- Many museums' collections consist of only 5%-10% works by women artists.
- In 2006, only 23 percent of solo exhibitions in NYC art galleries were by women artists
- Only 30% of Art Review's "Power 100" are women in the arts.
- 80% of students at the School of Visual Arts are female. 70-80% of the artists in galleries and museums are male.
Try to think of specific examples of what solutions might look like. Try to say why your proposed steps would work, not just what your plan is.
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| Guerrilla Girls Poster |
I think the problem is mainly in how the general society works. If women weren't the ones who had babies then all the problems of the world would be solved. or at least issues about women. I don't think that there is a better child care program. More women should decide not to have children. The problem i see with "more shows for women" is that makes a sort of ghetto and the art will no doubt be viewed as of lesser quality. Those are sad sats life isn't fair....
ReplyDeleteI do not understand Grete's reasoning behind "if women weren't the ones who had babies then all the problems of the world would be solved."....please elaborate on this
ReplyDeleteI think we have to look back into history to see that women were not given same opportunities as men in almost every field of study and occupation, so therefore society (men) have pushed women down to a lower field, so that they were not able to create what men would define as "art" because women do not have the training and technique that men had. So, historically, there are not as many female artists as there were men.
Today is different: "80% of students at the School of Visual Arts are female. 70-80% of the artists in galleries and museums are male.".....now we have MUCH more female artists in the world, but men still seem to dominate and flourish in the visual art world. So how do we make female artists more marketable and valuable? Is it because they don't have the business skills?
I think art show exclusively for women is a great idea, and this has been done in major cities around the world before. I certainly think more attention should be paid to female artists of history, even though there are considerably more male artists in history....Jackson Pollock's wife perhaps???
what do you guys think?
"IS IT BECAUSE THEY DON"T HAVE THE BUSINESS SKILLS?" - because all men are birthed with the gift of good business skills, and of course all these male artists have degrees in business whereas none of the women do. (please tell me this dose of sexism was some sort of typo).
Deletei was being dramatic
ReplyDeleteThank you for clarifying Grete.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of a successful female in the ordinary, regular world, I think of a stereotypical soccer mom int the upper middle class or upper class status, with the iphone and decent car, working her way up the food chain at her work, she is already near the top. She is brassy, cold, and direct with her coworkers, but also has a side a fun, fashion, and compassion for her family and work..............THIS IS WHAT I THINK OF WHEN I THINK OF A SUCCESSFUL WOMAN
...now think of the female artist...............how would you put these two things together? I think that is the problem of why female ARTISTS are not successful....do you see what im saying/agree?
I personally think reason that male artists have got major fame and opportunities in the art world are because they live more dramatic lives than women. Like what Turner said, women did not get same education as men did; therefore, women’s might not go beyond men’s ability of creating provocative and attractive arts. From past to nowadays, buyers and curators have interested to provocative arts and dramatic artists’ lives. As we look back our history, most of women artists had normal lives. On the other hand, male artists such as Jackson Pollock and Vincent Van Gogh lived dramatic lives. For instance, Jackson Pollock was alcoholic and Van Gogh cut his ears. I believe that these backgrounds of their lives attract people to be more interested to their arts. I mean as a female art student, it is sad that female artists do not get opportunities like men artists. But, art world does not like ordinary things. It tends to like something crazy, unique, and different. Because many male artists have created more provocative arts under conditions of living crazy and dramatic lives, they have deserved more opportunities in the art world. I think that this condition would be continued and would not be changed in short time.
ReplyDeleteMy thought on this is that the all woman galleries should be a thing, they definitely will help get woman of art into the public eye more. BUT we also need to ingrain these names into society's mind, if you ask the average American to name a famous artist you'll most likely get a picaso or a vango...but if you ask for a famous female artist, chances are you'll be lucky to get one.
