Judy Chicago, Feminist Artist and Art Collaborator

Judy Chicago, Feminist Artist and Art Collaborator   Judy Chicago is known for her  feminist art installations, including The Dinner Party: A Symbol of Our Heritage,  The Birth Project,  and  Holocaust Project: From Darkness into Light. Also known for feminist art critique and education. She was born on July 20, 1939.   Early Years Born Judy Sylvia Cohen in the city of Chicago, her father was a union organizer and her mother a medical secretary.   She earned her B.A. in 1962 and M.A. in 1964 at the University of California. Her first marriage in 1961 was to Jerry Gerowitz, who died in 1965.   Art Career She was part of a modernist and minimalist trend in the art movement.   She began to be more political and especially feminist in her work. In 1969, she began an art class for women at Fresno State. That same year, she formally changed her name to Chicago, leaving behind her birth name and her first married name.In 1970, she married Lloyd Hamrol. She moved over the next year to the California Institute of Arts where she worked to begin a Feminist Art Program.   This project was the source of Womanhouse, an art installation that transformed a fixer-upper house into a feminist message. She worked with  Miriam Schapiro  on this project.  Womanhouse combined the efforts of female artists learning traditionally male skills to renovate the house, and then using traditionally female skills in the art and participating in feminist consciousness-raising. The Dinner Party Remembering the words of a history professor at UCLA that women were not influences in European intellectual history, she began working on a major art project to remember women’s achievements. The Dinner Party, which took from 1974 to 1979 to complete, honored hundreds of women through history. The main part of the project was a triangular dinner table with 39 place settings each representing a female figure from history. Another 999 women have their names written on the floor of the installation on porcelain tiles. Using ceramics, embroidery, quilting, and weaving, she deliberately chose media often identified with women and treated as less than art.   She used many artists to actualize the work. The Dinner Party was exhibited in 1979, then toured and was seen by 15 million. The work challenged many who saw it to continue to learn about the unfamiliar names they encountered in the art work. While working on the installation, she published her autobiography in 1975.   She divorced in 1979. The Birth Project Judy Chicago’s next major project centered around images of women giving birth, honoring pregnancy, childbirth, and mothering.   She engaged 150 women artists creating panels for the installation, again using traditional women’s crafting, especially embroidery, with weaving, crochet, needlepoint, and other methods.   By picking both a woman-centered topic, and women’s traditional crafts, and using a cooperative model for creating the work, she embodied feminism in the project. The Holocaust Project Again working in a democratic manner, organizing and overseeing the work but decentralizing the tasks, she began work in 1984 on another installation, this one to focus on the experience of the Jewish Holocaust from the perspective of her experience as a woman and Jew. She traveled extensively in the Middle East and Europe to research for the work and to record her personal reactions to what she found.   The â€Å"incredibly dark† project took her eight years. She married photographer Donald Woodman in 1985. She published Beyond the Flower, a second part to her own life story. Later Work In 1994, she began another decentralized project. Resolutions for the Millennium joined oil painting and needlework.   The work celebrated seven values: Family, Responsibility, Conservation, Tolerance, Human Rights, Hope, and Change. In 1999, she began teaching again, moving each semester to a new setting. She wrote another book, this with Lucie-Smith, on the images of women in art. The Dinner Party was in storage from the early 1980s, except for one display in 1996.   In 1990, the University of the District of Columbia developed plans to install the work there, and Judy Chicago donated the work to the university. But newspaper articles about the sexual explicitness of the art led the trustees to cancel the installation. In 2007 The Dinner Party was permanently installed at the Brooklyn Museum, New York, in the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art. Books by Judy Chicago Through the Flower: My Struggle as a Woman Artist,  (autobiography), introduction by Anais Nin, 1975, 1982, 1993.  The Dinner Party: A Symbol of Our Heritage,   1979,  The Dinner Party: Restoring Women to History, 2014.Embroidering Our Heritage: The Dinner Party Needlework,  1980.The Complete Dinner Party: The Dinner Party and Embroidering Our Heritage,1981.The Birth Project,  1985.Holocaust Project: From Darkness into Light,  1993.Beyond the Flower: The Autobiography of a Feminist Artist,  1996.(With Edward Lucie-Smith)  Women and Art: Contested Territory,   1999.Fragments from the Delta of Venus,  2004.Kitty City: A Feline Book of Hours,   2005.(With Frances Borzello)  Frida Kahlo: Face to Face,   2010.Institutional Time: A Critique of Studio Art Education,   2014. Selected Judy Chicago Quotations Because we are denied knowledge of our history, we are deprived of standing upon each others shoulders and building upon each others hard earned accomplishments. Instead we are condemned to repeat what others have done before us and thus we continually reinvent the wheel. The goal of The Dinner Party is to break this cycle. I believe in art that is connected to real human feeling, that extends itself beyond the limits of the art world to embrace all people who are striving for alternatives in an increasingly dehumanized world. I am trying to make art that relates to the deepest and most mythic concerns of human kind and I believe that, at this moment of history, feminism is humanism.   About The Birth Project:  These values were oppositional in that they challenged many prevailing ideas as to what art was to be about (female rather than male experience), how it was to be made (in an empowering, co-operative method rather than a competitive, individualistic mode) and what materials were to be employed in creating it (any that seemed appropriate, irrespective of what socially constructed gender associations a particular media might be perceived to have).   About The Holocaust Project:  A lot of survivors committed suicide. Then you must make a choiceare you going to succumb to the darkness or choose life? Its a Jewish mandate to choose life. You shouldnt have to justify your work. I began to wonder about the ethical distinction between processing pigs and doing the same thing to people defined as pigs. Many would argue that moral considerations do not have to be extended to animals, but this is just what the Nazis said about the Jews.   Andrea Neal, editorial writer (October 14, 1999):  Judy Chicago is obviously more exhibitionist than artist. And that raises a question: is this what a great public university should support?

