This where you should be posting your paper. A few important things. You need to COPY and PASTE your assignment in a comment to this post. In addition, as I will mention to you in class tomorrow, I WANT a paper copy in addition to the posting. The posting will confirm to me that you have submitted the assignment on time, but I still want a paper copy, either during the section, or during class. Finally, make sure you have read the instructions carefully as a big part of your grade for this assignment is based on whether you can follow instructions.....
For this time only, you should know that I will not be attending the large class section as I have to catch a plane to go to a conference. If your assignment is done in time for the discussion section, please bring it in then. If you were planning on printing it in between the discussion section and the big lecture class, please hand in your assignment to Maren Cummings (another TA). She is one of the black TA with the Fro-awk. She should let you know at the beginning who she is. Otherwise ask any TA and they will direct you to her. Alternatively, you can leave the paper version in my mailbox in Woods Hall (2nd Floor). In all cases, please make sure your assignment is posted on time!
All right, can't wait to meet you all tomorrow! Good luck with the final revisions on your assignment and I hope you enjoyed the museums!
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Chelsea Martino 2/16/08
WMST 250 Sec. 06 Assignment 1
When I was assigned to venture into DC, a city I am totally unfamiliar with, to explore various museums in order to broaden by knowledge about feminism and art, I was a little apprehensive. I had never taken the Metro before nor did I know my way around the city. In addition, for my first visit I was forced to go by myself because none of my friends were available. I was extremely nervous but managed, with a little mapping and planning, to configure my way on the Metro and around Washington. Even though it was overwhelming I could not have been more proud of myself. Washington and the museums met my expectations. I found myself learning a great deal of new information about art, women, and feminism. My first trip into Washington DC led me to the Museum of African Art. I am rather unfamiliar with African art so it was definitely an eye-opening experience. Going into the museum I had assumed that all of the artwork would be made from wood and painted in bright, vivid colors. However, I was shocked to learn that although much of the artwork was made of wood, many of the figures were sculpted from various rocks and stones. Also, there were many decorative masks that I assumed were strictly used by men during times of war. However, my assumption was totally incorrect. I learned that although many of the masks were made primarily for men, there were two masks on display that were for women. Additionally, I found out the masks were not used in times of war, but during times of celebration to honor certain gods for good fortune. For example, there was a mask that would have been worn to celebrate a plentiful harvest and to thank the gods of nature. I did realize that the National Museum of African Art was not feminist. It was not feminist because all of the women in the carvings were depicted holding children. The women never carried weapons like the men. The females symbolized traditional ideas of caretakers. Furthermore, there was sculptures of four heads arranged together, which represented a man and his three wives. Men with several wives were considered to be of high stature; however, women were not allowed to have more than one husband. Clearly, the women were not seen as equal and did not hold high positions. Even though the museum was not feminist I realized that through art, a person can learn about different people’s beliefs, values, culture, and expected gender rolls.
The second museum that I attended was the Daughters of the American Revolution. Before entering the different exhibits, I assumed that museum would be filled with archives from the Revolution, and paintings of women who were working to support the war effort. However, all of the women in the portraits wore fancy clothing with their hair done nicely and jewelry on. I noticed that the women all had on a blue sash and a blue ribbon, to show their support of the DAR. The quilts that the women had made were very large and covered in elaborate stitching of flowers and other patterns. I had assumed the women of the DAR would have been depicted sewing clothes for soldiers instead of sewing quilts. I was also shocked to learn that during this time period, women were slowly beginning to smoke cigarettes. Because of this new culture change, cigarette companies began to target female audiences in order to sell their product. A showcase showed silk squares with a picture of a famous person on it the box of cigarettes from the companies. The women would collect them and sew them into pillow covers and table throws. Because women were being recognized for smoking, their quality to men was increasing. Also, even though the exhibit’s paintings were of delicate and beautiful women, they were admired for their ability to craft exquisite quilts. So, even though the museum may not have been focused on feminism, it was acknowledging and respecting women for there accomplishments during that time period.
For my second trip into Washington I attended the National Museum of the American Indian. I assumed that the art was going to mainly focus on sculptures and carvings of wild animals. I also assumed that the art was going to deal with polytheism. A good portion of my assumptions were correct because there was a great deal of work done with animals and their importance in Indian culture. I was shocked to see in the exhibition, Our Peoples, showcases of guns, Bibles, and a crucifix. I was not expecting a museum about Indian art to contain influences that were brought over from Europe. It did not occur to me how much of the English culture impacted the Native American’s way of life. I also assumed that the clothing the women made would be simple and put together by resources in their area. However, it turned out that the females, and in my opinion artists, who made the clothing were able to experiment with new designs and techniques because trade became available to the natives, enabling them to get different types of beads. However, the museum was not feminist because all of the women on display were caring for the children or cooking. One of the captions even stated that women were highly respected because they were the carriers of life. Their responsibilities were to raise the children, pass on the knowledge of harvesting, and make clothing. They never had the same roles as men. Through this museum it is clear that cultures in the 1800’s for the Native Americans, Americans, and Africans were very similar in that women fulfilled the role of mother and housekeeper, while the men fought and/or hunted. However, the women all seemed to be respected for their attributes to society.
The final museum that I visited was The National Museum of Women and the Arts. Out of all of the museums I found this one to be the most disturbing, shocking, and bizarre. When I first walked in I happened to notice how beautiful the building was. It had pink marble and white staircases, along with grand chandeliers. There were portraits of women wearing dresses with jewelry and had the title “Madame.” These characteristics seemed rather odd, because I assumed that the entrance would not have been stereotypically feminine. However, the first exhibition that I saw was by Paula Rego. I was stunned to walk in and see figures that were dressed in women’s clothing have the faces and physiques of men. The men, in contrast, seemed to have female features and dressed like women. It was difficult for me to count her work to as art. I had always assumed that art was supposed to be beautiful, but much of the artist’s work was grotesque. I was horrified to see a young girl’s head provocatively placed in the lap of a person who was dressed like a female but had the face of a man. However, there was one painting by Rego that I felt represented feminism. It depicted a woman in agonizing pain lying down holding her legs.The woman was representing the dangers of illegal abortion. When the painting was made, it was during a time when people were afraid to fight for a woman’s right to choose. Another artist, Jane Hammond, created the art work, Wonderful You, which I felt exemplified feminism. She took famous males such as, Buddha, Superman, and Mickey Mouse, and placed the heads’ of women on the bodies. Her art work was similar to what I had assumed would have been in the museum. I expected to see paintings of women being placed in masculine situations such as in a baseball uniform or climbing a mountain. I also assumed that there would be no works of flowers or women clothed in dresses. However, there were some paintings with beautiful flowers. The large range of artwork made me realize that this museum was feminist because it showed the dimensions of women. I realized the importance of women’s rights, but also that women can be equal to men without having to give up all things of beauty that my seem “girly,” like the color pink. Feminists can have it all.
