Art and Feminism Patricia Olson

1 art , feminism

1.1 involvement feminist art movements
1.2 mysteries
1.3 catherine portrait
1.4 how feminist artist: investigations women’s art institute

art , feminism
involvement feminist art movements

the intersection of art , feminism can seen in olson s works of art, , throughout other aspects of life. in interview gave in 1980, reflected on relationship feminism: right when graduated college, became interested in feminist movement , meant me personally. founding member of women s art registry of minnesota, known warm: joined collective in 1975 1 of youngest members, , served chief designer form warm journal. warm began women s art collective in 1970s. in 1976, opened gallery in minneapolis, mn, , registered nonprofit organization. bylaws defined warm feminist organization aimed foster communication among professional artists in minnesota, promote development , careers, , enhance visibility. lasting legacy of warm can still found today, albeit in different incarnation. today s warm based in eden prairie, mn, , provides mentoring, networking opportunities, exhibition opportunities, , online registry of works women artists in midwest.

olson , colleague elizabeth erickson have taught women s art institute, summer intensive studio program, since 1999. women s art institute housed @ minneapolis college of art , design inception in 1999, until moved st. catherine university in september 2012. when women s art institute made move minneapolis college of art , design st. catherine university, olson took on new director of program. work, [t]hey named changemakers of 2009 minnesota women s press promoting greater self-determination, equality , justice women , girls.

the mysteries

between 1996 , 1999, olson created ambitious series of oil paintings inspired ancient frescoes in pompeiian villa of mysteries. backgrounds of these large-scale pictures rendered in deep red, roman frescoes on re based, , feature artist herself along various props , symbols including skeletons, masks, ladder, mirror, , painting easel. using herself recurring model in paintings, olson aimed claim bond old mysteries , paint possibility of emergence of midlife woman history active, powerful , self-determined. cites inspiration mysteries book women eleanor l. hall.

the catherine portrait

in 2008, olson named sister mona riley endowed professor in humanities @ st. catherine university. title held until 2011. honor gave time , resources embark on project requiring deep investment of both time , energy. during time olson dedicated herself catherine portrait, series of 40 16 16 portrait paintings of members of st. catherine university community, including students, faculty, , staff. paintings tip of shoulders top of head, , perspective paired bright, clean colors of paint create sense of intimate proximity subjects. olson conceived of project through interest has had in portraiture coupled idea people in group have in common comes out visually. sampling of community meant represent zeitgeist of community. olson acts reclaim idea of portrait, , responsibility painter of portraits has paints.

how feminist artist: investigations women’s art institute

after many years instructors/directors of women s art institute, olson , erickson noted emerging themes concern contemporary women artists. in 2014, distilled these themes 7 über questions , curated exhibition (open feb. 3–march 23, 2014) of 11 artists had participated in women’s art institute , work examines , illuminates these questions:

how keep working in studio, using artistic skills , materials express intentions?
how can unlock toolbox , express authentic creative voice?
who audience , want show them? success me?
where can find supportive community? how can support others?
what mean have woman’s body , make art? gender question on or beginning?
is feminism conscious practice bring art?
do have responsibility historical , contemporary women’s art? good, bad or beautiful? decides? cares?




^ pat olson talks margot kriel . warm: women s art registry of minnesota. 1 (2): 8. spring 1980. 
^ changemaker2009: elizabeth erickson , patricia olson, women s art institute . 
^ cite error: named reference :0 invoked never defined (see page).
^ inglot, joanna (2006). warm: feminist art collective in minnesota. minneapolis: university of minnesota press. pp. 23, 28. isbn 978-0-8166-5038-5. 
^ olson, norma smith (december 2009). women s art institute elizabeth erickson , patricia olson (pdf). minnesota women s press. pp. 16–17. 
^ women s art institute . st. catherine university. retrieved 26 april 2014. 
^ st. kate s welcomes nationally recognized women s art institute . st. catherine university. retrieved 26 april 2014. 
^ olson, patricia; hall, nor (1999). mysteries. st. paul, mn: catherine g. murphy gallery. p. 6. 
^ http://patriciaolsonart.com/catherineportrait.html
^ catherine portrait: paintings patricia olson. catherine g. murphy gallery. 
^ exhibition: how feminist artist opens feb. 3 .