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| The Happenings Feature - March 2007 |
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Feminist Art takes center stage at the Brooklyn Museum
The Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art is the first of its kind in the nation
Gloria Steinem and Elizabeth A. Sackler
©Mark D Phillips View Larger |
Feminist icons, including Gloria Stenem, came to The Brooklyn Museum for the historic opening of the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for
Feminist Art - a musem-within-a-museum that
celebrates the work of women artists.
Steinem's words echoed through the hallways. "As a child I was rescued by books, but excluded by museums," she said. "This center allows men to see beyond the patriarchy."
The centerpiece of the new expansion is The Dinner Party, Judy Chicago's massive triangular table bringing together 39 of history's greatest women with individual
place settings unique to each woman.
"As a young girl, I would ride the bus to the museum to look at my favorite art - Cézanne, Monet - and wonder where the women artists were," said Chicago. "Elizabeth Sackler's
act of genorosity demonstrates that one individual can still make a difference, in this case, interceding in history to help ensure an ineradicable place for women."
Judy Chicago's name has become synonymous with feminist art. Since it was first presented at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, The Dinner Party has been
seen by over a million people on three continents. In 1980, The Brooklyn Museum first displayed the piece as the third stop on a national tour. The Elizabeth A. Sackler
Foundation purchased it in 2002, gifting it to The Brooklyn Museum.
Without building an addition, the visitor has the feeling they have entered a different institution. The unique triangular shaped room built to house The Dinner Party is the heart of
the 8,300 square foot "museum within a museum" on the fourth floor. Dark glass and subdued lighting gives an ethereal feel to the installation. Entering the room through one triangular shaped
doorway, the viewer is nearly overwhelmed by the sheer size of the piece.
Each side holds 13 place settings, each its own work of art. The first side begins with prehistory through
classical Rome starting with a place setting for the Primordial Goddess. The second side takes you through rise of Christianity with Marcella and on to Anna van Schurman, probably the most
educated woman of the seventeenth century. The third and final side brings the women of the American Revolution and modern civilization to the table, ending with Virgina Wolfe and Georgia O'Keefe,
who for Judy Chicago represent when women found a uniquely female voice in art and literature.
The entire piece rests upon The Heritage Floor, more than 2000 triangular shaped tiles each inscribed in gold script with the name of one of 999 women who have made a mark on history. Once
outside the display room, the visitor can spend hours reading about each guest at the dinner table via the extensive online database, or view biographical material shown on flat panels while
resting on the galleries many multimedia locations.
Three inaugural exhibitions open today, March 23, with special programs continuing throughout the opening weekend. With almost all the artists involved in the opening exhibitions in attendance,
the museum will have artist talks and artist walks throughout the new galleries.
Pharaohs, Queens, and Goddesses is the first of a series of biographical shows based on figures and themes included in The Dinner Party. The central object of the exhibition is an
important granite head from the Brooklyn Museum collection of Hatshepsut, the fifth pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty (1539 - 1292 b.c.). Hatshepsut is featured alongside other women and goddesses
from Egyptian history, including queens Cleopatra, Nefertiti, and Tiye and the goddesses Sakhmet, Mut, Neith, Wadjet, Bastet, Satis, and Nephthys - many of whom are featured on The Dinner
Party's tiles. This exhibit runs from March 23 - September 16, 2007.
Global Feminisms is the first international exhibition exclusively dedicated to feminist art from 1990 to the present. The show consists of work by approximately eighty women artists from
around the world. Including works in all media - painting, sculpture, photography, film, video, installation, and performance, its goal is not only to showcase a large sampling of contemporary feminist
art from a global perspective but also to move beyond the specifically Western brand of feminism. Global Feminisms contains challenging subject matter that some visitors may find disturbing or
offensive. Children 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Discretion is advised. The exhibit runs from March 23 - July 1, 2007
An Art of Our Own: Women Ceramicists from the Permanent Collection is an installation of over 75 ceramic objects from the Brooklyn Museum's permanent collection made by women artists.
Although the vast majority of the objects are by 20th century artists, there are also some earlier examples of "china painting" by largely anonymous women of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Examples of pots by Native American artisans are also included. |
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The Happenings Feature - Story Archive
Want to read more of our stories about special people, groups and events in South Brooklyn?
Happenings Story Archive
Visit our HAPPENINGS page to see events taking place in South Brooklyn. |
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Barclays Center comes to Brooklyn
In a bold move, Barclays bank bought the naming rights to the new Nets arena, to be called Barclays Center, the centerpiece of Atlantic Yards.
The 20,000 seat arena will be the home of the Nets in the 2009 season, signalling the return of
professional sports to Brooklyn. It will also serve as a venue for arts and other athletic events,
hosting more than 200 events annually.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg joined a star-studded gathering at the Brooklyn Museum on Thursday, January 18,
to announce the partnership. On stage with the mayor were Nets stars Jason Kidd and Vince Carter,
rapper Jay-Z, NBA Commissioner David Stern, and architect Frank Gehry.
"I know of no company that would be better to bring their reputation to Brooklyn," said Bloomberg.
"And the opportunity to put your name on something this big, and with this phenomenal design, this
is the kind of iconic design that people are going to recognize from any part of the country and every
part of the world."
Barclays Center comes to Brooklyn.... Continued
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DUMBO IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT UNVEILS
FIRST ANNUAL "DUMBO LIGHT CAPADES" IN BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK
©Mark D Phillips
Empire Stores Building |
"It's holiday lights - Brooklyn style!" said Borough President Markowitz. "Where else but in Dumbo can you find such an illuminated mix of creativity, originality and holiday spirit? These beautiful light sculptures will brighten up Brooklyn for residents of all ages, and make Brooklyn Bridge Park even more festive this holiday season."
Lights on Empire Stores will run for 80 seconds every hour on the half hour and six sculptures grace the field beneath the Manhattan Bridge.
Light Capades.... Continued
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Produced by
SouthBrooklynInternet. All material ©2006. No reuse without permission.
All photographs ©Mark D Phillips - southbrooklyninternet.com |
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