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$\"Gravatar\"$ Hello Tinku -Appreciated your comments. I have curated many sculpture shows at my galleries in California over the last 19 years, and the gender divide in sculpture is probably as bad as it gets. Although there are more practicing sculptors who are women in this century, it is still extremely difficult as a woman to be taken seriously as a sculptor. My partner (male) and I have also endeavoured to be color blind in our selection process (although I admit that we have done a few women only shows), and I have noticed that our roster is about 1/3 women to 2/3 men.
Brigitte Micmacker | Homepage | 07.01.09 - 11:44 pm | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ Great topic! Yes, even in 2009. I think that in terms of historical books about Women Artists, they will always be necessary since at the time they were practising they weren't necessarily recognised as male artist were. Even now too, as you say.

I appreciate that your gallery roster includes about 50/50 female and male artists. Personally, as an artist I see that, for inexplicable reasons, some people view women who are artists as more \"hobbyists\" rather than serious artists. And of course, a serious artist is often one who makes money from their art or makes a living from it (highly unlikely for male or female artists, in Canada at least..).Even established artists are likely and required to have a few other income streams. This is quite normal for the contemporary artist, woman or man, though stable employment (in some case, teaching at universities or art colleges and whatnot)is harder to come by for women, it seems.

Besides this, women often have life interruptions like having children or other caregiver roles that still more often fall to women than men. I'm not sure if this is relected in the numbers of women practising art on the whole, but it certainly affects individual women attempting to maintain an artistic practise with any regularly, which is necessary for their own artistic development.

Cheers! Great blog/gallery. Unfortunately I'm in Ottawa now and too far away from it!
shar | 07.02.09 - 8:36 am | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ Like you Amrita, I don't give any conscious thought to the gender of the artists in my gallery, or for that matter in the exhibitions I curate. Although, currently I represent 8 female artists and 6 male artists!

While I do not consciously consider gender as a selection criteria, I think as a female curator gender does subconsciously play somewhat of a role in my decision making process.

A number of years ago I was the Director of this amazing arts organization in Denver, CO. The Rocky Mountain Women's Institute provided support to 7 - 10 women annually, to help them complete a year long creative project. Two of the artists I represent, Lauri Lynnxe Murphy and Virginia Folkestad were Associates from this program.

I continue to be inspired by the female artists I meet. Many carve out unused and unwanted spaces in their homes or garages, or have to take stolen minutes from family and work responsibilities to dedicate themselves to their studio practice. Since opening my gallery, Brayham Contemporary Art, here in Toronto, I have been almost besieged by female artists in their 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's, many of whom are creating exciting, fresh, interesting, and wonderful work, but whose work is not being seen or exhibited. Is it because they are female? Is it because we value youth?

Even as a curator, museum director, or gallery owner, I have heard all too often - you are so lucky that you don't have to work. That you get to play with art all day. As if women working in the arts, are somehow not working. I have never heard anyone say this to my male colleagues and friends.

Sadly, until this attitude changes, I suppose we still do need books on Women Artists. The art world is changing, more and more commercial galleries are owned by women, female curators and directors dominate many contemporary arts institutions, art history programs have high female enrollment and more and more critics and art writers are women. As a curator / gallerist I don't think I will ever select artists purely on gender, but as a female I am interested in the female voice and the female experience, and therefore, will continue to champion for female artists that I feel deserve to be recognized, exhibited and promoted.
Angela Brayham - Brayham Conte | Homepage | 07.09.09 - 6:17 pm | #

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