Sunday, March 30, 2008

WOMEN WARRIORS announced!

I have made the final decision on whom to portray in WOMEN WARRIORS for my grant cycle. My original proposal was to portray six women, but I have decided to portray eight. This allows me better opportunity to depict a wide array of women from different cultures and races from around the world. So, without further adieu I present the 2008 WOMEN WARRIORS!

Pharaoh Hatshepsut, Egypt, c. 1500 BC-1458 BC. The first Queen Regent to rule as Pharaoh, and one of only five women to do so. Regarded by Egyptologists as one of the most successful pharaohs, reigning longer than any other woman of an indigenous Egyptian dynasty.

Trung Trac and Trung Nhi, Vietnam, c. 12-43 AD. Two sisters who became leaders and successfully repelled Chinese invasions for three years. Most of their 36 generals were women, including their mother.

Zinga (Jinga) Mbandi, Africa, c. 1583 - 1663. Queen of the Ndongo and Matamba Kingdoms of the Mbundu people in southwestern Africa. Fought against Portugese slave trade, put women in positions of power.

Nanny of the Maroons, Jamaica, 18th Cent. National Heroine of Jamaica and a well-known leader of the Jamaican Maroons in the eighteenth century. Fought against Spanish slavers.

Nanye-hi (Nancy Ward), America, c. 1738–1822. Cherokee "Beloved Woman" who believed in peaceful coexistence with white people.

Deborah Sampson Gannet, America, 1760 -1827. The first known American woman to impersonate a man in order to join the Army, the first to fight in combat, and the first to receive a military pension.

Policarpa Salvarrieta "La Pola," Columbia, c. 1791 – 1817. "La Pola" was an orphaned seamstress who became an important strategist and spy, and fought in the Colombian revolution for independence from Spain. The Spanish put her to death in 1827, but Colombia did get its freedom.

Lakshmi Bai, The Rani of Jhansi, India, c. 1828 – 1858. One of the leading figures of the Indian Rebellion of 1857, and a symbol of resistance to British rule in India.

You have probably noticed I changed one of my earlier selections, Madeleine de Vercheres (Canada). I opted to do this for two reasons: Deborah Sampson Gannett was a top selection in my poll, and Deborah's involvement in the American Military is important to the role of women in the US Military in general. Never fear, the young and heroic Madeleine will make a future appearance.

Additionally you have probably noted that there are no figures from prominent Western or Eastern Europe countries, like Spain, Italy or Russia. It was very difficult to choose the eight women I selected from the group of over 80 names I collected. While there are many wonderful candidates from the various countries throughout Europe, since I already portrayed four caucasian women from the British Isles, I felt that cultural diversity should be a deciding factor in whom I selected. I hope this does not prove to be short-sighted on my part, but I feel the eight new women with the four existing women will make a really solid portfolio to present for further grants, exhibits, and possible gallery representation. Going forward with the WOMEN WARRIORS after I complete the Artist Initiative Grant I will feel freer to select an even broader base of women. Feel free to share your thought on this!

So now I can start looking for models! I don’t have all the pertinent information gathered on what each of these women may have looked like, but if you or anyone you know might be a good candidate, please contact me!

Friday, March 28, 2008

modern Woman Warrior: Harlem Teacher goes to Antarctica for Science, and Pupils

Harlem science teacher Shakira Brown will be teaching her students at Promise Academy from Antarctica this fall. Please visit the New York Times to read the full article, written by Ozier Muhammad. (*note* you may have to sign up for a free NYT membership to read the article)

When asked about the upcoming adventure, Ms. Brown stated:

“I’m a young African-American teacher who came from a public school education, from an urban environment,” she went on. “My mom made less than $30,000 a year, and she raised me and four brothers. Now I’m in a position to empower all these people to have the same path that I was on.”

Shakira Brown gets my nomination for Woman Warrior of the week!

Thursday, March 20, 2008

"Wise Women Talk" lecture with Diane Mullin

The following info is from the MCAD website, and this event is part of their Women's Art Institute. The Women's Art Institute "offers educational opportunities to assist individuals in attaining philosophical, aesthetic and historical knowledge to help them define their goals as women artists."

