FEMINISM NOW

Photo from Not New: Reclaiming the Radical In Feminism  By Suzanne Lacy & Megan Steinman

December 31, 2015. Issue Number 8—FEMINISM NOW was a trickier, more complex undertaking than we thought. Since WEAD claims divergent views, we asked how diverse is feminist art today–what’s out there? What don’t we know? How is it tied to ecological and social justice actions? We only scratched the surface.

The editorial committee did not unanimously approve all the essays. Some more passionate ideas pushed comfort buttons. The Magazine stands by its mission. We support controversial but intelligently grounded views that are not necessarily our own. This is an open space for the expression of divergent feminist ecoart/social justice art viewpoints and life experiences. Send proposals.

Here is a modest collection of historical narratives and current feminist actions. We leave the door open to hear more.

HONORED ARTIST: SUZANNE LACY

WEAD is extremely lucky to welcome Suzanne Lacy as our honored “pioneer” artist. Suzanne has been continuously creating activist feminist art since the early 1970’s. She has engaged communities from Oakland CA to England; Appalachia to South America. She shows no signs of slowing down soon. We met when I was a graduate student and she became dean of graduate studies; she has been my mentor ever since. Suzanne grasps the macro picture. She orchestrates large groups, collects personal stories, and glues it all together to sustain larger socio-political narratives for change.

WE SHOULD ALL BE FEMINISTS is a sharp short book by MacArthur Awardee Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie recounting how stereotypes of feminism (now 50 years out of date) negatively affect women in her native Nigeria and the world. In the end she defines a feminist as one who says there is a problem with gender perception today, and we must work together to fix it.

One outdated stereotype is feminists are anti-beauty. For the cover/lead image of Issue Number 8 we specifically chose award winning Claudia Borgna’s photo for its beauty integrated with a message. Claudia and I both studied with Suzanne Lacy.

 

FEMINISM NOW–feminism and diverse actions across age and cultural groups.

• Freelance curator Megan Steinman’s important work here is a collection of interviews with women administrators and curators specifically working in women-run institutions, developing exhibits and programs highlighting the work of women artists. They are from Poland, Berlin and Los Angeles. In late March an interview with a curator from Senegal will be added…so tune back in.
• Maya and Rachel Siskin-Lavine, high school students in Berkeley CA are our youngest writers. Raised by activist artist parents, they were born to lead actions against the oppressive—such as sexual harassment.
• Barbara Morris’ memoir recalls group feminist actions from the 1990’s called “The Beauty Projects.”
• Raheleh Minoosh Zomorodinia reports on an Iranian ecoart exhibit in Romania that spans ten years. She looks for what has changed over that time.
• Sheila Ghidini’s personal piece is a poetic narrative of loss and transition.
• Praba Pilar brings a sampling of her cutting edge feminist performance work—including a dynamic video. She has a Ph.d, and works in Canada.
• Kamala Platt, via “green rascuache” life ways, searches borderlands for footholds of dignity and well-being.
• A new recurring feature: feminist cartoons by artist Leslie Goldberg. Here she recounts her feminist art journey.
• Isabella La Rocca connects the abuse of women to animal/food abuse.

WEAD Artists Portfolio: Moe Beitiks, Verona Fonte, Anna Olsson, Claudia Borgna, Favianna Rodriquez, Shayna Weimer, and from Australia, Jenny Brown.