woman be a standard of beauty? A natural Black woman with age spots, bags under eyes, and wild hair should be able to feel comfortable in her own skin. A woman who shouldn't have to change herself to fit into a society that doesn't see her as "acceptable" just because she looks different. Amos's point of was to bring awareness to the fact that you have to "conform" to certain beauty standards to be accepted in the art world, or in society in general.

Source: Emma Amos (American, born 1938). Preparing for a Face Lift, 1981. Etching and crayon, 8 1⁄4 × 7 3⁄4 in. (21 × 19.7 cm).

In The Ways of Seeing by John Berger, he states that "when an image is presented as a work of art, the way people look at it is affected by a whole series of learnt assumptions about art." What I see when I look at Emma Amos's artwork might differ from someone else. When people look at a painting they are making assumptions about beauty, status, taste, and civilization. This is why it is important to have different standards of beauty. Who is to say that my standard of beauty is invalid because the next person doesn't think it fits their normality of what beauty is? Susan Sontag stated in her book On Photography that photographs are important because "it means putting oneself into a certain relation to the world that feels like knowledge." We all know that knowledge is power. Art brings awareness, art can get you think, art can make you change your mind on what you think is important.

Think about our social norms in the 21st century, has much changed over the past 50 years? I would say yes. Now, we're breaking down certain barriers but the standard of beauty still remains the same. The tall, thin, blonde haired, white girl beauty. The same standard that's pictured in the majority of the popular magazines sold in our local stores. The fashion world is changing as far as incorporating more woman of color into their fashions shows, commercials, and front page news spreads. In 2016, there were only "196 woman of color out of 689 cover appearances" (huffingtonpost.com). Although that is only 29%, is it not a step in the right direction? I have hope in the future that we can double that number. Representation matters in our society, and we need to address the fact that there are millions of woman who are all different and as equally beautiful.

I found another piece that I thought was similar to Amos's photo and it shows 2nd wave feminist protesting the discrimination that they face due to their gender. One woman holds up a sign that says "let's judge ourselves as people." The woman standing behind her has her sign raised above her head and it states "can make-up cover the wounds of our oppression?" Often times, women in magazines, commercials, and advertisement are depicted as objects and not humans. That if you don't look a particular way, you're not deemed a "real woman." Not too long ago we had the feminist march on Washington, which dealt with the same problems that women faced in the past.

                                Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/42784265179807638

The difference between these two works of art is obliviously race, but the goal is ultimately the same. One can say that Black woman are subjected to discrimination more than White woman are just based off society. The end game is get people talking. To get people to understand that things have got to change for the sake of humanity. There is no such things as a dominant race. What effects me on a daily basis may not effect you in the same way. What I can do is inform those who are ignorant about this topic, the knowledge needed to understand why it is important. Art is universal, and these two pieces of artwork address the unrealistic standards of beauty.

Sources:

• STYLE. (2010, Dec. 15) Far Too Many Fashion Magazines Only Used White Cover  Models in 2016. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/women-of-color-magazine-statistics-2016_us_58514e78e4b0ee009eb47cbe
• Berger, John. Ways of Seeing. British Broadcasting Coorporation and Penguin Books. 1972
• Sontag, Susan. On Photography. Macmillian. 1977.

FEMINIST POWER

For the Women's House, 1971. Oil on Canvas by Faith Ringgold

  This painting was created/painted by Faith Ringgold. Faith Ringgold is an African American painter, writer, speaker, sculptor, and a performance artist. She lives and work in Englewood, New Jersey. This oil canvas is very powerful and important to me. Faith dedicated this painting for the women confined in the correctional institution for women on Rikers island, New York City on January, 1972. The painting was help up on the correctional institution for women until the facility was turned into a male prison in 1988. This mural was then taken down because it apparently was inappropriate and also made the men in the prison "uncomfortable". This was Faith's first feminist work. She decided to only use women on her mural because if she used men doing the activities these women are doing, it would have taken away the importance of the activities they were engaged in, in the picture. You can see the images being divided into triangular based upon a career or role each woman is taking. Sexism has existed for many many years. Women have always been oppressed and have always been the minority when it comes to gender roles/sex. Unfortunately, sexism still exist, but it is not as bad as it was many years ago. The first triangular picture (to my left) shows a teacher, but a teacher of color. The second triangular picture shows a white woman driving a bus. I am not sure of the third triangular image (we know they are women though), but the fourth one shows a woman playing basketball, the fifth picture shows a woman of color who is a cop, the sixth image shows what it appears a white mother with her daughter of color, and the last triangular image shows a woman of color playing an instrument. The point of this mural is that every person doing every role in this oil canvas are WOMEN. This oil canvas is very important and powerful to me and it should be to every female out there. It shows that women are capable of alternating and doing any role if they have to or want to. To me, it shows strength, power, freedom, and capability. This piece stood out the most to me because I have been affected by sexism before. This oil canvas is very important till today because it gives a voice for us females. Yes, even though women are not as oppressed as they were back then, gender inequality and sexism is still happening today and still exists. It is also unfortunate that even though we are living in 21st century, some women still hold unconscious bias toward their own gender...