Monday, March 31, 7pm
Minneapolis College of Art & Design
Auditorium 150

This event is free and open to the public. Diane Mullin, art historian and curator at the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum at the University of Minnesota, will speak about the year's current recognition of women artists in the exhibition "WHACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution" at MOCA in Los Angeles; "The International Feminist Art Exhibition" at the Brooklyn Museum in New York; and "WARM: 12 Artists of the Women's Art Registry of Minnesota," a recent exhibition at the Weisman Museum curated by Dr. Johanna Inglott. Dr. Mullin will also spotlight several artists whose work is contributing to the recognition of the questions being asked by women artists. Dr. Mullin earned her PhD in art history from Washington University in St. Louis. Her curatorial and scholarly work focuses on postwar and contemporary art. A faculty member at MCAD from 1998 to 2004, she also served as director of MCAD Gallery from 2002-04.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

One Woman's War

The following is reposted from the BBC News website. I was informed of this woman's work through Photo Betty, and went to view her article. I feel it is very poignant to repost here because Rita is a woman who is obviously making a difference, and because this is the five-year anniversary of the US-Iraq war.

Canadian photojournalist Rita Leistner traveled to Baghdad in 2003 as a freelance reporter determined to get behind the front lines of the war in Iraq. Over the next 18 months she returned to the country several times capturing images of life with the troops - as well as behind the scenes in a psychiatric hospital.

www.news.bbc.co.uk

Watching Rita's video diary reminds me of seeing the Pulitzer Prize Photography Exhibit a few years ago. This traveling exhibit, which I saw at the Minnesota Historical Society, was comprised of many iconic photos that we all know, such as the flag raising at Iwo Jima and the photo of a young Vietnamese girl who has just been napalmed. After spending hours at this exhibit I came to a very sad conclusion. While these photos are all very iconic and I enjoy them, and each time I look at them I learn something new, a vast majority of them were only made because of tragedy (war, disasters, etc). It is sad that so many powerful images are made because of what humans can do to one another, and it is sad that Rita's amazing images are made on the same principle. As Wordsworth once remarked in his poem Lines Written in Early Spring, "And much it grieved my heart to think/What man has made of man.." Perhaps the work of people like Rita Leistner will allow us to one day live in a world without war, ignorance and oppression. That, I think, is the goal of all Women Warriors.

To learn more about the traveling Pulitzer Exhibit follow these links:
www.newseum.org
www.mnhs.org

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Reader's Poll: help me pick some Women Warriors!

I've managed to narrow down my list of Women Warriors from eighty names to a mere twenty-three. I have definitely decided on four women, but need to select at least two more, possibly four. I've created a poll on the side, so help me vote!

Here are the four selected candidates:

Madeleine de Vercheres
, Canada, 1678 - 1747, Her ingenuity is credited with single-handedly thwarting a raid on Fort Vercheres.
Queen Hatshepsut, Egypt, 15th Cent BC, One of the most successful pharaohs, reigning longer than any other woman of an indigenous Egyptian dynasty.
Lakshmibai, India, 1828-1858 AD, Queen of the Maratha-ruled princely state of Jhansi in North India, was one of the leading figures of the Indian rebellion of 1857, and a symbol of resistance to British rule in India.
Trung Sisters, Vietnam, 12-43 AD, Two 1st century women leaders who successfully repelled Chinese invasions for three years.

My second-tier selects are:

Zinga Mbandi, Africa, 15th Cent, fought Portugese, put women in positions of power
Charlotte Corday, France, 18th Cent, killed Marat during the French Revolution
Caterina Sforza, Italy, 1463-1509, cruel, fought many battles, spiritual mother of the queen chess pawn
Nanny of the Maroons, Jamaica, 18th Cent, well-known leader of the Jamaican Maroons in the eighteenth century
Deborah Sampson Gannet, North America, 1760 -1827, first known American woman to impersonate a man in order to join the Army, the first to fight in combat, and the first to receive a military pension.
Catalina de Erauso, Spain, 1592-1650,
semilegendary personality of Spain and Spanish America, dressed as a man, loved dueling
Brita Olsdotter, Sweden, 18th Cent, an old Swedish woman meets Russian army and makes them turn around and leave after telling them that reinforcements was arriving to assist Linköping
Queen Bat Zabbai (Zenobia), Syria, 240-274 AD, Queen of the Palmyrene Empire who conquered Egypt

Here are the third-tier selects. Some of these women may only be folk heroines based on real women who are unknown, and thus will not work for this project. Their historical statuses are as yet undetermined.

