When Judy Chicago was a student at UCLA in the late 1950s, she took a class called “Intellectual History or Europe,” where her male professor declared that women had made zero contributions to European history. Aware of how little Chicago to start what would become a lifelong passion to find the incredible women of history and art that had long been systematically overlocked by patriarchal historical narratives. Chicago became a pioneer of feminist discourse in academia and art.
Her renowned work, the Dinner Party (1973-1978), which is now permanently installed at New York’s Brooklyn Museum, pays homage to the women from history and mythology. The Dinner Party consists of a massive triangular table (symbolising equality), with place settings for 39 women, intricately decorated with needlework and ceramics, reclaiming crafts that have been traditionally female. A further 999 names are inscribed on the the table’s base.
There is so much more to say about Chicago, a truely influential and inspiring women, but I need to get on and actually make some work! If you would like to learn more about her, I discovered a wonderful interview with her on the ‘The Great Women Artists,’ podcast with Katy Hessel, From May 2024. https://www.thegreatwomenartists.com/katy-hessel-podcast.
sources:
https://judychicago.com/ accessed 9/6/24
https://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/art-meets-politics-how-judy-chicagos-dinner-party-came-to-brooklyn/ accessed9/6/24