Overall this was an eye opening experience. Some of my assumptions were correct, however most were not. I learned a great deal about women, art, and feminist art. I learned that art can teach a person about different cultures. I realized art does not have to be beautiful; it should create emotion and express a message. I also found that in order to be feminist, women need to be equal to men and stand up for themselves, without giving up some of the characteristics of being a woman.
My Assumptions:
Museum of African Art:
I assumed the men would be depicted as warriors.
I assumed all of the work would have been made from wood.
I assumed the masks were only for men.
I assumed the masks were worn during times of war.
I assumed the beaded bags were for women.
I assumed there would have been pictures of men hunting animals.
I assumed there would have been pictures of people doing traditional tribal dances.
Daughters of the American Revolution:
I assumed it would have been extremely patriotic.
I assumed there was going to be paintings of women working to support the war effort.
I assumed the women would ware dresses that were long and covered their entire bodies.
National Museum of the American Indian:
I assumed many pictures and sculptures of animals.
I assumed there would have been evidence of polytheism.
I assumed the men would be shown hunting.
I assumed the women would have been harvesting.
I assumed there to decorative headdresses with feathers.
I assumed there would have been teepees.
I assumed there would be animal skins.
The National Museum of Women and the Arts :
I assumed there would have been paints that were anti men.
I assumed that all of the paintings would be beautiful.
I assumed that none of the painting would use the color pink, or anything that seemed to stereotype females.
I assumed there would be pictures to represent oppression.
I assumed that the artwork would try to empower the viewers.
Erika Sundberg
WMST250
2/14/08
Assumptions about Feminism and Art
Assignment #1
On February 9th, 2008 I traveled to downtown D.C and visited the National Museum of Women and the Arts, National Museum of the American Indian, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the National Museum of African Art. Although all four of these museums connected feminism and art in some way, each portrayed a very different message through their exhibits. While some of these museums could be considered feminist, others on the other hand could be considered non feminist. As I visited each museum, I got a better understanding of the views and treatment of women throughout each culture.
The first museum I went to was the National Museum of Women and the Arts. Simply upon hearing the title of the museum I believed it would be a feminist museum, and after walking around and studying its art I believe my assumption was correct. Before I entered the building, I assumed that all the pieces of art would be paintings or portraits of very proper and well respected women from history by female artists. Although there were such paintings around the museum, I was surprised to see that the majority of art was not dedicated to this genre. Instead, there was a great deal of modern and recent figures portrayed in paintings as well as photographs which depicted the physical as well as emotional strength and power of female figures in todays world. For example, a picture taken by Annie Leibovitz in 1996 of the famous gymnast Dominique Moceanu depicted her large muscles and physical strength as a young girl, but more importantly showed her perseverance and determination to succeed through her piercing eyes and body language. Therefore, the National Museum of Women and the Arts is a feminist place because its art is showing the physical as well as emotional strength that women possess, and that is one of the main goals and theories that feminists are trying to get across to the public, especially the male gender. In addition, with regard to “art” I assumed that the art in this museum was only going to be portraits and paintings of women by women, and was startled to see that there were several different silver objects made my a woman silversmith. This different media was a surprise, because although I know that art is not limited to paintings and portraits, I had never truly though of a silversmiths as artists. Once again, this shows that the National Museum of Women and the Arts is a feminist place because it shows that women are not only skilled at making portraits and paintings, but other types of art medium as well, and feminism is about proving that women are good at a variety of things just like men.
The second museum that I went to was the National Museum of American Indian. Upon walking into this museum I believed that it was not a feminist museum, but after looking around and doing some research I discovered that my opinion had changed. Upon first walking around I assumed that art had to be a photograph, sculpture, panting, or portrait, but I soon realized that the traditional dresses that the Native American women create are pieces of art. As interesting as it is to think of an item of clothing such as a dress as a work of art, these dresses are most certainly considered works of art, for an incredible amount of time, precision, and care must go into making each dress. This museum is therefor feminist since the dresses that the Native American women make are so highly honored and regarded through out their specific tribes, and feminism is about honoring and respecting the things that women do and create. Therefore it does meet this definition of feminism since men honor the dresses the women make, and in return honor the women who make them. In addition, I assumed that women were looked down upon in American Indian culture before walking around and reading the information on the walls. After gathering several facts about their culture I discovered that the museum is feminist since elder women are very highly respected since they are thought of as keepers of a vast amount of knowledge, and feminism is about women being regarded and treated as equals.
The third museum that I visited was the Holocaust Memorial Museum. Before entering the museum I had the notion that it was going to be a non feminist museum, and after walking around I realized that I was correct. In regard to art, I assumed that there would be pictures of some of the famous gas chambers that were used to kill millions of jews during the Holocaust, and that this form of art would be the hardest to look at. Instead, I found that the end video from the exhibit “Remember the Children: Danielle’s Story”, the beds that victims were murder on, and the clay sculpture of the reenactment of the gas chamber and cremation scene stirred up much more emotion then the still pictures. Hearing the voices of the victims, seeing the areas where thousands of mentally retarded children were murdered, and seeing the three dimensional images of humans being murdered definitely brought out new levels of emotions involving anger, sadness, and sorrow. In addition, I assumed that women were harassed and treated just as bad as jews and homosexuals, but I did not realize that women were often the first ones to go into the gas chambers. Upon viewing the three dimensional sculpture of the gas chambers and how women were forced to enter first exhibits how women were thought of as the least necessary and useful people. This depiction in the museum shows that it is non feminist because it shows a lack of importance and respect for women, and feminism is about being equal with everyone, especially males.
The final museum I went to was the National Museum of African Art. When I entered the building I assumed that since Africa tends to place more power and emphasis on men and their abilities, that more of the sculptures would be of men than women. This was not the case though, for there was approximately an equal number of male sculptures to female sculptures. This shows that the National Museum of African Art is feminist, since it equally represents males and females by showing the importance of balance in African culture. In addition, I assumed that the men’s sculptures would depict power and the women’s sculptures would depict fertility. Although this was the case in most pieces, there were a few pieces where women were representing a supporting role that they play in the community. Once again this museum can be considered feminist since it showing that women play key roles in the community such as support and fertility, and feminism is about making the important aspects and areas women contribute to the community to be well know and well appreciated.
As seen, all four of these museums connected feminism and art in some way, whether they were a feminist museum or a non feminist museum. In addition, all of the museums were very interesting and represented very different points of view about feminism and art in their respected areas of study. Overall, visiting the museums was a very enriching experience that greatly broadened my views regarding feminism and art.