Vlasta & Sarka, Checholslovakia, 600 's, myth? created woman's army & castle
Empress Wu Chao, China 684-705 AD, originally a concubine, first and only woman ever to occupy office of Emperor in Chinese history
Princess Pingyang China, 600's, helped father establish Tang Dynasty by forming and leading a woman army
Matilda of Tuscany, Italy, 1046 – 1115 AD, saw battle? one of the few medieval women to be remembered for her military accomplishments.
Tomoe Gozen, Japan, 1157-1247 AD, real person? female Samurai
Kenau Hasselaar & Amaron, Netherlands, 16th Cent, allegedly led 300 women in defence of the city.
Glory of the Morning, North America, 18th Cent, first woman ever described in the written history of Wisconsin.
Hellcat Maggie, North America, 1800s, questionable to being real person,
female bouncer at a New York City Water St. bar called The Hole in the Wall in the early 19th century, who figures prominently in New York City folklore.
Nanye-hi (Nancy Ward), North America, 18th Cent, Cherokee "beloved woman" She believed in peaceful coexistence with white people.
Manuela Beltrán, South America, 18th Cent, Colombian woman who organized a peasant revolt against excess taxation in 1780
Manuela Sáenz, South America, 1783-1830, "perhaps the most important woman in Latin American history" and says that she "had more political influence than even Eva Perón."

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

March 4 is Pro-Choice Lobby Day!

From my NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota e-newsletter......

Raise Your Voice for Choice! Celebrate the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade by joining with supporters of reproductive rights from across Minnesota at the 2008 Pro-Choice Lobby Day.

Lobby your legislators, get the latest updates on the issues, and rally for choice in the Minnesota State Capitol. Help ensure the voice of Minnesota's pro-choice majority is heard loud and clear!

To mark this historic anniversary, the 2008 Pro-Choice Lobby Day is the first to be offered as a joint coalition event. The breadth of the participating organizations reflects the diversity of supporters of reproductive rights.

Whether as a matter of faith, justice, freedom or health, the members of the Pro-Choice Lobby Day Coalition all join together to support a woman’s fundamental right to choose.

Join us on Tuesday, March 4 for Pro-Choice Lobby Day at the Minnesota State Capitol!
Register today at
http://www.prochoicelobbyday.org/.

Saturday, March 1, 2008

March is National Women's History Month!

Hooray for March, Women's History Month! In like a Lion, out like a Lamb? I rather like to think we remain Linoesses no matter the month.

Visit the National Women's History Project for fun facts and information. NWHP has a celebration in NYC, and this year's theme is Women's Art/Women's Vision. From the NWHP website:

To honor the originality, beauty, imagination, and multiple dimensions of women’s lives, we have chosen Women’s Art: Women’s Vision as the 2008 theme for National Women’s History Month.

The history of women and art is quintessential women’s history. It is the story of amazing women’s accomplishments acclaimed at the time but written out of history. Join us in ensuring that their accomplishments are never forgotten.

This year’s theme provides a special opportunity to discover and celebrate women’s visual arts in a variety of forms and mediums that help expand our perceptions of ourselves and each other.

To see their list of honorees, please visit the website linked above. Perhaps you can have your own Women Warriors celebrations!

Here are a few famous dates and birthdays in Women's (recent) History:

March 1, 1864
Rebecca Lee of Boston became the first African American woman to earn a medical degree.
March 4
Mothering Day (England), the original Mother's Day.
Jeanette Rankin became the first woman elected to the US House of Representatives
March 7, 1870
Women were allowed on juries in Wyoming for the first time although the right did not last and was taken away until the mid 1950's.
March 8, 1911
The first International Women's Day was celebrated in Europe
March 12, 1993
Janet Reno became the first woman US Attorney General.
March 31, 1776
Abigail Adams wrote her famous "Remember the ladies" letter to her husband, John, urging him to include women as he helped construct the US Constitution.
Famous Women born in March

