Judy Chicago's work on masculinity,
And the best books I read last year.
I wrote an entire other newsletter for January about the freedom of anonymity. But after the inauguration, and the news pouring out threatening everyone’s lives but rich white men, I decided to share some of Judy Chicago’s work from the 1980s about masculinity instead.
I remember learning about Judy’s iconic Dinner Party artwork in a required Art History college class. It’s a testament to her that we discussed a living woman’s artwork in the basement of the Texas Tech Art building in the late 2000s.
From her website’s description of this series:
In PowerPlay (1982-87) Judy Chicago undertook a series of work examining the gender construct of masculinity. In both modest and monumental drawings, paintings, weavings, cast paper pieces and bronzes, she cast a critical eye at the negative ways in which men have exercised power and some of the consequences for both them and the world.
Revisiting her work this week helped me stomach this current misogyny-on-steroids moment we’re stepping into that truly worries me for women, and all of us.
AND she lives in New Mexico. In Oct 2024 a NYT article, “New Mexico is Where the Outlaw Artists Live”, profiled her and others in the state.
in the studio
I just finished up this baby. I’m currently working on an additional 5-6 trucks from 200 Days, as individual portraits, because doesn’t this Rome streetsweeper deserve her own stage?! God, I flipped out when I saw her.
books worth sharing
My maternal grandmother took me to the library often. My mom took me every two weeks my whole childhood. Books continue to be a solace and a great companion.
The two best books I read in 2024 (because I couldn’t pick one!):
Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe - Holy f*ck this book blew me away. This book reads like a crime thriller and brings you inside the IRA during the 60s/70s, full of unbelievable stories that had me dropping my jaw and gasping. Outloud. In public.
Grief is for People by Sloane Crosley - I’ve loved Sloane since she wrote I Was Told There’d Be Cake, and this new memoir explores grief and friendship.
A few other great ones:
See ya next time!
