Faith Buenaventura

Art and Women

Professor Cacoilo

Women Making a Difference

Since the birth of Adam and Eve, women and men were given distinct characteristics that disempowered women and minorities for hundreds of years. Such difficulty was heavily broadcasted in the art industry. Female artists during the Middle Ages, The Renaissance, Victorian England, and even until the 21st century, still fight to be known as an influential artist. Regardless, they are still one of the best artist to ever live. Their purpose is to use their art to focus on the social issues individuals may face and how it reflects the world around them. The following artists concentrate their work on the social and racial issues our society still experiences today. Because of them, women are aware, vocal, and grow in empowerment.

Kara Walker:

Born in 1969, in Stockton, California, Kara Walker is an African American contemporary artist who explores race, gender, and violence in her work. Known for her use of black and white silhouettes, she depicts the theme of cultural identity. The purpose of the silhouettes is to emphasize the reality people of her color/gender face, while also using stereotypes from slavery to relate it to the constant violence and social issues happening in today’s society. In her work, “The Means to an End.. A Shadow Drama in Five Acts”,  she depicts the struggle women face in correspondence to men. “Walker subversively revives the iconography of eighteenth-century cut-paper silhouettes to tell unsettling stories of America’s prejudiced underbelly and to graphically present images of the antiquated racism that still plagues today’s social landscape” (Princeton University, 1). In this specific work, you see how two females, maybe in relation as mother and daughter, who are brought together only to be ripped apart. This is because you later see how the woman is running after her child as if someone has taken her. By the last scene you see a man, someone of higher social ranking (due to his clothing), grab the little girl by the throat in order to prove his patriarchy and establish control. While the mother is running after her daughter it is clear that the man has established his dominance where he will not return the child. The work foreshadows that the man will most likely use the child for slavery. This relates to modern day issues in a sense where women are still controlled and manipulated by men. As much as a woman fights for her daughter and tries to protect them, the man will always establish his strength and dominance no matter what age and time. Kara Walker spreads such awareness in hopes to stop the cycle of male dominance.

“The Means to an End.. A Shadow Drama in Five Acts”, Kara Walker, 1995 http://images.complex.com/complex/image/upload/c_limit,w_680/fl_lossy,pg_1,q_auto/k4jpk6ta2lnu22nt9su9.jpg

Adrian Piper:

Adrian Piper born in 1948 in New York City, New York, addresses racial “passing” and racism that heavily influence people today. Piper is racially mixed with origins from Africa. With the constant racial remarks happening during her time, many individuals will comment on such race and stereotypes while being completely unaware that she was black herself. This form of racial “passing” sparked piper to give these individuals a calling card that expressed who she was and apologized for the discomfort her presence brought them-- just as these peoples comments discomforted her as well. “Piper dedicated her life to fighting racism and xenophobia. The art she created was social and political, but for her, it was more than just art. It was a firm argument lecture to all who could not grasp the idea of equality and the true nature of humanity” (Lola, 3). Pipers main goal was to reveal the boundaries equality was subjected to and the attitudes humanity grew up with. By utilizing different forms of media-- whether it is through art, calling cards, online, or philosophical work, Piper believed that these forms of media were able to transfer her purposeful messages. Her use of toiling with an individual's conscious and human perception enables these people to realize that racism still exists and is a growing disease around the world.

