A wife sentence
The NY Times has a great piece about two widows who devote their lives to their husbands' jazz legacies. The writer, Fred Kaplan, very sensibly draws parallels to art wives like Lee Krasner (Mrs. Jackson Pollock), who put their own ambitions aside to promote their husbands' careers. You almost have to wonder if the art world's gender imbalance is due to female artists' lacking wives. The real problem, though, isn't just sexism. It's also age-ism. Women who were shut out of galleries 20 or 30 years ago because they were female are now shut out because they're "too old." Aside from a few stars, an entire generation is missing in the art scene. I would bet money that 100 years from now, art historians will be ga-ga about women artists who, today, are 50-ish, painting in their basement, and wondering why they still bother.
Maybe some of these artists should rent a ramshackle cabin in the woods, hide their RISD diplomas, and pretend to be self-taught "Outsider" artists. It might be the only way to get a show.
Labels: female artists, feminism
posted by Lisa Hunter @ 2:46 PM
19 Comments:
Whoa Lisa, you've said a mouthful here! I am 50 and paint in my basement!
And yeah, I do think there will be alot for future curators and critics to mine - entire lifetimes (ours).
One of the reasons I decided to write about my process/art/life was that I didn't want to leave it all up to someone else's interpretation (and opportunity).
I agree.
...or find an gorgeous 20 year actress to play your surrogate in the art world. I was once at a party where 3 middle-aged female artists all confessed to having this idea at one time or another, myself included.
That would explain why so many of the young, hot female artists are, well, so young and hot.
Not only is this an incisive post, the title is brilliant.
I remember (because I am old enough to)the 1971 essay by Judy Syfers, "Why I Want a Wife," which appeared in the first issue of Ms.
So, plus ca change....
Link: http://www.feministezine.com/feminist/modern/Why-I-Want-A-Wife.html
It's a great essay, Joanne. But who has a wife like that anymore? Not my husband, anyway...
My spouse and I split wifely duties. We support each other to achieve our aims. We both clean and iron and mend and take care of the kids and so on. Although I'm stuck with taking care of the car and cooking, and she usually does the laundry.
It's fun. Right now I need a nap. That's my job, too: Making sure the sofa doesn't fly up into the air.
Re The "Why I Want a Wife": Well it's 35 years after that essay was written so of course the specifics are different, but the essence of having someone do for you so that your career can flourish is what we're talking about, no?
Joanne, Of course you're right, and it's a great essay. I was just thinking of how unwifely I must seem compared to 1971 expectations.
Ya know, I've thought about the outsider artist thing.
Great post, Lisa.
I agree as well....said the 45 yr old emerging self taught artist who lives/works in the basement and wonders why I bother sometimes.
I agree with EVERYTHING in this post. It is very ironic. Back in the late 70's, I met Lee Krasner. During an intimate, grad school thing, the students sat all around and asked her questions about her art and life. As soon as soon as she opened her mouth, I realized she seemed like one of the grouchiest, bitchy, bitter women I had ever met. One of my life goals was not to be like HER! Well now that I am older, I realize why she seemed pissed off at the world! LOL LOL Despite my attempts at optimism, each day I feel like a hamster on a wheel with no destination. The squeak sounds something like "what’s the point" "what’s the point "what’s the point" "what’s the point".
Well......I'm 60 and paint in the garage. I hadn't had time to think much about the ageism thing until I went to Art Basel Miami Beach in December. Then EVERYTHING I read was about the 20-30 somethings. What a downer. But, I'm still painting and just got two new galleries.
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I wonder a lot about how one can have an "equal partnership" if given both parts of the couple are of creative-bents.
Recently I was speaking to a 29th Street Gallery owner about how I kept hearing from artists who say "I only have time for art," not for a relationship.
She mentioned, "Oh, definitely off-base. The most successful artists I know how someone there to constantly support them," a la a Krasner.
But it is interesting that the concept of sacrifice for the one you love is usually one that therefore damages your own.
It's like you just can't win.
Well Hell, I am "only 48" ...and I do art upstairs instead of the basement. I always was a little different.
We need to set up an old timers co-operative, call it the Over-The-Hill-Collective.
AMEN, Lisa!
Spot on!!!
I am 53, self-taught, painting since I was 12, we have a cabin in the woods, and I work in the basement except when I need the best light. Then I move out to the porch. We live in Florida and it has been bleepin' hot on that porch this summer! "Why bother" crosses my mind, if not my lips, on almost a daily basis!
Fortunately, my husband, also an artist, does all of the cooking and chores except for starting the washing machine. His care and devotion has enabled me to start painting again after an 8 year hiatus. Last month I finished my first oil painting in 20 years, having done watercolors in the 1990's.
It took many months to complete and although started in 2006, had to be set aside for about 10 months so that I could figure out a way to paint without thinking of all of the emotional family issues I carry from childhood since the painting is of my mother and me in 1957. (Audio books!!!)
bringsjord.com/NelBio.html
You know, my art has been dissed for years, and now I'm dissed because I'm older. I'm going to keep working despite the cattiness of "The Art World".
Thank you for your insights, Lisa, it is very validating to read your blog!
Nel Bringsjord
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