Historically speaking it is a known fact that women artists faced multiple disadvantages that their male counterparts did not: lack of availability of resources (including training and education), lack of time (due to role as mother/home maker), social perceptions, etc. Today many of the physical limitations have been lessened or eliminated, but sadly for all some of the social perceptions have not. Themes of “grandiosity”—works that seek to shock, “intellectual” works that leave the viewer wondering if perhaps they are not smart enough to “get it”, works whose “bravado” alone impresses—remain the most highly valued, labelled by the powers that be as worthy of our highest esteem and awe. But what of work that doesn't point out injustices or cry out in anger? What of work that does not seek a false edge but rather feels it is enough to elevate awareness and feeling surrounding aspects of our world that are working? What of work that celebrates what is beautiful and powerful verses broken and wrong? This perspective, certainly not limited to but typically more female in nature, remains undervalued and under recognized, and leaves many women artists still at a disadvantage. I believe the purpose of art is to “wake up” those who view it – wake them up to truths, feelings and awareness's—that they may otherwise be missing or denying. Certainly protesting injustices is critical, and exploring our shared angst can bring connectedness, but what are we protesting for if not to save and honor what remains beautiful and vital to our spiritual wellness? It is a tragic loss that these more typically female themes and sensibilities remain marginalized by the world of “high” art. I believe Pete Seeger said it best when he said “the key to the future is finding the optimistic stories and letting them be known”. We owe it to the wellness of the world to hold artwork that celebrates what is beautiful in equal regard with work that points out the perverse. This decidedly more female vantage point, this lack of an edge, may be the very edge we need to lead us back to our humanity. BY: Diana Tremaine February 2015
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