Turning a Lifes Work into a Book †By Sallyann Della Casa

Turning a Lifes Work into a Book - By Sallyann Della Casa Turning a Life's Work into a Book - An Interview with Sallyann Della Casa Literary pursuits and social action come together naturally  in  Sallyann Della Casa's world. Being a pioneer in using the written word to draw attention to her entrepreneurial work, she has unique lessons to share. We were very excited to find out more about her decision to work with Reedsy editors while being associated with a traditional publishing house. Whether you're a writer or a business leader looking for interesting ways to talk about what you do, there's a lot here for everyone.  Hi Sallyann, thanks for being with us today! You are the author of Who Will I Become, and the founder of the Growing Leaders Foundation. Can you tell us a bit about the book,  and its link to the foundation?The book, WHO WILL I BECOME, is a visual roadmap of the Foundation’s leadership work to  date. This first edition focuses on the Caribbean region where the Foundation started (my place  of birth). The 2nd edition will focus on the Middle East region. The photography and inspi ring  words are meant to incite storytelling between youths and adults as they explore instances  where the directed and thought provoking words may apply or could apply to their own lives,  past and future.The concept of the book has existed since 2010 when I created the Foundation. I wrote the  Love Letter to a Leader of Tomorrow back then, and it has never changed, meaning the entire  book is designed around this love letter we all deserve to receive in our lifetime.Books have always been my most reliable, consistent mentor. I wanted to create one that  could give the wisdom of generations to youths and adults who may have lost their way, from all  cultures. This is why there will be 7 versions of the book to represent various regions of the  world as I explore their cultures and what leadership feels and looks like for each. "Books have always been my most reliable, consistent mentor."@SallyannDC Author Sallyann Della Casa holding her book Who Will I BecomeComing from a tiny Caribbean island, Trinidad and Tobago, with only 1.3 million people and a  limited budget, a book is a terrific way to create a legacy for the Foundation, secure an income  stream (we are a social enterprise and not donor dependent) and also continue our impact -   each book gives the reader access to our leadership lessons through a unique code which they  can utilize on their own to help us grow leaders in their own communities.You’ve embraced the concept of a â€Å"book as a business card†, how did it work out for  you? What impact has the book had so far on your foundation?I recently wrote an article about this in Arabian Business, i.e. a book being the new business  card. I think in the world we live in today, we are super keen to learn more about the texture of  others; their worldview, their value system, etc. It is for this reason that we have such a huge  infatuation with each other’s content through social media, blogs and all. There is no better way to transfer your knowledge, experiences and/or diverse content other than through a book. There is just something about a book that gives roots to what you need to say to the world, how  you feel, who you are and what you stand for. I think everyone is a biography and a book waiting to happen and if we live our lives knowing this... just imagine the possibilities for each  and every one of us.With regards to me personally, the fact that I am now a published author is rewarding on so  many levels. As a lover of books, having my own is mind boggling. I also get photos and emails  from all over the world about how my book has changed someone’s life or impacted someone  else. You cannot even imagine what that feels like to read one of those emails. "I think everyone is a biography and a book waiting to happen" @SallyannDC Recently, I went on a book tour and visited classrooms in the Caribbean using the book and the  kids went berzerk, asking me for autographs not only on their books, but all over their clothing  and school bags, sweaters etc. It truly is the most powerful feeling ever to spark something  deep within another that awakens their potential. How blessed am I really to be the chosen  vehicle for a