The Woman's Building

My studio is in the Woman's Building downtown.
Last night I went to the Getty Center to see "Without Imagination There Is No Will: The Woman's Building Tapes" curated by Meg Cranston. The audience was full of all the pioneers of Feminism in Los Angeles, Suzanne Lacy, Jerri Allyn, Susan Mogul. It was exciting to be in the presence of the matriarch. I wanted to tell them that the Woman's building lives on and that their legacy endures, but I chickened out.

Most of the videos were from the Woman's building hay day approx 1973-79. There were great interviews with Arlene Raven and Judy Chicago, footage from lectures by Lucy Lippard and Mary Daly. There was some great footage of the women hanging dry wall and singing as they sanded the ceiling. It was the dawn of video art, the cameras were huge and the quality raw. All they had was TV and BETA. It's amazing how much has changed since then in terms of technology. Today ten year olds are making youtube videos on their Barbie laptops. The women could see that video had the potential to reach a broader audience. They made public service announcements and filmed their activist performances. It must have been such a liberating and exciting moment. There were no opportunities for women artists so they made their own.

The funding eventually dried up and Woman's building closed in 1991. There is a slide archive at Otis and The Getty Research Library has preserved most of the videos. The building on Spring Street is divided up into artist studios. I wish I could buy the building, tear down the walls and restore it to it's former glory, or at least make it into a museum. For now I will cherish my little over priced haven because everyone should have a room of one's own.

It's Gone too Far

I've attended too many Allan Kaprow happenings. I have to slow down. They put a picture of Kate and I on the website.

I got a great audio book from the library yesterday, "Nickel and Dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich. It's making me very upset about the minimum wage in this country. How can it be so low? Or maybe the question is how can the cost of living be so high? The author tries to survive as a waitress, a maid and a Wal-Mart sales person in three different states. She finds that she has to work two jobs just to keep the lowest rent apartment. How did we get to this point? Survival is getting harder and harder. I have to go pay rent now.

The Equal Rights Party

Now that it is hot again I can open my french doors and enjoy the garden. Unfortunately this creates an opportunity for feral cats and bugs to enter my domain.

I painted Frederick Douglas last night. The bugs were landing on the canvas and getting their delicate legs and wings stuck on the wet paint. I had to redo Frederick's nose many times to disguise the bug parts. Now he looks funny. He was a handsome man but, thanks to the bugs, his likeness is less than perfect.

I learned an interesting fact about Frederick. He ran for vice president in 1872. His running mate was suffragist, and champion of free love, Victoria Woodhull. They were nominated by the equal rights party. A black man and a woman running for office is not new. Today they stand a better chance though. I wish Hillary and Obama would run together instead of fighting.

Fluids

Here are some pics from the Allan Kaprow happening "Fluids". It took place on Sunday, April 27th in MacArthur Park. Each ice block weighed 50 lbs. It was 100 degrees that day. Allan Kaprow's son Anton was there. I moved 4 blocks and then hit the coffee and donuts.

It takes time

Freeway bike ride

This is bold!

10 East - Cloverfield to Centinela

10 East - Bundy to 405N on ramp to Santa Monica Blvd

'If you were riding a bike,
you'd be home by now'

Poncho

Flo made this incredible poncho for me! I am honored and impressed. The pom poms rock my world. I will wear it all summer.