Men & feminist art: the topic is good, but it's too broad. let's pick something we're really curious about and committed to.
Options:
-extreme feminist art (Orlan & Co.)
-cultural feminist art (Chitra Ganesh)
-focus on a particular artist (Ana Mendieta, Louise Bourgeois, etc.)
-compare & contrast two feminist artists
Local feminist art is also too big and not realistic with the time that we have...
So far nobody is focusing on just one or two artists...
Other groups are doing Barbie art, graffiti art...
What kind of contribution can we make to the class? This isn't just a project; it should open up some doors for us & our own interests.
Maybe pick three different artists over a distinct period of time that take things into different directions and developments? Developing a lineage of feminist art, and how artists have been influenced by each other?
Joan suggests we focus on a particular artist or group of artists, or extreme feminists in art. Between these two, there's probably enough to choose from for a presentation even though we have other ideas. These are really solid and manageable and can be carved into distinct units for each group member while still leaving room for depth, complexity, and criticality.
Katie is interested in the evolution of the self portrait; Cassie in extreme feminist art/shock factor/carrying a message; Emma is thinking; Leah is ok with either two but Joan thinks we should eliminate one tonight.
Consensus: find max. four extreme feminist artists to focus on & synthesize into a presentation
What does extreme feminist art mean to each of us?
Emma: The body scroll (1970s) Kara-Lee Schneeman (sp?) Internal/external; hidden; risk; performative; nudity; gutsy, with an audience. Not just extreme in a spectacular way but extreme in a way of pushing the boundaries to push your point. Giving birth to something? Taboos around vaginal imagery and referencing the body and the interiority and biology etc. fear of essentialism...but this was a very successful piece. Why? What is its currency still?
Cassie: Orlan
Joan suggests Linda Benglas with the strap-on. In "Art Forum" as an ad. Think about the time period and the daringness.
Leah: where art-making becomes extreme in that it is harmful (cutting artist)
Joan: So far we're all talking about EXTREME BODY ART.
Emma: woman living for 48 hours naked in a glass box like a house (performance art)
Katie: Joan suggests to Google and look up "extreme body art"
Emma: Are we ready to look at the images that come along with this territory?
Leah: Each pick a topic/artist to focus on something within our comfort level?
Cassie: Extreme can be a number of things; sexual, etc.
Joan: "Out of Step: Cathy Sisler's Risky Deviations" video
alcohol & drug addiction, fear of speaking in public, etc.
extreme story in public view
Our notion of extreme as we go along might get more focused; we might drop the notion or find subcategories. It is a useful notion to start with though! Artists who are pushing the limits.
Emma: Would men's versions of extreme body art be entirely different?
Cassie: The sperm tree :)
Joan: Lisa Streifler, U of R
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Pandora's Box exhibition:
ReplyDeleteWangechi Mutu - uses gynecological references and a lot of images from contemporary magazines, collages, African references...anatomy in a very interesting way. Established artist with a lot of resources about her; a lot of people writing about her and Joan thinks the art is fascinating. We can borrow the catalogue if we want.