Shannon Hassin
WMST250 Sec.#0106 February 14, 2008
Assignment #1: Assumptions about Feminism & Art
Feminism, according to Wikipedia, “comprises a number of social, cultural, and political movements, theories, and moral philosophies concerned with gender inequalities and equal rights for women.” I was never fully aware that many people have their own definitions of what exactly feminism encompasses as well as the aspect of feminism being brought out so much in everyday life. Whether in a women studies class, a text on America’s suffrage movement, the recent campaigning, magazines or newspapers feminism is always a relevant topic. One place I was ignorant of thinking there would be anything related to feminism was in artists’ pieces. Visiting four different museums, some of which were feminist while others were not, helped me to realize that there is, in fact, feminist art. It also assisted me into realizing that many assumptions I had were unsophisticated and conventional. In general, this helped me realize that there is feminist art out there and the assumptions that I had were generic and prevalent.
The National Museum of Women and the Arts was the first museum that I decided to visit. Upon entering this museum I had the typical assumptions. I assumed that all employees in the museum would be women, except for a male security guard. I improvised that everything inside the museum would be very feminine, with pink and/or floral wallpaper, and shiny, pink marble flooring. My assumptions based on the art that I would find in this museum were just as ignorant. I figured that they would be the traditional pieces from when art first became big, like for example, the pieces of just a woman dead center in the middle of a canvas painted to perfection. Once I entered the museum I was shocked to find that most of my assumptions were actually erroneous.
Taking my first steps into the museum itself, I noticed that there was a painting of Willimena Holiday, whom was the founder of the museum, in her pale pink dress. After entering on that note, I assumed the whole rest of the museum would be similar. However, I was wrong. The museum as a whole was feminist, but not overwhelmingly feminist like I had imagined. It was decorated simple, yet classy. The walls were filled with gentle floral wallpaper, the floor marble in a light pink tone, and chandeliers. My assumption with the permanent collection being simple with the typical portraits of women was relatively correct.
The part I was most surprised shaken up by was actually the exhibit of Paula Rego’s work. Her work did not exactly fit with my version of what I pictured feminist art to be, of which I imagined to be extremely feminine, colorful, and not that strong of a composition. All of her works came off to me as being dark and hostile. Many of her paintings in which woman were incorporated into all seemed to have masculine characteristics like a moustache and strong facial features. Rego’s one painting of a woman with a moustache definitely striked me as interesting. This particular work allowed me to almost interpret her view and definition of feminism. In my eyes, her painting all women with masculine features shows how she is trying to point out that women can be like men. In a sense, we cannot only choose to look like men physically, but we can politically, socially, and economically be equal with them. In my opinion, I think she is trying to say that women can take on men’s roles and opportunities in society as well as the fact that women can do anything just as well as men do.
Next on the museum outing was a stop at Hirshhorn. This was not my first visit to this museum, so I knew what to expect. However, this is one of my favorite museums in D.C. Before I entered I assumed there would be no paintings or works that would relate directly to or even touch on the aspect of feminism. I just had this assumption based on being there before and not recalling any pieces of relevance and also simply because of the name. I figured that there would still me just interesting works that were modern and interesting to look at.
Although I have been to the Hirshhorn prior it still has changed. It is a very simple and neutral museum with no colors suggesting certain sexes. I was wrong in my assumption of thinking that there would not be any pieces that would relate to feminism in some way or another. One work that really stood out to me was Tom Wesselmann’s “Bedroom Painting No. 38.” I interpreted this painting with a feminist eye. In general, my interpretation of what seems to look like a sex scene shows the change in feminism and the way women have been perceived over time. In the photograph is a young woman who looks innocent and I imagined that it could possibly be a photograph of the girl’s mother when she was her age. Next to the mothers photograph, of which seems is there to watch over her daughters actions, are pink flowers to enforce the aspect of innocence and youth, while surrounding the daughters head is what seems to be like a black pillow or cloud to show fear, uncertainty, shame and disappointment. The blackness and the girl’s facial expression go to show how women’s roles and social standing over time have changed as well as society’s views upon women. I decoded many interpretations of feminism from this painting, but this one seemed most reasonable.
The next museum I visited was the National Museum of the American Indian. I assumed this would not be a feminist museum and I assumed correctly. It was designed to look like and resemble the way the Native Americans actually inhabited. In general, it was a museum about all the different Native American tribes that existed and still do exist throughout our history. Although there was no specific area that had feminist art, there was a certain portion of the museum dedicated to women, specifically detailing tradition, change, and celebration in native women’s dresses. This exhibition was certainly feminist showing how the Native Americans dressed, which earned them the respect they always received, and how they did it in order to show solidarity with their people. This type of art, although not like the other types in the other museums, adds to how Native Americans saw feminism.
Lastly, I stopped at the National Gallery of Art. I assumed this would not be a feminist museum, but rather a plethora of different styles and I was correct. This museum is the prettiest of them all. It is extremely classy with long hallways, fountains, and beautiful works at wherever eyes set. Certain sections of the museum have statues while others have paintings. Works I observed help to prove that the concept of feminism has changed over time. Looking back at artists’ works from our history women and girls looked drastically different. All had simple and soft features, their hair pulled back properly, correct posture, puffy dresses, and such serious facial expressions. Back then, women were more proper and well-mannered than how they are today, but at the same time aspects of everyday life were extremely different and they had no other choice. Overall, this museum showed how women as well as art became more and more in depth.
In summary, this museum excursion taught me a lot about feminism that I was unaware of. Having the opportunity to go and see different artists works at different venues helped me to see that almost everywhere you can see at least some aspect of feminism is connected. It taught me a lot about how feminism is actually more prominent in art than I aware of. One thing I learned is that not only women bring the aspect of feminism into the art world. Tom Wesselmann’s work put a strong flow of possible inferences about feminism into my mind. Another thing I learned by visiting each of the four museums and seeing different works, is that everyone has a different view of what the exact definition of feminism is. I really enjoyed visiting all the different museums and seeing a variety of arts relating to feminism.
Assumptions:
National Museum of Women and the Arts
1. I assumed that all employees in the museum would be women, except for a male security guard.
2. I assumed that everything inside the museum would be very feminine, with pink and/or floral wallpaper, and shiny, pink marble flooring.
3. I assumed that most of the artwork would be the traditional woman dead center in the middle of a canvas.
4. I assumed that the museum would be full to capacity with art all over the place.
5. I assumed this would be an extremely feminist museum.
Hirshhorn
1. I assumed that there would be no paintings or works that would relate directly to or even touch on the aspect of feminism.
2. I assumed that there would be modern works that would be interesting and sophisticated.
3. I assumed that this would not a feminist museum.
National Museum of the American Indian
1. I assumed that this museum would not be a feminist museum.
2. I assumed it would be a dull museum.
3. I assumed it would look like any other museum with just simple decorations.
National Gallery of Art
1. I assumed it would be really pretty and well designed with magnificent architecture.
2. I assumed this would not be a feminist museum.
3. I assumed it would take me on a walk through history.
4. I assumed it would have a plethora of art from all different centuries and time periods.
5. I assumed that this museum in particular would be the best to understand how feminism has changed throughout the years.