A Little Taste Outside Of Love by Mickalene Thomas

  MICKALENE THOMAS

  Mickalene Thomas is a feminist contemporary African american artist. She is best known for her complex art work made of rhinestones, acrylic, and enamel. She makes paintings, videos, collages, photography, and installations that draw on art history and very popular culture to create a contemporary vision of female sexuality, beauty, and power. This image I picked called "A little Taste of Love" demonstrates a sexualized nude woman of color subject seemingly caught unaware as she reclines passively in her own beauty. This image shows how comfortable she is in her own skin and how careless she is even if she is exposed.

CONNECTION TO FAITH RINGGOLD   

   These two artist are both African American feminist artists. Both of their works demonstrate how women are capable of doing and being whatever they want. Both images show freedom, equality, capability, and beauty in career. First mural demonstrates all women of different color doing different roles, and representing each other. The second image demonstrates one woman of color representing every woman when she is seen being unbothered and unapologetic about her being a woman and being openly free about her sexuality. Both paintings show how rebellious and strong women can be and/or are. They only contrast a bit due to the fact that Mackelene Thomas examines the popular characterization of black female identity, celebrity, and sexuality. They both reach an audience by demonstrating the roles and importance of every female despite their race and color. They both bring out a strong message through their work about females being more than just an object. They both show with their art work that females are capable of doing what men can and should not be afraid of exposing themselves whether it is sexually or whether it has to do with gender roles in careers and roles. Some of the philosophies are that some women are bias and are unconscious of their own gender.

LINKS :
https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/we_wanted_a_revolution
https://www.artsy.net/artist/mickalene-thomas

A Stitch in Feminism

As I scrolled through the photos of artwork in the We Wanted a Revolution: Black Radical Women, 1965–85 exhibition on the Brooklyn Museum website, I was quickly drawn to one mural. This mural is called For the Women’s House (1971) and was created by Faith Ringgold. The mural shows women's progression in eight different scenes. The mural was created by Faith Ringgold for the Rikers Island Women’s prison. I found it fascinating that someone would take the time to create such motivational and inspiring artwork for people who society deemed as criminals. The different scenes include women in different careers such as the first female president, doctor, police officer, and professional basketball player. According to the website the women wanted the “long road leading out of here” message to be depicted. Ringgold gave them just that. She even included a scene where a white woman is driving a bus and the destination being called “2A Sojourner Truth Square.” It gives a message that there will be a time where black women actually reach that destination after their long road from segregation and inequality. When the Correctional Institution for Women became a male's prison in 1988 they had to get rid of the mural. A quote from the description under the mural image reads “Deemed inappropriate for the incoming male prisoners, the painting was whitewashed, but it was later saved by a guard, restored, and reinstalled in the new women’s prison, the Rose M. Singer Center, where it remains on view.” The quote surprised me because if the guard did not save that piece of art nobody would see all of the detailing and work that was put into it. It is now looked at by many black women and continues to be a motivation as it was back then. 

Another artist who explores a common theme, which is creating artwork to explore the equality of woman and man is Olek. Olek is a woman who is based in New York and uses her art to showcase her feminist views. Her career as an artist began in 1978. She is a conceptual artist who uses different materials, mostly crochet, for her art pieces. She uses objects that are already existent and transform them to give them a new identity and message. She is also an active supporter of women’s rights, sexual equality, and freedom of expression. Olek always makes sure her artwork is bright and pops. This is what is so interesting to me about her artwork. Her artwork contains political and cultural techniques but you would never notice or pay attention at first because the colors are so vibrant. She shows the world that artwork can be “girly” and still be as serious and meaningful as traditional pieces.  

The coolest part about Olek is that she utilizes instagram (@oleknyc). Her studio takes all photos of her pieces and she even includes herself in some photos. This reminds me of On Photography by Susan Sontag and Ways of Seeing by John Berger. Sontag talks about the importance of images and the ways it is better than other artwork like paintings. Pictures are a way to preserve something. Olek has photographs of all her artwork and even puts it on social media for everyone to see. Photographs are open to interpretation and that is why it is an artform. Olek is making her artwork open to the public. Olek’s work can relate to Ways of Seeing because John Berger talks about the way publicity affects the viewer’s mind. Olek is big on street art. She crochets on huge signs and gives the public something to talk about. She shapes their mind about whatever her artwork is about.  

The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago was created  around 1974-1979. The art is currently housed in the Center for Feminist Art at the Brooklyn Museum, just like the artwork in the We Wanted a Revolution: Black Radical Women, 1965–85 exhibition. Both of the artwork is about women’s rights and showcases a place for women. For the Women’s House (1971) shows women who can possibly be different important figures, such as the president, police officers, professional sports players. In contrast, The Dinner Party shows a large banquet table with porcelain plates for about forty notable women and “vulva-inspired designs representing Mother Nature, the vagina, and the life-giving properties of being female,” according to theartstory.org. There’s also 999 names of other women painted on the tiles below the table. There are hidden details in this art piece just like in the other art piece. I believe the audience could be everyone but it is directed towards women. The message for both artwork is to show that there is a place for women and they are capable of being great and are great. Both artwork also participates in the feminist revision of history, initiated during the 1970s. 

The Dinner Party (1974-1979)

https://stateoftheartsnyc.wordpress.com/2016/11/28/art-feminist-supports-refugees/