| Location | Los Angeles, California, United States |
|---|---|
| Type | Art center Community center |
| Genre(s) | Feminist art Contemporary art Women's movement |
| Opened | November, 1973 |
| Closed | 1991 |
| Website | |
| http://womansbuilding.org/ | |
The Woman's Building was an accredited[1] non-profit arts and education center located in Los Angeles, California, in the United States. The Woman's Building focused on feminist art and served as a venue for the women's movement and was spearheaded by artist Judy Chicago, graphic designer Sheila Levant de Bretteville and art historian Arlene Raven. The center was open from 1973 until 1991.[2] During its existence, the Los Angeles Times called the Woman's Building a "feminist mecca."[1]
History edit
Feminist Studio Workshop edit
"The time: mid-'70s. The place: the Feminist Studio Workshop, later to become the Woman's Building.
The quest: to find themselves, to make art, to change the culture."
- Jan Breslauer, 1992[1]
In 1973, CalArts teachers artist Judy Chicago, graphic designer Sheila Levant de Bretteville and art historian Arlene Raven were finally finished with trying to offer feminist education in a male-dominated institution like CalArts. That year they quit CalArts and founded the Feminist Studio Workshop (FSW).[1] FSW was one of the first independent art schools for women, and revolved around a workshop environment, allowing women to develop their artistic skills and knowledge outside of a traditional educational environment. The vision of FSW was that art should not be separated from activities related to the women's movement. FSW originally met in de Bretteville's home, and in November of 1973 the three women began renting a workshop space in a vacant building in MacArthur Park[1], calling it the Woman's Building; named after a building from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. FSW shared the building with performance art groups, the Womanspace Gallery, the Sisterhood Bookstore, the National Organization of Women, and the Women's Liberation Union.[2]
The (new) Woman's Building edit
In 1975, the building that FSW was renting was sold, and they, along with the other tenants, moved to a former Standard Oil Company building from the 1920s. In the 1940s the building was converted into a warehouse, consisting of three floors of open space, making it ideal for classes and exhibitions held by FSW.[2] The space was the first arts organization to located itselfs in downtown Los Angeles, contributing to the revitalization of the area during the 1970s and 1980s.[1] FSW became the main tenant as the previous smaller tenants left, and decided to hire an administrator and create a board of directors to handle the growth of the organization. FSW obtained funding from memberships, tuition, fund-raising and grants.[2]
Numerous programs and groups formed out of FSW. They offered a two-year program in interdisciplinary arts, such as performing, graphics, video and writing. They also hosted large-scale exhibitions, media and social events. From 1976 to 1980 the Feminist Art Workers toured the Midwest with interactive performance and installation artworks. A performance group called the Waitresses formed, who performed in restaurants using the waitress as a metaphor for women in society. The Incest Awareness Project consisted of a series of interactive exhibitions, from 1978-79, including a video installation where audience members would sit, surrounded by video monitors playing videos of incest survivors sharing their experiences. A group piece, In Mourning and in Rage, featured 10 tall women, wearing 7 foot tall head extensions, draped in black, standing on the steps of the Los Angeles City Hall. Each woman represented a victim of the Hillside Strangler and a statistic of violence against women. Works such as these are credited with shaping the contemporary performance art scene.[1]
Final 10 years edit
In 1981 the Feminist Studio Workshop closed, due to the diminishing demand for alternative education. With FSW's closure, the programs of the Woman's Building were formed to cater to the needs of working women. They cut back the buildings hours and rented two-thirds of the building to artists for studio space. That year all three of the founding members left, and former students Terry Wolverton, Sue Maberry and Cheri Gaulke led the organization. They also began the Vesta Awards, an annual fundraiser.[1] That year, the Woman's Building founded the Women's Graphic Center Typesetting and Design, a for-profit business designed to strengthen their finances and support the artistic endeavors of the Building. They provided phototypesetting, graphic design, production and printing services. In 1988 the Women's Graphic Center closed, and the income for staff salaries disappeared. Wolverton served as sole executive director from 1988 to April, 1989, before leaving. Pauli De Witt replaced Wolverton, only staying briefly before failing to rescue the organization financially. After her leave, a 13-member board ran the Woman's Building.[1]. The Woman's Building never recovered and despite pushes to move to another location[1], they closed the gallery and performance space in 1991.[2] They continued to hold the Vesta Awards, with keynote speaker Lucy Lippard and proceeds going towards an oral history of the organization.[1]
Legacy edit
In 1991, Sandra Golvin, President of the Board of Directors, donated the Woman's Building records to the Archives of American Art.[2] An upcoming exhibition, Doin' It in Public: Feminism and Art at the Woman's Building, will take place, October 1-Jan 28, 2012 at the Otis College of Art and Design.[3]
Participants edit
Visual artists edit
Numerous artists worked as staff, as exhibitors, and supporters of the Woman's Building including:
- Jerri Allyn
- Jamie Anderson
- Margaret Atwood
- Kate Braverman
- Marilyn Bridges
- Wanda Coleman
- Mary Daly
- Maya Deren
- Simone Forti
- Marilyn French
- Diane Gamboa
- Cheri Gaulke
- Phora Gerdes
- JoAnn Giordano
- Susan Griffin
- Barbara Hammer
- Varnette Honeywood
- Devorah Jackson
- Susan Kerr
- Barbara Kruger
- Yayoi Kusama
- Suzanne Lacy
- Hung Liu
- Kate Millett
- Honor Moore
- Pat Parker
- Adrian Piper
- Adrienne Rich
- Faith Ringgold
- Aminah Robinson
- Nancy Rosenblum
- Louise Rothman
- Betye Saar
- May Sarton
- Millie Wilson
- Terry Wolverton[2]
Further reading edit
- Wolverton, Terry. Insurgent Muse: Life and Art at the Woman's Building. San Francisc: City Lights Publishers (2002). ISBN 0872864030
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Jan Breslauer (1992). "Woman's Building Lost to a Hitch in 'Herstory'". Business Closings. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 15 Aug 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Woman's Building records, 1970-1992". Archives of American Art. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 15 Aug 2011.
- ^ "Woman's Building Homepage". Retrieved 15 Aug 2011.
External links edit
- An interview with Suzanne Lacy from the Smithsonian Archives of American Art.
- A video about the Feminist Art Workers from Otis College for Art and Design.