Erin Smith
WMST250
February 14, 2007
The concept of feminism causes many people to make certain assumptions. However, many of these assumptions are not based in fact, rather they are due to societal influences and the individual’s background and experiences. These certain assumptions are hard to ignore, however wrong they may seem. People express their opinions on various issues through many outlets, one being art. There are numerous forms of art today but they all have a message to convey. As I have found out, some artists express their views of feminism through their art pieces. Visiting various art museums has helped me come to this conclusion. Even if the museum itself wasn’t feminist the theme still occurred in some of the artwork.
Before entering the National Museum of Women in the Arts I assumed that the structure and interior of the building would be grandeur and very decorative. I also thought there would be a lot of art of women all throughout the museum. The museum was much more barren then many museums I have been to previously. The granite columns and staircases were beautiful but there was a seeming lack of art. We almost had to search for the exhibits. The artist that was being shown for this month was Paula Rego. Her art was not what I would have called ‘feminist’ art. It was rather disturbing but definitely had a clear message. Many of her works included women in a powerful position of defeating men in some way. Some of the figures in the art were androgynous looking. Some had feminine faces and masculine bodies and vice versa. I think this is to emphasize the fact that women are equal to men and that men and women possess similar characteristics and are able to accomplish the same tasks. The other exhibits in the museum displayed rather traditional looking art. Most of the oil paintings were of women or children. This museum paid tribute to many female artists and art that shows a great appreciation for women. This museum is feminist because of the appreciation it depicts. All the employees working there were women, the interior decoration was also feminine and it contained art that would appeal to women. It seemed the goal of this museum was to display women artists’ works and increase the appreciation of women in the arts. The next two artists that are to be featured are also women, Louise Nvelson: Dawn’s Wedding Feast and Cherel Ito. I was able to find this information in the information booklet, which was available at the information desk. This museum is a great place for people to go in order to appreciate women’s art and women in the arts.
The Hirshhorn Museum displayed many abstract works of art. I didn’t have many assumptions coming into the museum but as I approached the circular shaped building I began to think that it would contain many different types of artwork, some of which I might question whether or not the pieces are actually art at all. There were some paintings then there were also sculptures and abstract pieces, which are hard to put into a category. The first two paintings that I encountered were of women. The first was called Bedroom Painting No. 38 and Tom Wesselmann was the artist. It seemed to depict the common stereotypes of women. The woman in the picture was wearing heavy blue eye shadow, red lipstick and was unnaturally blonde. Her eyes were closed and her head was back. The picture had a sensual feel to it but it also had a big flower in the background, which normally means purity or virginity. The artist was a male so it would be safe to assume that this is his view of women. He might hold the typically position that women are delicate (the flower) and used as sex objects. The next painting that I saw portrayed a completely different view of women. The painting was called “The Light that Won’t Fail I,” by James Rosenquist. It had half a woman’s face that was surrounded by smoke and the central colors of the picture were green, grey and black. It also contained a lit cigarette and a comb. It seemed to convey the view of women as either powerful or loss of control of their life. It could have been depicting a prostitute or a woman who is totally out of control of her life and depressed. Most of the other exhibits in the museum seemed to be neutral towards feminism. However there was one exhibit by a woman who took nude pictures of herself in nature and other backgrounds in order to express her oneness with nature and the world. Overall I think this museum had aspects of feminism but I wouldn’t go as far as saying that the entire museum expressed the theme. Hirshhorn definitely exceeded my expectations and was my favorite of the four museums we visited.
Entering the National Museum of the American Indian I didn’t expect to find much feminist artwork. I assumed that it wouldn’t be very lively and honestly, boring. My assumptions were completely wrong. Upon entering we were surrounded by loud music and a live dance show. The inside of the museum looked new and there was an extremely high ceiling which created a huge open space. I was honestly impressed with the layout of the entire building. The exhibit that presented all the tribes and how they are incorporating their Native American background into modern society. This purpose of this exhibit and various others that I visited was to inform the masses how the Native American culture is not dead and how they are continuing their traditions into modern day. The most feminist exhibit that I encountered was ‘Identity by Design.’ Here the many beaded dresses that were made by Native American women were displayed. Women in Native American cultures are appreciated because they give birth to and care for the children. Native American culture in general is a very respectful society. The elaborate beading on the dresses was a way for the women to express their creativity and set themselves apart from others in the tribe. Over the years the beading and accessories became increasingly more elaborate. This corresponds to modern women’s clothes as well because as women began to receive more privileges and respect they began to change the way their dressed. Feminism has a lot to do with what women are wearing also. For instance, women used to not be able to wear pants but eventually they broke that social norm and wearing pants became socially acceptable. Women art was expressed mostly through their dress in Native American cultures. This museum could be considered feminist because they displayed a great respect for women and their art, they even dedicated a whole exhibit to it.
Entering the National Gallery of Art I assumed to see many different forms of art, and I was correct. This museum had possibly every type of art I could think of. Because of the varying types and forms of art it was harder to determine whether the museum could be considered ‘feminist’ or not. I think that in some ways it could because it did display art by women and art of women. It seemed to appreciate women in the arts by presenting them in the same fashion as male artists. It even organized a tribute to artist Elizabeth Murray after her passing. This museum seemed to present women’s art and not neglect it as some museums might have done.
In conclusion, when walking into an art museum one can make many assumptions about not only the appearance of the outside and inside but also what art they present and the exhibits that they display. Each museum can be considered either feminist or not, it is not always obvious as to which side it is on but with closer examination and inspection one can make an educated guess. I have learned that it is obviously natural to have certain assumptions about certain things, but the problem arises when you refuse to be able to denounce these assumptions if they are proven false.
Assumptions:
National Museum of Women in the Arts:
I assumed that all the employees would be women and the décor of the entire museum would be feminine. I also assumed there would be an influx of art and a lot of flowers and fountains. I also assumed that there would be many women coming to view the art. I also expected there to be many female artists that I recognized. I assumed that this museum would be very feminist and filled with feminist art.
Hirshhorn Museum:
After seeing the outside of this museum I expected that there would be many abstract art pieces, many of which I would not understand and may not even consider art. I was also expecting not many people to be in the museum. I also assumed that I would not like most of the art pieces that were on display. I was expecting to see feminist art displayed in this museum either.
National Museum of the American Indian:
I assumed that this museum would be old and not pretty inside. I also didn’t it to be very interactive and almost empty. I assumed that it would be rather small and not busy. I did not expect this museum to be feminist.