book that does this really magical thing?In terms of the Foundation, the book not only generated steady income but I have literally now  allowed anyone who purchases the book to access our leadership lessons for youths and  adults. This allows them to light their own candles in the world and allows the Foundation to  increase the outcome of our work tenfold by empowering others with our tools.What would be your top tips for other business or foundation owners when it comes to  writing a book (or having it ghostwritten) and publishing it?We all have something to teach and/or a story to tell... so share it out loud in a book. I say this  especially to those of us in the area of making this world a better place. You simply do not know how what you are doing or what you know can lift up another, give knowledge or inspire courage. In today’s publishing world, you can easily design, write and publish a book on your own. The traditional publishing way of needing an agent and a publisher has been turned on its head There are so many resources to help you do it right.I am now working on my second book, a 50,000+ word full manuscript which is very different  from my first book. To say it is hard, especially given I have no writing experience whatsoever,  would be an understatement. But I was really fortunate in that a publisher, Jaico Books, noticed  my work and approached me to write an adult audience leadership book. So I encourage you to  keep writing and putting your content out there in the world since you never know who may  notice.So you’re with a traditional publisher, but you still came to Reedsy to find an  independent editor to work with. What was the reason for that?Yes, normally a traditional publisher does all the editorial reviews for a book; especially if they  approached you to write it. In my case I came to Reedsy for three reasons.First I wanted a different persp ective on my book. My publisher is focused on the Indian market  but I want my book to have international appeal, so I was looking for diverse feedback.  Also, I have to admit I was a bit insecure about some of my writing. Before submitting some  chapters to my publisher, I chose to get a lot of help and feedback from my Reedsy editors. It was super affordable and I figured I had nothing to lose to get a next set of eyes on my work.I was very open to my publisher about having outside editors looking at my work. And they  actually noticed and complimented me on the huge difference in the chapters being submitted;  so it really worked out for me.Most importantly, my confidence is up and I have found my mojo and grit to keep writing away  to complete this second book within the next month so we can see it on bookshelves in 2017. "The three reasons why I came to Reedsy while working with a traditional publisher" @SallyannDC You’ve hired two editors through Reedsy: Maria D’Marco and Dick Hill: did you notice  any differences in their methods, or in the things they picked up?Dick and Maria are both wonderful and different as night and day in their approaches. Dick is  very methodical doing word ­-for-word editing. He does not touch the shape of the work but he  cleans up the grammar so it all makes perfect sense i.e. he has been super helpful in clearing  up what I want to say without disturbing my work. He is also very professor- ­like and I almost feel  like I have a babysitter that keeps me writing.Maria is extremely different in that she confidently pokes holes in the work and makes  suggestions or asks questions. She causes you to wonder if the shape of your work is correct or  if it should be round or square in certain parts. She forces you to think through what you are  writing or meaning to say. This is super helpful to me since she adds light and allows air into the  work. I am saving a lot of her comments for my final manuscript where I will have the full  editorial review from my publisher. I have a feeling this is where I will get a full appreciation of  how brilliant Maria actually is. Maria is also so positive and encouraging... she actually made me feel like I am writing a bestseller of sorts!We know you cannot wait, get yourself a copy of  Who Will I Become here.Did Sallyann's experiences seem familiar to you? Let her know, join the conversation by leaving your  thoughts, comments, or questions below.

