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