National Gallery of Art:
I assumed that this museum would have every kind of art imaginable. I expected it to be huge, considering that there were two wings. I also assumed it would be very busy and that the interior would be new and spacious. I did not expect this museum to be feminist.
Feminism is a new and unfamiliar movement that I am starting to get interested about for the semester so far. Before this introduction to women studies class, I was not involved or aware of anything dealing with feminism or women movements. Therefore, I had several assumptions about feminism and art that caused me to easily speculate and perceive this specific group. During the “journey” in Washington D.C. exploring the variety of museums, I was quite surprised and amazed at how imprecise my assumptions were. The assumptions I’ve made led me to obtain new knowledge about the special artwork of feminism and how significant it is women in the past, in the present, and even in the future.
To begin with, one assumption I’ve made was that feminist artists use simple, clean, and serene techniques through their artworks to show originality and representation of themselves. While male artists merely portray their artwork through masculinity, superiority, and authority, I assumed that feminists would try to be original and show the opposite aspects in their artworks. For example, I believed that feminism art would attempt to portray peaceful backgrounds with bright colors. However, at the National Museum of Women and the Arts, I’ve noticed that in many artworks, there were many paintings with dark, grave backgrounds. I was very surprised when I saw these paintings because the museum inside overall was very quiet, serene, pink marbles, and spacious. For instance, a feminist artist named Mary Beale painted a portrait called “Portrait of a Woman with a Black Hood” that depicts a woman wearing a black hood with a dark, gloomy background. It startled me because this painting did not match the bright and pink atmosphere of the museum. It made me realize that feminist artists can be powerful and serious too; not always the peaceful and feminine image.
In addition, another assumption I made is that art of feminism portray portraits of mainly men, to avoid the belief that all feminists are lesbians. Basically, I supposedly thought that feminists would do their best to escape the idea of create portraits that depict women literally such as women together in one single portrait in a sexual way. Also, I assumed this because it would considered typical for a feminist to paint pictures of the same sex. At the National Museum of Women and the Arts, I was surprised to find actual portraits that were obvious to make this museum a feminist venue. There were several portraits with naked women, which startled me because before this expedition, I assumed that feminists tried to best to avoid the sexual content of women together in pictures. For example, the portrait called “Picking Apples” by Natalia Goncharova displays women. It was very extraordinary yet interesting to see how feminists wanted to express themselves. Instead of viewing them as lesbians or women attracted to each other in a sexual way, I viewed these paintings of women as an expression of women collaboration and cooperation to form an alliance to defend women’s pride. It was astonishing to see how quickly my assumptions can be proved wrong just by walking into a feminist museum.
Additionally, I assumed that feminist artists exclusively attempt to illustrate happiness, optimism, and a passion of hope in their paintings since that is what they are hoping to achieve in the future. In order words, I expected to see mostly paintings of bright images that represented contentment and hopefulness, but I was very shocked to see the paintings I saw at the National Museum of Women and the Arts. There were many paintings that showed the realistic dark side of life. There were a lot of dark images and sadness in portraits such as “Virginia” by Sally Mann. Basically, it was a portrait of a little young girl naked, looking cold and gloomy with a black background behind her. When I saw this, I immediately of the child getting molested, abused, and controlled by older men, which made me sad and angry at the same time. I was overall surprised for feminist artists to portray such a realistic yet genuine artwork of a young girl. One other distinctive painting I could not keep my eyes off is a portrait called “Waterfall of a Misty Dawn” by Pat Steir. It was a painting of a dark waterfall that appeared scary and forbidding. I was stunned once again that a feminist artist created this artwork because it did not show the optimism and happiness that I have expected at this museum. I think that, in my opinion, the feminists wanted to represent their rough and depressing times during the women’s rights movements and that they do not always go through happy times. It just gave me a better and clearer understanding of what the women have to go through in order to achieve their happiness and freedom. Another simple assumption I made was that feminists use symbolism that deals with feminism and women superiority through their paintings and artworks to express to others how they feel and what they represent. However, once again at the National Museum of Women and the Arts, there was symbolism everywhere but did not clearly signify feminism. In fact, there was one portrait literally called “Symbols” by Ida Kohlmeyer where there were random symbols that had nothing to do with feminism. Some of the symbols were wine glass, dark squiggly lines, etc. I believe that feminist artists utilized these symbols to represent their boldness and superiority just like the males.
The National Museum of the American Indian was an exciting and thrilling venue to visit personally because it enriched my cultural perspectives and knowledge of the Indian Americans in the past and modern days today. I did not view it as a feminist museum, however, because of the emphasis on men and their accomplishments in the past. As I explored the museum throughout the day, I was starting to feel puzzled due to the lack of stress on women’s accomplishments in the Indian American culture. The only aspect that was covered and mentioned by women was the clothing they made and supplied to support their family. Women basically played a significant role in the household by protecting warmth and assortment through the clothing they made. My assumptions were not proved wrong in any way at this museum because of the lack of feminism, in my opinion.
Furthermore, the National Gallery of Art was also fascinating and strange to me at the same time. One assumption I made before I arrived was that all artworks convey a similar meaning of expression of life in an aesthetic and concrete way. However, I was proved wrong when I walked into this museum because this place was unique and abstract at the same time. Each and every artist expressed their emotions and ideas in a variety of different ways in their artwork, whether it was on a wall or hanging from the ceiling. My assumption that most artworks had a similar meaning of expression was obviously wrong when I went to this particular museum. The Hirshhorn, the last stop of the day, displayed modern art in a very distinctive way as well. In my opinion, I did not view this venue as a feminist place because first of all, almost all the artists were male, and none of the artworks depicted a feminine expression. It did represent modern art very effectively, such as the 30 minute video clip of the domino effect of technology and innovative inventions. After exploring the National Museum of Women and the Arts, I could clearly distinguish the difference between feminist museums and non-feminist museums.
Overall, the museum adventure was an amazing and eye-opening experience to me. There were several assumptions I have had about feminism and art, but after this event of going through feminist and non-feminist museums, it feels like I have solved a mystery and confusion in my mind about feminism. It allowed me to see a path that would lead to an unexpected, yet exhilarating experience at women’s studies class this semester.
List: Assumptions about Feminism and Art
1. I assumed that feminist artists use simple, clean, and serene techniques through their artworks to show originality and representation of themselves.
2. I assumed that art of feminism portray portraits of mainly men, to avoid the belief that all feminists are lesbians.
3. I assumed that feminist artists exclusively attempt to illustrate happiness, optimism, and hope in their paintings since that is what they are hoping to achieve in the future.
4. I assumed that feminists use symbolism that deals with feminism and women superiority through their paintings and artworks to express to others how they feel and what they represent.
