Tapestry and fiber art in general is regarded by our culture as "women's work" (whatever that means!), and "women's work" is still, in 2011, not valued. How, in this climate, can tapestry be understood as a valuable, researched, academically supported, and economically viable art form if it is considered "women's work"?
These questions come from a film I watched recently called Who does she think she is? It is a documentary about successful women artists and their struggle to have their art recognized in the midst of the rest of their lives which include children and family and a lot of "women's work". If you are a woman artist, please watch this movie (and thanks to Lyn Hart, tapestry artist extraordinaire, for telling me about it). It was released in 2009 by Mystic Artists Film Productions. Go to the website at www.whodoesshethinksheis.net to see a trailer.
Thanks for this post. I will certainly check out the film. As an engineer who now stays home with kids, tries to weave tapestries, has a volunteer science program at a local school, it seems my work is not valued since I am not paid. It is hard to fit things in with kids and family and I am lucky to be able to stay home, which allowed for me to care for my parents in their final year.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy your blog, and thanks for the post.
Susan
Thanks for the film info. And I love that bumper sticker!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the lead on this documentary, I had not heard of it. I wasn't in Taos when it screened at the Harwood last month, but see I can find it on Netflix.
ReplyDelete