Monday Night Feminism Kick-Off Event

"INTRA-VENUS" Series," 1992-93
Performalist self-portrait with Donald Goddard
chromagenic supergloss prints with overlaminate
2 panels: 71 1/2 x 47 1/2 inches each
edition of 3*

This past Monday, Professor Jane Nodine gave a fantastic and visually engaging lecture "The Goddess or the Bitch: An Artist's Perspective on Images of Women" to kick off Upstate Feminists' "Monday Night Feminism" series.   In almost the same breath Professor Nodine began her second sentence, scores of people filed in with professors Cara Tuttle-Bell and Rachel Snow and the event's attendance climbed well into the realm of standing-room only. Professor Nodine discussed at length the development and evolution of the feminist art movement, highlighting artists such as Judy Chicago and Hannah Wilke.  

I was completely captivated by the story of Wilke's last series of performance pieces, "Intra Venus," chronicling her ultimately fatal battle with lymphoma.  Wilke had long used her traditionally feminine beauty to expose and subvert the rigid expectations of the female form and its objectification throughout the history of art.  Perhaps, however, her most poignant piece is this last that portrays her physical transformation as her illness progressed.  It places images of the artist in the context of historically "significant" depictions of the conventionally beautiful female form.  It's startling.  It's honest.  And it's beautiful.  

The series was displayed posthumously in 1994 at the Ronald Feldman Gallery and included the works of several other artists.  

These images have been haunting me all week.

-- Andrea

*Note: These images were taken from the Ronald Feldman Gallery's site at : http://www.feldmangallery.com/media/wilke/wilexh_94/jun10may5-01.jpg