5. I assumed that all artworks convey a similar meaning of expression of life in an aesthetic and concrete way.
Estifanos Berhe
2/14/08
WMST250/Sect. 0106
King
WMST 250 – Assignment #1
Throughout history, there are several examples of feminism shown in art by women. In order to discuss these cases, it is necessary to define feminism itself. Feminism is a diverse collection of social theories, political movements, and moral philosophies that focus on the analysis of the social constructs of gender and sexuality. In this area, we are specifically evaluating woman art and art by women and how it has affected society. It is evident that the relationship between men and women has not generally been equal in the past and many still argue that they are not equal today. This is why there have been several assumptions made about feminism, art, and women and art. Presently, there have been institutions and museums that have been established to recognize women, their lifestyles, and customs through art. The four museums visited were the National Museum of the American Indian, the National Museum of Women and the Arts, Hirshhorn, and lastly, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. In these visits there were several examples of feminism and several assumptions.
First, in the National Museum of the American Indians, there were several examples of feminism. There was an exhibit that focused on the many dresses that were all hand made by Native American women in the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. These dresses symbolized a Native girl’s path to womanhood. They were very unique and represented each woman differently. I assumed this fact due to the several different design patterns, beads, shells, colors, symbols, and techniques. It was said that young girls would begin making their dresses when ready for the passage to womanhood and it would take extensive work and many years to fully complete their dress. I assumed that dresses of this kind were somewhat for rituals but did not know they were used as right of passage. Each dress portrayed the creator as well as the many different beliefs they carried with them. I simply assumed that these dresses were simple means of clothing. I came to realize and learn that they are much more than that; they are they are visual expressions of culture and identity. They illustrate aspects about the life of the each individual girl. These dresses offer Native women the opportunity to combine tradition with striking innovation while taking care of themselves, their families, and their communities. Overall, this museum as a whole represents the identity shown through art and design. I feel that this exhibition is feminist since it represents the culture and customs performed by Native American women in the past three centuries.
The next museum visited was the National Museum of Women and the Arts. This museum features several artists who have used there are to depict emotion and life experiences. They had artists of many races who individually created things that represented themselves in different manners. The museum contained art from the 16th century up to the 21st century. I assumed that feminist art had to incorporate women in the art itself but that is not necessarily true. This was shown to me with works like The Book as Art by Krystyna Wasserman and Sheep by the Sea by Rosa Bonheur. Some of the art reflected different times and important movements in history. I also assumed that the museum would also only pertain towards one type of art and be more mono-tone. I was proven wrong after seeing the different types of paintings, sculptures, and sketches provided by several feminist artists. There have been several exhibitions that have been presented at this museum like the post-war contemporary art from 1965 to 1980 entitled WACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution. Other exhibits include Frida Kahlo: Public Image, Private Life. A selection of Photographs and Letters, as well as the Artists’ Sketchbooks and Illustrated Diaries: Exploring the In/Visible. There are other exhibits that plan to come to this area like Louise Nevelson: Dawn’s Wedding Feast and Photographs by Cherel Ito. Thus, the many different exhibits portrayed feminism through many different means of art; they explored the identity and standing of women across the globe throughout very different eras.
Following this museum, I visited the Hirshhorn located in Washington D.C. This museum featured several works that current and contemporary. Again, like the National Museum of Women and the Arts, the many exhibitions offered works from artists around the world. I assumed this museum to be very feminist after following a similar trend from the other two. Although I did not get an overwhelming feeling; this gallery offered works that were very feminist but also others that were not in my perspective. The Hirshhorn collection represents a broad range of modern art. For example, there were artists like Willem de Kooning who produced works that were feminist due to his interesting depiction of women and artists like Henry Moore who was more concerned with creating modern art that entailed power and infinitude. The recent acquisitions include artwork by Yoko Ono, Wish Tree for Washington D.C.; this was a dedication for the Cherry Blossom Festival. The museum is expected to have work by Amy Sillman and Anne Truitt in the later months. Overall, I feel that this museum contained few artists that were feminist as well as others that were not. It focuses on art that was primarily modern and contemporary.
The last museum that was visited was the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Prior to visiting this museum I assumed that it would obviously portray the events that occurred during the Holocaust but I did not intend to be so emotionally moved by the exhibits. The main exhibition that was featured was The Holocaust and Remember the Children: Daniel’s Story. I felt that it was very creative in the way they structured the exhibit and I feel that it helped the viewers grasp the events that occurred during that dreadful time period. I assumed that there were not any extensive Holocaust stories but this experience completely changed my perspective. I felt that this museum was more historically inclined rather than feminist; it was more shockingly informative about what occurred during the Holocaust and did not focus so much on the main ideals of feminism. The venue depicted the events that lead up to the Holocaust and what actually took place.
Thus, there have been several examples of feminism through art and these works have been accomplished throughout the past few centuries. Many artists expressed feminism through many different kinds of art. Several methods were used in order to portray feminism across the globe I made several assumptions upon visiting each museum, some more interesting than others. It allowed me to enrich myself in the true concept behind the ideal of feminism by witnessing what was and was not considered to be feminist.
(ASSUMPTIONS written by hand; Physical copy was submitted)
Estifanos Berhe
WMST250
0106
WMST250 – Assignment #1 Assumptions
National Museum of the American Indian
• I assumed that there were very unique dresses with many different designs and patterns.
• I assumed that the dresses were only a form of clothing but they were used for rituals and dances as well.
• I assumed that the Native Americans did not believe in Christ but dresses had images of crosses on top of tepees on the different dresses.
• I assumed that dresses had meaning and identity.
• Prior to visiting the museum, I assumed that the dresses were easy to make but it was quite the contrary. I assumed it would take no more than a few months to make dress but in actuality, it took several years.
National Museum of Women and the Arts
• I assumed that feminist art had to show women in the work but not necessarily true.
• I assumed the museum had one type of art.
• I assumed that the works were from different eras.
• I assumed that most of the work was in the same category.
Hirshhorn Museum
• I assumed that the museum was very feminist.
• I thought the art would focus solely on women. The approach of relationships in men and women was shown.
• I assumed the different works were creative and modern.
• I assumed that the works were interesting and eye-catching.
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
• Prior to visiting the museum, I assumed that the solely on historical facts. I assumed there would not be any extensive stories.
• I assumed that there was no crucial evidence of feminism.
• I assumed that exhibit “Daniel’s Story” was very creative. It allowed young children to become involved with history.
• I assumed the museum was very moving.
National Museum of women and the Arts:
- I assumed that only portraits/paintings depicting the strength of women would be in a museum dedicated to women and the arts.
-I assumed that a woman's museum would have pink and white marble, gold accents, and flowery designs all over the walls and floor because it is the typical colors and designs that females like.
-I assumed that there would be a lot of olden day paintings/portraits of women to show the classical role of women in history.
-I assumed that only women would be working in the museum.
National Museum of American Indian:
- I assumed that because women made the pottery and dresses for the men, they would be looked down upon in American Indian culture.
