knittingflitting

Had the pleasure of going to a Judy Chicago exhibit this past weekend and now my head is whirling again!

I first heard about her with an exhibition that she had at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) in the mid-70’s.  You have to know your history that this was a time of feminism starting, a lot of negative male commentary, a lot of discourse and extremes.  The discussions were often very decisive and polarized.

Then along came “The Dinner Party”.  Three tables set for 13 guests each from the pre-history, early history and recent history eras.  The table runners featured handwork.  The dishes featured from very flat to very raised dishes.  And the choices for the symbolisms are still thought provoking to this day.  On that basis along I could comment for quite awhile but I’m not going to at this time.

The handwork — done by women, using the materials they were familiar with, but challenged to express a new awareness of themselves and their world.  The colours, the techniques and the amount of work it entailed were of the highest quality.

……to be continued.