ReplyDeleteon the topic that grete and turner have brought up about woman in today's society, I find you guys have some dated ideals. These images you two have of the modern woman seem like the views of America 20 30 years ago. (Grete) And the idea of excepting these old ideology that woman should give up and just except this oppression because there just the "sad facts of life" is slightly depressing to me. Seeing how as a white privileged male I really cant speak on behalf of woman (because in truth Ive never had to feel that, or any oppression), my opinions can never really be as informed as someone who has. But I will say this, I hope that you can find some hope to fight against this sexist-mentality that the art world put in your way someday. No one should feel that they should just "give up" because a society has bullied you till your so tiered from fighting back that you submit to there wants if only to get them to stop.
What Andrew fails to realize is, that there are already movements in the art world, specifically in galleries and museums, that cater specifically to female artist, especially in new york................there is only one problem.....................it is harder for female artists to actually make a living, because no one is BUYING their work. WHY??? Do buyers simply NOT want work by female artists? What if they didn't know it was made by a woman? Would they like it less if it was made by a woman?
ReplyDeletewhat turner fails to realize is that its a social problem as we'll, the reason buyers aren't buying female artists paintings is because a sexist mentality has convinced the art world that male artist are worth more. I agree if they didn't know that it was by a female artist they would probably pay more, but that's only because society has instilled in them that male artists are more praised because they are more well known...not because of lack of effectiveness in any movement....thank you :).....oh and also the goal isn't to "Cater" to female artists.....its to get society to appreciate them without pitying them.
ReplyDeletebut turner i am unclear as to why success should have a different definition for males and females.
ReplyDeleteanny way andrew its better to concentrate on the positive in life...i was already born a girl so thinking about it is just sad but good for you on being a boy : )
also not to be sexist but when girls do art its like hobby like needle work or gardening but when men do art its like.........you know really dramatic and its their soul or something
ReplyDeletepity is the death to desire
ReplyDelete....im just gonna take the needle work as your form of humor.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Turner on the topic of women not being given the same opportunities as men, and how this has an effect on how easily they were able to create art and share it with people. The statistics that say how 80% of art students are female shows that we have improved, and it will now only improve because women are now overpowering the number of men, whereas in the past it's been men that have overpowered the women. I think that it is now only time that is standing in the way of women artists' work being shared in galleries, and being added to textbooks, and simply just being able to share and make art. The women need time to catch up to where the men are because it is fairly recently that they have the same freedom and opportunities as men. They have hundreds of years to catch up to. As far as male artists being valued more, I really believe if that's true at all it is simply because there have been more works shared by male artists (as I explained in depth above already.)There is more value in them because there have been more of them and more work shared by them. It's really all up to time now. In time things will change but I feel like right now we are doing all we can and that the numbers of women now making art are very high and will continue to grow.
ReplyDeleteI agree with grete on girls do art more likely as a hobby and men make dramatic and bold art. It's certainly not absolute but does exist to a great extent. The statistics say 80% of art students are female, even so, there's quite a bit of girls go to an art school just because they're not good at anything else(bussiness,science,etc) and have a rich enough family affording for them. Despite all that, women don't have as much careerism as men. Many outstanding female artists are silently hidden in the crowd. Even some of them once stand out, yet they fade away in their late 20s or 30s probably is something to do with bearing children. Of course, these are at most parts of the reason. The problem has been that female artists have been historically excluded from museums. But I believe there are more female curators and a new generation of male curators rewriting art history now. I think things could change, maybe not within a short time but eventually will.
ReplyDeleteI agree, too with Turner's thought that women didn't get equal opportunities as men did back in the past, but the world has changed and now, the number of female students dominate that of male students in art schools like SVA. However, there are many museums that don't have much works of female artists. So, in order to change this, opening special exhibitions only for female artists is necessary. Also, the world needs to help these female artists to get more opportunities in the art world by standing against sexists and any other people who don't approve works of female artists. Like Ava said, I also believe that since there are many potential female artists out in the world, eventually things will change.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sangeun that there should be a special treatment like having exhibitions only for female artists, but I am also anticipating that the world and concept are slowly changing toward accepting more female artists. Compared to the era of Impressionism, there are many female artists in fame nowadays, and I think the art world is still trying and kept changing toward accepting it. But in order to speed it, I think there should be a group of female artists with provocutive thoughts making artistic movement.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's because women lack in business skills. I think it's more because of the job as being a "mother". Because women are often times more expected to take care of the children (at least in Korea) I think it makes them to slow down in art making which leads them to be less competitive in the art world. And I agree with Hannah that since 80% of SVA students are now female, there's a higher chance for the rate to grow in the future. But something to think about is you don't have to graduate college to show your art works in galleries. I know that some of my friends in art schools borrow a gallery space to have an art show and most of the times they tend to be males. And in this case, the female students are in a similar state as the male students.