- I assumed that "art" had to be a photo, sulpture, painting etc. but saw that a dress such as the traditional ones Amercian Indian women made can definitely be considered art.
- I assumed that I would see pictures of men hunting and looking for food while women would be shown doing housework and cooking.
-I assumed that there would be a lot of bright primary colors throughout the museum.
- I assumed I would see a lot of tee-pees and head dresses with feathers.
Holocaust Museum:
- I assumed that there would only be photos of victims and the hard times they faced.
- I assumed it would be a very dark and serious museum.
-I assumed that this museum would be a very anti-feminist museum that showed the degradation of women.
National Museum of African Art:
-I assumed that most of the sculptures would be made of wood.
- I assumed that because Africa seems to place more power and emphasis on men, more sculptures would be of men then women.
-I assumed that the sculptures of men would depict power and the sculptures of women would depict fertility and support.
Dictionary.com defines feminism as "the doctrine advocating social, political, and all other rights of women equal to those of men". I took a journey in the past couple of weeks to various museums to examine art exhibits in the Washington D.C. area that would challenge my assumptions about women, art, and feminism in art. I used this definition from dictionary.com to assist me in reading these institutional structures, works of art, events, and displays because it's a definition with which I closely agree.
My first stop was at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. The mere idea that a place like this could exist in the heart of D.C. is, in itself, feminist. On the Mezzanine level of this museum, one will find a twelve minute video which discusses the founding of such a museum. It began with an art historian couple named Wilhelmina Cole and Wallace F. Holladay who upon collecting art discovered not only the under representation of women artist but also various racial and ethnic groups (www.nmwa.org/about/history/asp).
What startled me about this museum was not only that such people would be so moved to dedicate a life to giving under reapresented persons the creadit they deserve but the astounding history and knowledge about each individual contained in the museum. I founf so much information that had been suppressed regarding how much women influenced such fields as art, philosophy, writing, and science. I discovered that women were and were not oppressed in such fields during the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries in places like France and Italy where so much was taking place in the advancement of humans. To some degree women like Clara Peeters and Rachel Ruysch were known for a specific form of artistry such as still life pictures and floral painting. On the other hand, in 1783, the French Academy allowed only four female members at a time while the British Royal Academy counted only two women among its founding members in 1789 (Angelica Kauffman and Mary Moser).
It was non-conformist such as Rosa Bonheur who challenged such a system and chose to rebel against it. She was quoted saying "My father, the enthusiastic apostle of humanity, many times reiterated to me that woman's mission was to elevate the human race, that she is the Messiah of future centuries. It is to his doctrines that I owe the great noble ambition I have conceived for the sex which I proudly affirm to be mine, and whose independence I will support until my dying day" which shows the confidence, pride, and power she felt for her sex.
It was with this thought in mind that I ventured to my next destination of discovery, the Hirshorn Museum. From an unalert onlooker, the appearance of the outside of the museum may be sondiered "pretty" or "pleasant" if nothing else. The Sculture Garden however may give one the hint of a reference to the woman. Beyond that, there wasn't much else that could be related speciafically to feminism. There were, however, two particular exhibits which stood out to me. Mary Coble's 'Note to Self' and Ana Mendieta's 'Returning to the Earth'. Mary Coble's exhibit, very intense and dramatic, represented gay activism more so than feminism. Using a tatooing needle without the ink, a tatoo artist inscribed the names of hundreds of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender victims of hate crimes onto Mary Cobles' body. They then made contact blood prints for each of the names to be hung on display afterwards. The exhibit was moving to say the very least. And though it didn't necessarily represent feminism, it did touch on the pain, suffering, unfairness, and struggle any race, creed, and sex may go through to achieve equality, which is a familiar feat to feminists around the world.
With Ana Mendieta's exhibit, I believe a lot could be related to feminism. Mendieta specialized in performance art and many of her performances invovled her naked body on the ground or in the grounds' materials or blood. This particular exhibit, 'Returning to the Earth' is the epitome of it's title. One can conclude that Mendieta held the belief of "Mother Earth". Naked, she lays in the mud, leaving an imprint of her petite body, she plays with and cloaks herself in what is preceived to be blood, and she sticks leaves on herself. The idea of becoming or returning to the earth is clearly conveyed. If the viewer also holds the belief in "Mother Earth" or "Mother Nature", the nurturer and beginner of all of mankind, this exhibit could easily be related to feminism.
Next, I visited the National Museum of the American Indian. This Museum in particular was manily focused on the preservation, study, exhibition of the life, language, literature, history, and arts of the Native American Indian (google.com). However, the "Identity by Design" collection was dedicated entirely to the art of the making and designing of the woven dresses made by the American Indian women. These dresses display such intricate detail for each dress, it's amazing! These dresses, however, weren't just means of bodily protection or fashion, they were much more, not only to the women but to the culture of the American Indian. Women tool everything, from their environment to personal preferences in their lives, to detail these dresses. The garb was also made for their family so women took great pride in the weaving of the dresses out of love and care for their family. Like the collection entitles, after time, these dresses became the wearer's identity, be it personally, geographically, or tribally. The feminist apsect lies however, not with the fact that it was the expectation of women to create these artistic garments, but with the fact that it was the women's pride, honor, identity, and infamy to do so.
I ended my journey at the National Museum of African Art. This, to me, was difficault at first to pinpoint any type of feminism because nothing stood out as "womanly", if you will. But maybe that was exactly the femininity desired, that both women and men played a part in African culture and society that neither one took precedence over the other. But then again, roles and duties were very segregated. A woman could usually be sculpted holding a child as men usually were depicted with weapons or war-like garments. In this sense, there lies no feminism.
In another sense, as above we saw Ana Mendieta creat femininity by "Returning to Earth", perhaps the artists of the African sculptures and masks could do the same thing. The masks were typically made from natural resources such as copper, zinc, tin, wood, or even some type of combination of the aforementioned. The sculptures were carved out of clay, stone, or even wood. These are all elemnets of nature or "Mother Nature" if you believe in such concepts and therefore could, in some rites, be considered containing an element of femininity. However, some would simply argue these were the means of the people of that place and time and could have nothing to do with feminism or femininity in amy way.
At any rate, each of these museums could contain an element(s) of feminism or femininity depending on the viewer, or "reader of institutions". Which is waht art is all about. The interpretations and appreciation of anything be it considered creative or not, which could be held meaningful to someone. And that's the beauty of my journey which challenged my assumptions of feminism, art, and women and art.
Michael Kim
Section 0106
2/14/2008
WMST250
Women and the arts.
