Valentina Grande

In The Women Who Changed Art Forever: Feminist Art – The Graphic Novel, Valentina Grande and Eva Rossetti examine four artists, tracking the evolution of feminist art through the mid-twentieth though early-twenty-first centuries via their work. They profile Judy Chicago, Faith Ringgold, Ana Mendieta, and the Guerrilla Girls. Judy Chicago’s work enables the authors to examine the way in which feminist artists used their work to embody the women’s movement and call out omissions in portrayals of the human condition. Grande and Rossetti’s study of Faith Ringgold demonstrates how the actions of activists to carve out spaces for women artists and black artists typically omitted black women artists, such as Ringgold. With Ana Mendieta, the authors examine her life and the way identity is constructed, referencing Judith Butler as well as other theories of the body. Through the Guerilla Girls, Granda and Rossetti explore the use of art to criticize the art industry for its white male privilege. They also use the Guerilla Girls’ activism to tell more about the story of Ana Mendieta. This volume concludes with brief profiles of the women artists named but not explored as well as a bibliography, works cited, and acknowledgements section for those interested in further reading.

Grande and Rossetti’s book works particularly well as an introduction to these particular artists and their work as well as to the theory of feminist art. As a work of art discussing art, it opens itself to theoretical analysis, but teachers of art and art history will find this useful in their pedagogy. The format also helps it move beyond the constraints of formal scholarly works so that those looking for an introduction to these artists or the topic of feminist art will find this similarly useful for their own knowledge.… (meer)

I knew little of the Bauhaus school other than its name and as a school of architecture that somehow also gave us a lot of modern industrial design.

I had no idea that it was an actual school, as in pedagogical institute, rather than merely a group of like minded creative types. This definitely wet my appetite to learn more about Germany in the decadent 1920s... an area of study I've frankly long found generally off putting and of little interest.

It was a fast read, and an interesting one.

(2022 Book 11)… (meer)