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Maureen Devine
is a freelance art curator and preservationist working in both
Chicago and Detroit.
 According
to a 1992 National Endowment for the Arts statistic, only
17 percent of artists represented by galleries are women,
although women make up nearly 48 percent of all American artists.
What better way to change the trend than to celebrate art
and women in a gallery devoted to both? Chicago’s Woman
Made Gallery (WMG) is a good example of artists collaborating
to make progress for women in the arts by providing women
the opportunity to exhibit, curate, perform, read, teach and
sell their work in a dedicated space.
Beate Minkovski and Kelly Hensen created WMG in 1992 to help
bridge the gap between highly represented male artists and
their under-recognized female counterparts. They focused on
three objectives: exhibiting art made by and about women,
educating the public about women’s art and advocating
for equal treatment of women’s accomplishments. With
a variety of workshops available for established and emerging
artists alike, the gallery brings a true sense of community
to its River West neighborhood and further afoot.
Woman Made Gallery: 685 North Milwaukee Avenue,
Chicago
For more information on exhibits, joining the registry
or becoming a member, visit womanmade.org.
Artists are welcome to submit work for upcoming exhibition
opportunities, including Clay and Fiber at Woman Made
Gallery (entries due January 23). |
The founders’ vision extends beyond the gallery’s
vintage walls to connect women artists around the world. Womanmade.org
and its online registry provide valuable exposure for the
work of an ever-growing number of local and international
women artists, and its users include collectors, galleries,
artists as well as those who simply enjoy discovering new
art. Presently the gallery has over 650 active members and
offers nine juried exhibitions and twelve invitational exhibitions
each year.
While pushing the envelope in Chicago, WMG is one of many
important resources for women in the global arts community.
There are also many similar committed galleries and arts organizations
in cities across the country offering opportunities to exhibit,
locate funding, educate the pubic about women’s art and
present specialized resources for professional women in the
arts. By visiting, joining and/or exhibiting you will not
only show your personal support but, more importantly, encourage
the recognition of women’s art in galleries and museums
everywhere. The success of these galleries will speak volumes
to the arts and educational communities. There is more work
to be done and art exhibitions to enjoy!
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fhi Resources:
To get involved, find galleries and organizations in
your area, and to learn more visit these websites:
National Association of Women Artists: a nonprofit
organization based in New York City. Founded in 1889,
N.A.W.A. is the oldest professional women’s fine
arts organization in the United States, providing a
forum for women artists to share ideas and exhibit their
work. N.A.W.A. is dedicated to promoting women artists
of all backgrounds and traditions through exhibitions,
professional programs and its historic archive. N.A.W.A.
offers members the opportunity to participate in curated
and juried exhibitions in New York City and nationwide
in addition to competing for exhibition awards totaling
upwards of $10,000 annually. nawanet.org
Feminist Art Project: a collaborative national
initiative celebrating the Feminist Art Movement and
the aesthetic, intellectual and political impact of
women on the visual arts, art history and art practice,
past and present. The project is a strategic intervention
against the ongoing erasure of women from the cultural
record. It promotes diverse feminist art events and
publications through its website and online calendar
and facilitates networking and regional program development
throughout the US. feministartproject.rutgers.edu
The Fund for Women Artists: based on the concept
that women artists have the power to change the way
women are perceived in our society. The Fund aims to
make sure that artists have full access to the financial
and other resources they need to do this crucial work
by focusing mainly on women in theatre, film and video.
womenarts.org
Women’s Caucus for Art: a national member
organization, founded in 1972 in connection with the
College Art Association (CAA), is unique in its multi-disciplinary,
multicultural membership of artists, art historians,
students/educators and museum professionals. nationalwca.org
Women in Photography International: founded
in 1981, this organization serves the needs of photographers,
photo educators, photography students, gallery owners
and photographic organizations around the world in an
online resource center. The group promotes the visibility
of women photographers and their work through a variety
of programs, exhibitions, juried competitions and publications.
womeninphotography.org
ArtTable is a national membership organization
for women leaders in the visual arts meant to increase
the effectiveness, visibility, number and diversity
of women in this field. Through programs and publications,
the organization supports women in the arts at all stages
of their careers, documents outstanding achievements
by women past and present, increases opportunities for
women in the future, and ultimately hopes to help enrich
the nation’s cultural life. arttable.org
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