The Dinner Party: From Creation to Preservation"Judy Chicago's internationally acclaimed installation The Dinner Party is a monumental work of art conceived as a symbolic history of women in Western civilization. Strategically countering the traditional erasure of women's achievements, this epic work honors 1038 iconic, mythical, archetypal, and historical women. This, the most definitive book to be published on Chicago's masterwork, reveals the visual and intellectual scope of the installation more fully than ever before, supported by new photography, documentary images, and the artist's expanded research into the history of the women represented. Chicago begins by discussing the creative genesis of The Dinner Party, the dynamism of her collaborative approach to art-making, and the technical processes involved. Mirroring the structure of the installation, the book then divides into three beautifully illustrated "wings," or sections, covering from prehistory to the twentieth century. These explore the remarkable lives of the thirty-nine women symbolically represented as "guests of honor" at The Dinner Party, and of the 999 other women honored in the work. To conclude, Chicago reflects on the work's early--often hostile--reception in the art world and the political arena, as well as the subsequent, decades-long struggle for its preservation and permanent exhibition. At the heart of The Dinner Party is the belief that, by understanding the legacy of women's achievements, women's perceptions of themselves can be transformed. This definitive accompaniment to Chicago's installation continues its purpose and introduces the work to a new generation interested in the relationship between art, culture, and gender politics." -- Publisher's description |
Common terms and phrases
able achievements active allowed American artists associated became become began birth born brought CENTURY Christian Church CIRCA considered continued convent court created culture daughter death developed died Dinner Party early efforts Elizabeth England equality established experiences fact father female feminist figure forced founded France French Germany Goddess GREECE Greek helped husband ideas important influence involved Italy King known later leader letter lived male marriage married Mary mother movement opened organized painting particularly philosopher place setting plate played poet political position practice produced published Queen reformer religious represented returned role Roman Rome ruled Ruler runner scholar sister social society soon suffrage symbol thought throughout took tradition traveled United University woman women writer wrote young