Court History and Purpose Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Court History and Purpose - Essay Example In the United States of America, courts are organized into two systems; the state and federal court systems. In this respect, the U.S. court system is organized in dual or has a two-tier structure as noted by Siegel, Schmalleger and Worrall (2011). The state courts have the responsibility of hearing cases that do not involve the federal government or several states. The two tier system historically came about as original colonies surrendered their independence to the central government while maintaining jurisdictional distinction. The development of courts in the U.S. is a result of several factors. Some of the elements that have played a role in court development in this respect include common law, early legal codes, and precedent (Siegel, Schmalleger & Worrall, 2011). Common law tradition that is applicable in the U.S. today originated in England (law.berkeley.edu., 2012). This tradition was applied in British colonies in the middle ages. On the other hand, civil law tradition orig inated in the same period in continental Europe. The tradition was applied in European colonies including Portugal and Spain and later was adopted by numerous countries including Japan and Russia. Civil law systems have legal codes that are comprehensive and that are constantly updated. Civil law outlines the framework within which judges work and make rulings with legal scholars and legislators playing the more critical roles in the system. Civil law originated in Latin and was applicable to all citizens of Rome. In time, ancient Roman law principles were adopted by Europeans in an effort to meet modern needs (Stein, 2009). With the practice of civil law in Europe became common practice, local customs found a significant role as a basis for the development of law. The U.S. legal system is firmly grounded on common law tradition as practiced in England in the early days (law.berkeley.edu., 2012). In as much as common law relies on a few statutes, most decisions made in this respect are based on precedent. This means that the courts today make decisions on issues based on similar cases that have been decided in the past. Generally uncodified, common law has been practiced in courts based on court records, and year books. As an example, Louisiana state law is founded on civil law (codified law) owing to the fact that the state was previously a territory for the Spanish and French (law.berkeley.edu., 2012). California on the other hand has a state civil code that is based on traditional Roman civil law although the law as practiced is mostly common law. The state’s current community property law, for example, is based on the legal customs of ancient Spain as opposed to English common law (law.berkeley.edu., 2012). As can be seen from the examples given above, the common and civil law traditions as applied in the U.S. courts have a rich history and are associated with ancient foundations of modern law. Role of courts in criminal justice Criminal justice enc ompasses the set of government institutions and practices that are dedicated to the maintenance of social order, crime prevention, and sanctioning of those who contravene the law. While several organizations and government agencies form part of the criminal justice system, one of the main players in this respect is the court. The court plays a major function in criminal justice system. The separation of the roles of elements of the criminal

Observations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Observations - Essay Example Not only are these meals delicious, they are also nutritious and made from the finest and freshest ingredients. Likewise, these meals are served in high quality presentation that adds to the savory appeal. Concurrently, the staffs are very courteous, as they all serve customers with a sunny disposition. With a friendly smile, these personnel are noticed to be effectively trained in customer service, as well as in ensuring that the client’s diverse needs are addressed. In addition, the restaurant’s environment is just remarkable. The premises are maintained in pristine condition with cleanliness adhered to the highest levels. Also, management ensured that there are services that could be availed by other loyal clients who would like food to be pre-ordered and taken out. I observed that they have the Carside to Go service which enables customers to order online and drive to the nearest Applebee store to pick-up the food immediately. Overall, dining at Applebee’s is indeed a memorable and happy experience where customers would look forward to the next

Comparison of the poems Half-caste and Not My Business Essay Example for Free

Comparison of the poems Half-caste and Not My Business Essay John Agard and Niyi Osundare have both written poems that protest about events or attitudes of people. Agard is From the Caribbean where the population is made up of people from lots of different races. Therefore he is used to being around people of mixed race and will know from first hand experience how horrible it can be to be called only half a person. Osundare has got a good point to make here which is that if people see something going on that is wrong but does not directly involve them, they should do what they can to stop the wrong doing rather than leave it as it may well be them someday and there could be no one to save them. You never know. The first poem is about the term Half-Caste which the poet: John Agard, objects to as he thinks that it makes us think of people of mixed race as only half a person instead of a whole person or individual. The next poem Not My Business is about the violence used by the state authorities against the people of Nigeria. The poet: Niyi Osundare believes that you should stand up for what is right, regardless of whether it bothers you at that specific time. Not My Business is said to echo this statement: First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me. The statement is by Pastor Martin Niemoller it is very much like the poem Not My Business not only because of what is said, but also because of how it is structured. In the first three stanzas what is happening is happening to someone else, not the narrator. However in the last stanza what is happening is happening to the person in the story, either I or the Narrator. In Half-Caste The poet want us to realize that the term is such a stupid one and he wants the people who use it to realize this and change their attitudes towards people of mixed race. Also the structure of the poem is good as he uses humour at the beginning to catch the readers attention and then explains the stupidity of the term. Osundare believes that it is peoples indifference and detachment from what is going on around them that is allowing the terror to go on. The repeated phrase about what business of his is it is indented which shows a distance from what is going on or a detachment. Agard writes phonetically as to the way he would speak the poem, it is one of those poems that needs to be spoken to get the full meaning. He speaks in a patois and uses calypso rhythm and rhyme, which is an example of how English and African dialects have combined and are now a key feature of the poets Caribbean culture. Not My Business uses a repeated phrase which is just saying What business of mine is it etc. This is also indented and therefore shows distance from what is going on in the paragraph. This use of language is a good way to show this distance. This poem says a lot about peoples cultures, not only Nigeria, but people are like this all over the world, and it says a lot that people wont stick up for what is right just so long as it does not bother them. Both of these poems had a lot to say and they have said it in a strong and down to earth kind of way. The first used humour to get peoples attention and then had a go about the term Half-caste. However the second just used three examples and then showed that a problem will get much worse if it is left and oppressive regimes are not nice things and people need to stick up and fight against them!