ReplyDeleteI think that having special exhibitions are good. But I think what is more important is to provide help and guide to the female artists opening an art show. Getting ready for art show requires a lot of time and effort and it can sometimes be hard to females physically.
The vast majority of artwork at the met comes from artists pre- 20th century. Since women didn't as many rights across the board,and being an artist wasn't a legitimate career option it makes since there would be little to no lasting art. Therefor it makes sense that women would be underrepresented in museums like the met. And it seems silly to attempt to find more work from the past. I think a collection of anonymous submissions for a specific exhibition would help. Judging the work apart from the artist. Unfortunately that can only go so far, because I so much of art is influenced by its creation and creator, and often doesn't function out of context. Like hannah I agree, it simply makes that it would be a slow progression ( when men have thousands of years on women). I don't like the idea of having a quota when it comes to men and women's art. I'd prefer it to be about the work. But like I said its hard when the history of the artist can be such an integral part of the works influence.
ReplyDeleteSociety should change the view. I think it will even create more prejudice of value of men's art and women's art if people
ReplyDeletesee these statics. These statics does not make sense to me. I think prejudice started from long time ago.
Women were considered as the one should have duty of childcare and the men should work. I think that these creates
the mind to viewer that men's art have more value than women. However, it doesn't matter whichever gender is created art,
art is just art, judgement on art should not have preconception. I believe that viewer had a bias when they look at art because
from this statics, it doesn't make sense how women took such a few role in art.
some solutions to this problem is that art history text book and art museum should include more women's art so that
public can take off their bias. I mean, they should not look at gender first when they look at art.
It is understandable if this statics were for long time ago, but nowadays, alot of women works and there are
tons of women artist more than before. These statics should be chagned.
i think women are important artists and are equally as talented as men artists. i dont think though that texts books should be revised to include women. history is history. i think we should focus on the present and future? see and try to figure out why women dont get to be as succesful as men now a days. i agree with what jiyoon says, i think is because instead of focusing 100% on their art, they are expected to do other stuff, also i assure if they have children they would want to spend time with them rather than doing art. i think as they grow older they do it as a hobbie. i feel women are underestimated.. they can do equally or better than men artist today. they probably choose not to/
ReplyDeleteI think that in order to change women's role in art, it has to start in society, and women need to be treated more equally in society and other types of art, because that is where everything stems from. I think that we tend to follow history and follow whats in the past, and that is part of why men are still prominent in the art world. I think maybe if museums start to seek out women's art more, it would make a difference, even if that means accepting a lot more different types if art, more than they are used to. I'm not sure I agree with the idea that women do art more as a hobby than something meaningful and "deep". Maybe that idea is what the problem is, maybe that is the general stigma around women's art, and maybe if that idea is changed, there will be more women's art in museums.
ReplyDeleteI would said the art world should change and it will change women's society art. Women should treated as same as men. I think it doesn't matter with the past that the way of power of men. Now the time changes and women should start have more artist and museums should get more women's art work. It is not fair that only genders are different and the accept the men's work. It is not only good because it is a men's work. I should say women should have self-confident and being an artist. Not only by the hobby they should change by an really ARTIST.
ReplyDeleteI think that the "all female galleries" aren't necessarily helping people view women as equals in the art world. I think that it gives them a clear separation from the other more well known artists. Whereas if a woman's piece of art work was placed next to one of Jackson Pollock's famous pieces, then people would think of them as more of equals. I just think that the reasoning has to do with society's view of women throughout history. They have always been viewed as lesser than and unfortunately in today's society that still hasn't completely changed.
ReplyDelete