1
DINAH SHORE (1931-1994) SINGER, WOMEN'S SPORTS SPONSOR
MYRLIE EVERS-1933-POLITICIAN, AUTHOR, EDUCATOR. COMMISSIONER OF LOS ANGELES BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
2
JENNIFER JONES-1919-ACTRESS, CIVIC WORKER
KAREN ANNE CARPENTER (1950-?) SINGER
3
BEATRICE WOOD-1893-POTTER, ARTIST, AUTHOR, ACTIVIST. LIVING LEGACY AWARD, 1989
JEAN HARLOW (1911-37)-SCREEN ACTRESS OF 30'S AND 40'S
5
LEONTINE T.G. KELLY-1920-1ST BLACK WOMAN BISHOP (METHODIST)
MARY ROSE OAKAR-1940-CONGRESSWOMAN
6
VALENTINA TERESHROVA-1937-FIRST WOMAN IN SPACE (RUSSIAN)
7
JUNE WAYNE-1918-ARTIST, LITHOGRAPHER, TEACHER. LIVING LEGACY AWARD, 1989.
JANET GUTHRIE-1938-RACE CAR DRIVER. FIRST WOMAN TO RACE IN INDIANAPOLIS 500
8
ELSIE AGNES GIORGI-1911-PHYSICIAN, HUMANITARIAN
10
HARRIET TUBMAN (c. 1820-DIED THIS DATE, 1913) EMANCIPATOR, LED HUNDREDS TO SAFETY THROUGH UNDERGROUND RAILWAY, WHICH SHE ESTABLISHED
11
ELENI GATZOYIANNIS (1907-1948) HEROINE WHO GAVE HER LIFE TO SEE THAT HER CHILDREN ESCAPED FROM FACISTS TO FREEDOM IN US. TRIBUTE TO MOTHERTHOOD, LIVING LEGACY AWARD, 1989. NAMESAKE, "ELENI" AWARD.
12
LIZA MINNELLI-1946-SINGER, ACTRESS, DANCER
LUPE ANGUIANO-1929-MEXICAN-AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST
13
JANET FLANNER (1892-1978) JOURNALIST. CORRESPONDENT FOR NEW YORKER FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS. ONE OF FEW WOMEN TO BE AWARDED FRENCH LEGION OF HONOR.
CORINNE BOGGS-1916-POLITICIAN, POLITICAL ADMINISTRATOR
FAYE GLENN ABDELLAN-1918-US GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL, HEALTH SERVICES
PATRICIA W. AMICONE-1938-EDUCATOR-MIDWIFFERY/FAMILY PLANNING
14
DIANE ARBUS (1923-71) PHOTOGRAPHER AND INNOVATOR
15
LADY ISABELLA GREGORY (1852-1932)-PLAYWRIGHT. MAJOR LITERARY FIGURE IN IRISH LITERATURE.
CAROLINE HERSCHEL (1750-1848) ASTRONOMER, DISCOVERER
16
RUTH BADER GINSBERG-1933-FORMER JUDGE, ASSOC. JUSTICE, U.S. SUPREME COURT
BERTHA KNOX GILKEY-1949-WELFARE AND TENAMENT RIGHTS FOR URBAN WOMEN
18
UNITA BLACKWELL-1933-POLITICIAN. FIRST BLACK MAYOR IN MISSISSIPPI.
21
CHARLOTTE BRONTE (1816-1840) NOVELIST, POET
23
JOAN CRAWFORD-(1908-1977)-ACTRESS
FANNIE FARMER (1857-1915)-COOKERY EXPERT
LAURA THORNE-1956-CHEF,NAMED ONE OF 10 BEST AMERICAN CHEFS
24
DOROTHY IRENE HEIGHT-1922-SOCIOLOGIST. PRESIDENT, NATIONAL COUNCIL OF NEGRO WOMEN, AN ORGANIZATION OF 4 MILLION WOMEN
25 GLORIA STEINEM-1934-WRITER, EDITOR. CO-FOUNDER,MS MAGAZINE. LEADER AND INTERNATIONALSPOKESPERSON FOR MODERN WOMEN'S EQUALITY MOVEMENT. LIVING LEGACY AWARD, 1985.
EDNA JO HUNTER-1923-EXPERT ON MILITARY FAMILIES AND PRISONERS OF WAR; FIRST WOMAN NAMED AS DISTINGUISHED MILITARY PSYCHOLOGIST OF AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSN. SERVED ON FACULTY OF US MILITARY ACADEMY AT WEST POINT. LIVING LEGACY AWARD, 1992.
ARETHA FRANKLIN-1942-SINGER
FLANNERY O'CONNOR-1925-1964) SHORT STORY WRITER
26
SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR-1930-FIRST WOMAN JUSTICE OF U.S. SUPREME COURT
DIANA ROSS-1944-SINGER
27
ANNEMARIE PROBELL-1953-CHAMPION SKIER
28
REBA MC ENTIRE-1955-COUNTRY WESTERN SINGER
29
PEARL BAILEY (1918-1992) SINGER, ENTERTAINER, U.N.DELEGATE, HUMANITARIAN. LLA 1989.
JULIA MONTGOMERY WALSH-1923-POLITICAL CONSULTANT, WRITER
30
LESLIE JOAN CORN-1949-THEATRE PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, WRITER
31
LIZ CLAIBORNE-1929-FASHION EXECUTIVE