Artwala Road

“Dreaming” by Janis Wunderlich

I got an email the other day announcing a new documentary film, “Who Does She Think She Is?,” which is just being released.  It’s a film about the challenges facing women artists and opens with old footage of Bill Moyers talking about well-known women artists—Virginia Woolf, Eudora Welty, Georgia O’Keefe, Janis Joplin and others, then stating that not one of them had children.  Other commentators mention that even now, even when a woman is accomplished and possibly visionary, she doesn’t find entrance to museums and galleries as easily as a man does.  People in the art world, men artists too, have long recognized the silent prejudice against women artists.  I remember as a young art history student going through four years of classes and hearing only about one single female artist—Mary Cassatt, the painter of women and babies.  It was almost inconceivable then that women might have other concerns and it really wasn’t that long ago.  And can we forget Picasso’s mistresses, more than one was an accomplished artist in her own right but tonight their names escape me.  Who knows them as anything but lovers?

Janis Wunderlich is one of the artists featured in this film.  She’s a Mormon mother of five and somehow manages to produce a steady stream of fantastical scuptural images that speak of her life and ours.

I just want to give a little shout out to all the sisters out there doing their art, especially the ones following visions of their own rather than trying to fashion themselves after established male artists.  Perhaps there’s freedom in not being allowed to play with the boys though I think a lot of the boys wouldn’t mind playing with us.  One thing that’s clear—the vision is enriched when it’s expanded.  And a big shout out too to the women who’ve managed to find their way into the museums and public eye.  I’m going to see Rachel Whiteread from England at Boston’s MFA mid-October and report back on her.

Truly looking forward to seeing the film when it comes to Cambridge in a couple of weeks.  Meanwhile, check out the link here to see more. We should all be able to rent it very soon.

http://www.whodoesshethinksheis.net/

A status report from here—I have five art projects that I’ve committed to and out of those only one fairly big one.  Still, I’m following inspiration and doing all new work.  I always feel like I’m an accidental artist.  I’ve more or less left my life as a designer/illustrator/filmmaker and now find myself exploring art in a whole new way.  I’ll be posting images as I go along.

Meanwhile, I’m in the thick of my book on drawing based on the drawing class I teach on Saturday mornings.  It’s aptly titled—The Saturday Morning Drawing Club Manual and is really about the amazing benefits of maintaining a drawing an art practice just for the sake of it.  This is a secret the sisters all know and I’m just spilling the beans.  I will post a little of that too.

The astute reader will notice I’ve changed my own name in the Welcome section from Cathy to Cat.  A few days ago I went to the gym and forgot my pass.  I gave them my name and they said there were 5, yes, five, Cathy Bennett’s on file.  And this is just in Boston!  Well, I’ve been called Cat since childhood by more than a few, so for now, I am Cat again. Nothing important just an arty thing.

Feel like I’m swimming in work.  This is good, I know.  I’m going with the current and it’s rushing along.  I’ve taken to making lists and usually just get through three of the five things I put on them every day.  I may need to live to 110, or work faster.

One last note—The Saturday Morning Drawing Club resumes its ever energetic meetings next week.  Adventures of the highest nature are sure to ensue.  It’s what happens when the sisters get together and make art.  And if we were in museums it wouldn’t be happening, not like this.  So—a hallelujah after all!

September 15th, 2008 | Category: Dear Reader | Subscribe to comments | Leave a comment | Trackback URL