London: Guerilla Girls at Tate Modern REVIEW

Apparently the Tate Modern made a gaff when they scheduled the Guerilla Girls talk opposite the massive Gay Pride parade that bisected the city at Trafalgar Square, but I didn't spy too many empty seats in a 400 to 500 seat venue at the Tate Modern on Saturday, 1 July.

Kathe Kollwitz and Frida Kahlo (not their real names) addressed the enthusiastic crowd wearing their signature gorilla heads (which they, interestingly enough, scratched fairly often), but failed to ignite any real passion in the crowd. Both presenters seemed a bit nervous. Their schtick offered very little beyond what is available on their website.

Despite their record as international agitators of the art establishment, Kollwitz and Kahlo had not done their research on London specifically. When questions arose during the Q & A about the state of women in art in London, the gorilla-masked speakers were at a loss. It was very obvious that the bulk of their research has dealt with problems of women's equality in art (and the arts) in the USA. This isn't surprising as the plight of women in the arts is more extreme in the United States perhaps than it is in Europe.

As Americans, we are often accused of thinking only of ourselves. The Guerillas should have done their homework and presented the shattering statistics for which they have become famous, but related to their audience in a more personal way.

On the positive side, I learned that only 7% of the films in Hollywood this year were directed by women. A woman has STILL FAILED TO WIN AN ACADEMY AWARD AS BEST DIRECTOR. That's fairly shocking, isn't it? Perhaps we should find ourselves a fabulous filmmaker and champion her career. If we cannot find a director, perhaps I shall step up to the plate? I know there's a film in me somewhere.....

MOST INTERESTING TO OUR CAUSE? THE GUERILLAS NAMED THEMSELVES AFTER WONDERFUL FEMALE ARTISTS AS AN HOMAGE AND A WAY OF DRAWING ATTENTION TO THE HISTORY OF WOMEN IN THE ARTS. ARE WE NOT LOOKING TO DO THE SAME WITH SHE AND ASSOCIATES...AS HAS BEEN PROPOSED?

Susan Glaspell

American dramatist,theatrical producer,novelist, and Pulitzer
Prize winner. Ms. Glaspell was born this day in 1876 or 1882.
Started as a journalist, then novelist in her birth state Iowa;
met George Cook (stage director) they moved to New York City
and in the summer Cape Cod, Mass. There they co-founded
The Provincetown Players. The Players were major influence in
performing arts. "Triffles", is considered to be her best work.
But, there are so many more.
Ms. Glaspell also co-founded the radical womens' group,
Heterodoxy 1910-20. She found the support to write her
plays dealing with women's roles in socitey. She was the
second woman to win the Puliter in 1931 for the play,
"Alison's House".

"Ms. Magazine", begins publishing in 1972.

"To create one's own world in any of the Arts, takes courage."
~Georgia O'Keeffe

Alberta Christine King, mother
of Martin Luther King, Jr. was
murdered in Ebenezer Bapist
Church, Atlanta, GA. this day in 1974.
Mrs. King was playing, "The Lord's Prayer"
during the Sunday service.
As organist, she founded and trained the "Ebenezer
Choir". Mrs. King was also the organizer
and president of the Ebenezer Woman's Council.
A great and gentle woman she changed the world with
peace and hope.

In 1936, "Gone With The Wind" by Maragret Mitchell.
was published. Changing the south forever. Oh,
Fiddlee-de.

"Winning the prize wasn't half as exciting as doing the work itself."
~Maria Goeppert Mayer

Madame Emma Azalia Hackley
African-American Classical singer, social worker,
writer, and philanthropist was born this day in 1867.

Madame Hackley believed in the use of African-American
folk music and spirituals as a tool for social change.
Truly setting the stage for the Civil Rights Movement.

"Odd how the creative power at once brings the whole
universe to order."
~ Virginia Wolf

Oh, and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre burned to the ground this day in 1613.
(During a production of Herny VIII -which wife supplied the fire?)

Molly Pitcher aids American Patriots!
Or was it Mary Ludwig Hayes on this day in 1776
took her husband's place on the battlefield
as he was either killed or wounded in the Battle of Momouth.
The other soldiers admired her courage.

Also on this day, Esther Forbes won the Pulitzer Prize
in 1943, for her book: "Paul Revere and the World He
Lived In." (Still in print)

"Truth is eternal. Knowledge is changeable. It is
disastous to confuse them."
~ Madeleine L'Engle