Calling card that was given by Adrian Piper
https://dakrolak.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/tumblr_no3pu6cudo1r6ssrvo1_500.jpg?w=500

Carrie Mae Weems:

"Ain't Jokin", Carrie Mae Weems, 1988
http://www.hippoquotes.com/img/carrie-mae-weems-quotes/012314-shows-honors-honorees-The-Carrie-Mae-Weems-Collection-aint-jokin-black-woman-with-chicken.jpg

Carrie Mae, born in 1953 in  Portland, Oregon, is best known for her photographic images. These images engulf the ideas of racism that African Americans experience, and gender issues that cause constant conflict in society. In 1983 she finished her first collection called “Family Pictures and Stories”. In this collection, she wanted to examine the trials and tribulations black families went through in order to move from the South and into the North. She used photos of her family as a model for the larger picture/theme she wanted to accomplish. She also used her family because even they were categorized by such racial remarks. Carrie Mae further focuses on the deeply embedded racism that she experienced by depicting it in her work “Ain’t Jokin”, which was completed in 1988. This piece focused on the racial jokes and internalized racism. The captions she provided along with the pictures include comical, troubling, and vulgar language that black people were taunted with.  For example, a more troubling caption states, “Looking into the mirror, the black woman asked, ‘mirror mirror on the wall, who’s the finest of them all?’ The mirror says, Snow White, You black bitch and don’t you forget it” (Carrie Mae Weems, 1). Most of her captions in this piece depict how white people were deemed superior and better while black people are negligent and impractical. Another caption states, “Black woman with chicken” in order to inflict the prominence of racial stereotyping still present in today's culture (Carrie Mae Weems 1). Her work brings out the raw feelings and emotions experienced  by thousands of people around the globe.

"Ain't Jokin", Carrie Mae Weems, 1988
http://www.artnet.com/WebServices/images/ll00142lldnyMJFgOjECfDrCWvaHBOcGe7E/carrie-mae-weems-mirror,-mirror-(from-the-aint-jokin-series).jpg

Renee Cox:

Born in 1960 in Jamaica, Renee Cox is an activist for women's rights and also dabbled with the gender issues that are still prominent in today's society. She uses herself as a model of her work, both naked and clothed, in order to celebrate the strength and empowerment of women while also criticizing the racial attitudes society portrays towards them. Cox states,

“I believe that images of women in the media are distorted and women are imprisoned by those unrealistic representations of the female body. This distortion crosses all ethnic lines and devalues all women. I am interested in taking the stereotypical representations of women and turning them upside down, for their empowerment” (Brooklyn Museum, 2).

In one of her famous pieces, “The Liberation of Lady J and UB”, she created a superhero that would overturn stereotypes that sparked positive feedback  among many women and artists.

“The Liberation of Lady J and UB”, Renee Cox, 1998 https://images.artnet.com/aoa_lot_images/49443/0_550_440.jpg

Faith Ringgold:

Faith Ringgold, born in New York in 1930, expresses her work through a series of quilts and paintings. In her work, “American People”, Ringgold encompasses the themes of the civil rights movements from a female perspective. “ In the 1970s, she created African-style masks, painted political posters and actively sought the racial integration of the New York art world” (Biography, 1). By displaying various forms of artwork she wishes to capture the racial tension presented during that era. Ringgold is still a widely known artist born to fight for equality and women empowerment.

"American People", series #4, Faith Ringgold, 1963
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/ed/16/77/ed16774e5e09c0be1c4eeb923e104821.jpg

In conclusion, women were made to be strong and empowered. Without the hard work of previous and present day artists, women would not be as autonomous as they are today. It is because of these individuals, awareness and empowerment continue to grow. Although there are still aspects in the industry women need more recognition in, the battle these artist and feminist face will soon be won. 

Works Cited

Designed and Developed by Lisa Goodlin Design. "Carrie Mae Weems." Carrie Mae Weems : Ain't Jokin, 1987-1988. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2017.

"Faith Ringgold." Biography.com. A&E Networks Television, 09 May 2016. Web. 14 Apr. 2017.

"Kara Walker." 75 Artworks, Bio & Shows on Artsy. Artsy, n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2017.

M, Lola. "Adrian Piper." WideWalls. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2017.

"The Means to an End ... a Shadow Drama in Five Acts, 1995." Princeton University. The Trustees of Princeton University, n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2017.

"Renee Cox." Brooklyn Museum: Renee Cox. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2017.