The Weary Blues and Lenox Avenue: Midnight :: essays research papers

â€Å"The Weary Blues† and â€Å"Lenox Avenue: Midnight† by Langston Hughes are two poems written as scenes of urban life. Although these poems were written more than seventy years ago, it is surprising to see some general similarities they share with modern day city life. Dilluted down with word play and irrelevant lines such as â€Å"And the gods are laughing at us.†, the underlying theme is evidently urban life. â€Å"The Weary Blues† and â€Å"Lenox Avenue: Midnight† approach the general topic of urban life from two different aspects also.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The Weary Blues† speaks of a person hearing a Negro playing the blues on a piano â€Å"Down on Lenox Avenue the other night,†. The poem is centered around this event, explaining â€Å"He did a lazy sway†¦He did a lazy sway†¦Ã¢â‚¬  It seems that Hughes was addressing the common link of Negro’s, urban life, and the blues music seventy years ago; quite a different approach than his other work.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Lenox Avenue: Midnight†, my personal favorite of the two, is more of an outlook on urban life back then, stating that â€Å"The Rhythm of life/ Is a jazzy rhythm,†. There is an uneasy connection between urban life itself and the blues music that was so common during that time in that urban life itself is nothing but the blues and that â€Å"the gods are laughing at us.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Lenox Avenue: Midnight† is a more meaningful poem, reaching out to anyone that could relate. In a way it relates to modern day hip-hop in the sense of reaching out to the common people of that culture and time. â€Å"The Weary Blues† on the other hand is more of an observation thing going on in the poem, observing the Negro man playing the blues on his piano. The poems indirectly relate to modern day city life. Instead of the blues, hip-hop has taken its place.

What Do I Want to Be When I Grow Up

Ever since I was small, people always ask me â€Å"What do you want to be when you grow up? † I used crayons to illustrate my dream career. My drawing was hung in the hallways for my parents to see. I remember the typical careers of my kindergarden class- ballerinas, firefighters, singers, and astronauts. I remembered mine. My picture showed a stick figure with black hair holding a mic. Underneath the beautiful drawing, I wrote â€Å"When I grow up, I want to be a singer. To this day I can still remember my youth self wanting to sing and perform on a big stage. When I was younger, questions like this were asked very often. I answered these types of questions with silliness, never thought it was likely to come true. However, as I am getting older, I realized that now I'm suppose to answer this question with confidence and mean what I say. Teenagers are expected to know exactly what they want to be and should be able to give good reasons why. Now that I am a teenager, I still d on't exactly know what I want to be.Doctors, lawyers, dentists, business managers are all great jobs; however, I don't think my parents or any parents in fact, had ever sat down with their children and ask them â€Å"What do you want to be when you grow up? † If I have to answer this question, I would say â€Å"happy†. All I want to do in my grown up life is to be happy. In my opinion, if you hate your career, it's mostly unlikely for you to enjoy it. The fun part of being an adult is that you get to choose who you want to be and make your own decisions.Happiness isn't something you can buy with money. I feel like society today is all about money. The so called â€Å"good† jobs are usually the jobs that make the most money. I know money is pretty powerful, but it still has its limits. Money can't buy us happiness nor health. In my opinion, being happy isn't as easy to achieve as people think. Sometimes, it is even possible for happiness to spread. Being happy is n't going to be easy in any way, sometimes people underestimate the power of happiness. Therefore, my dream for now is to be happy when I grow up.But my ultimate goal in my life is to make everyone around me happy, I want to bring happiness in the people I love. I don't have a specific plan to determine how I'm going to make everyone happy but all I know now is that if you are not happy yourself, no one around will be happy. Happiness is a destination for everyone. We may want to try different paths in life, but I think we all want to be happy wherever we end up. Life is rough sometimes, but if you are optimistic about it, you will concur your failure. Happiness.