When I first walked into the class I noticed I was only one of the ten males in the class. It was a little intimidating when I first took my seat and saw that I was surrounded by a classroom full of females. Don’t get me wrong, I love to be surrounded by women, but in a women’s studies class I didn’t know what to expect. It wasn’t until I saw my friend Helen walked into the classroom that I felt some what relieved. For some reason I assumed that most of the females in the classroom where taking the class because they had some grudge against men. It was a stupid assumption, but when you look at some movies or T.V. shows it seems feminist are shown as extremist who seem to despise men. Knowing Helen from high school I knew she didn’t fall under that category. I had a lot of assumptions when it came to feminism because I never took any course relative to women’s studies. Going to the museums actually gave me a better understanding on the relations between feminism and art. At first I thought I wouldn’t gain any useful information from any of the museums besides the National Museum of Women and the Arts. Obviously a museum dedicated to women’s art would give me a better understanding of art and the relationship with feminism, but I never would of imagined that the other museums would also further my understanding. Besides the two required museums I also went to the National Gallery of Art and the Hirshhorn.
The National Gallery of Art gave me a better understanding of art. I was first going into the Museum thinking that somehow the art in the gallery would show feminism, but the harder I looked the more off I was. It didn’t seem like the museum was trying to show feminism so I went to a different approach and tried to see if the museum would change my assumptions on art. I assumed that a lot of the modern art today showed no talent. I am pretty sure most high school students have been shown a piece of art and they say “I can do that.” When I entered the modern and contemporary painting and sculpture section I saw a lot of art that seemed to be primitive and simple. That being said after looking at most of the art personally I became to understand why something that could look so simple would be considered art. One painting that caught my attention was The Port of La Ciotat , by Georges Braque. It was a Painting of a sea port. It wasn’t detailed and when looking at it you wouldn’t be able to feel like you where at a real sea port. This being said the painting caught my attention because of the use of colors on the canvas. Although the painting didn’t show detailed shadowing, the use of colors almost communicated with you. The colors seemed to be just perfect and there could be no other arrangement of colors that could grip you like it did. On the national Gallery of Art website it showed a variety of these paintings. The type of painting style is called fauve paintings, which was created between about 1904 and 1908. The paintings were not made to mimic surface appearance. After observing these painting I came to an understanding and realized that I couldn’t express or use the colors in the same way. It was like the intense colors and light all came into harmony. After leaving this museum my assumption that abstract art was simple, flew out the window. I came to realize that although the art didn’t mimic detail, the brilliant use of colors found a way to communicate with the viewer. Also although it may look somewhat simple, I know there would be no way I could replicate such a work of art.
The Hirshhorn also further enhanced my understanding on art and how art doesn’t have to be a detailed/narrative painting. The Hirshhorn had a lot of modern and contemporary art. I felt that the Hirshhorn didn’t really help me gain any knowledge on feminism, but it did enhance my understanding of art. One piece of art that got my groups attention was the Video Flag, by Nam June Paik. First off it was great to see a Korean artist’s work being displayed at the Hirshhorn. Everyone would have to stop to look at this piece of art. It was a display of televisions that ultimately made the American flag. When I first stumbled upon this art work I was confused. I was wondering what the art work was trying to show. It wasn’t until I went onto the website to search for piece of art and realized the importance of the art work. The Hirshhorn website talked about how Video Flag is Paik’s “paean to America and the power of learning from a youth oriented culture.” I realized that although the piece of art wasn’t a detailed narrative painting it symbolized a lot of Paik’s emotions that couldn’t just be expressed through words. By understanding the artist and the piece of art I was able to understand the meaning of the art work. This helped reverse my assumption that a piece of art has to be something no one else could do. Paik’s piece wasn’t impossible to replicate, but the meaning behind the piece was the reason why it was a special piece of art.
The national Museum of the American Indian was a museum full of exhibits about the American Indians and their history. Although all the exhibits were very interesting one of them really focused on the role of women. The exhibit was called Identity by Design. This exhibit focused on how women from the American Indians designed special dresses which made up their identity. The exhibit emphasizes the importance of these dresses and how it was the job of the women in a tribe to cloth family members. These dresses are a form of art by the American Indian women. The exhibit tells us that not only did the dresses express the love/honor for the girls, but also impressed upon children the importance of artistic expression and the meaning of the word fashion. On the website the exhibit says, “the stories of the dresses are revealed through the words, insight, and memories of contemporary Native women designers. For, these artist dresses were more than articles of clothing. They are evidence of unbroken tradition.” I feel that this exhibit is feminist because it shows the importance of Native women’s art through dress design. At first I thought that it was the exact opposite because in society today saying that only women make cloths is somewhat ridiculous. After realizing the importance of the dresses and what they symbolize you can see that dress design played a huge role in Native life. Also how Native women used this form of art to express their emotion and feelings. From this museum I realized that feminism was present in the American Indians. Also one could see the importance of the art of dress design and how women used this art to express identity.
Not but not least the National Museum of Women and the Arts. Before entering the museum I expected the museum to have a lot of portraits of women who have made a huge contribution to feminism. Also I assumed that the museum would get into great detail about the opposition women artists faced. When I first walked into the museum I was a little puzzled. It was because the at first glance the collection and exhibits seem to be similar to those from the Gallery of Art. You could see from the first floor a collection of paintings which didn’t seem like it promoted women’s art. It wasn’t until you walked up to the paintings and saw that they were all painted by women. Another surprise was the fact that some paintings from the first floor were from female artist during the 16th-19th century. I assumed that the art in the museum would not be older than 100 years of age because I had never heard or seen a painting by a female artist during the 16th century. I didn’t even know that there were famous female artist during that time period. The museums website went into detail about the opposition female artist had to face during this time period, but I was surprised to not be able to see anything at the actual museum that tried to emphasize the hardships females had to face. The museum seemed to be set up so that art work were grouped by the time period of the artist. The first floor had a lot of old art while the top floor had the most modern art work. I felt like the art work at the top floor represented a lot more of the opposition female artist faced. One piece of work that really seemed to emphasize this was a painting by Jane Hammond. The painting was full of male icons throughout history. It was full of male icons such as Superman all the way to Mickey Mouse. The feminism was undoubtedly visible because the faces of all these male icons were replaced with the Jane’s face. From this painting I felt more of the feminism that I thought would be feeling when I first entered. Instead it wasn’t until I went into the modern section of the collection that I felt what I thought to be feminism. I felt that the museum was feminist. I felt this because not only were all the artist in the museum females but all the employees were also females. I felt that the museum really tried to promote the importance of women art and how the art work were all just as interesting as any male art work. After visiting all four of the museums some of my assumptions of art and what can be considered art changed drastically. Also my assumptions on feminism changed when I entered the National Museum of Women and the Arts. I thought that the art work in the museum would be totally different from the art work that I had seen from the National Gallery of Art, but it seemed that the works or art in both museums were similar depending on the time period of the artist. Instead of the art work being totally different from each other it seemed they were similar showing the fact that female artists had just has much talent as male artist.
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