A variety of programs and exhibits highlighting women`s achievements in art will take place in Chicago this week to coincide with a national convention of the Women`s Caucus for Art.
About 700 women are expected to attend the conference, ”Women`s Art Movement: The Cultural Imperative,” which will be open to the public. Events will include exhibits of work in surrealism at four Chicago galleries, a screening of films by female filmmakers, two days of panel discussions and an awards presentation.
The Women`s Caucus for Art, a non-profit advocacy group, was established in 1972 to promote women teachers in college art departments. It now has 4,000 members in 35 chapters, mainly consisting of working female artists, said Sherry Rabbino, acting president of the Chicago chapter.
”The focus of the organization is still to get recognition for the contributions of women in all the professional visual-arts fields,” Rabbino said.
Surrealist art by 50 contemporary women will be on display at Artemisia Gallery and ARC Gallery, at 700 N. Carpenter St.; 333 Wacker Gallery, at 333W. Wacker Drive and the Franklin Square Gallery, 900 N. Franklin St.
An opening-night reception and shuttle-bus tours of the galleries will begin at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Admission to the galleries is free and open to the public. Shuttle-bus tour tickets cost $10 and can be purchased at the Congress Hotel, 520 S. Michigan Ave., between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday.
A free screening of films by women will follow the gallery tour at 9 p.m. at the Randolph Street Gallery, 756 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Panel discussions on women in art will be Tuesday and Wednesday at the Congress Hotel. Some of the topics are humor in art, how sexual abuse affects art, radical feminist art groups such as Sisterserpents, lesbian artists, female filmmakers and cultural diversity in art.
Gloria F. Orenstein, associate professor of comparative literature at the University of Southern California, will speak on ”Women & Surrealism.”
Panel discussions will last about 90 minutes and cost $10. For times call the Caucus at 708-969-3189.
Lifetime Achievement Awards will be presented Wednesday to four women over 65 who have contributed to the visual arts.
Vera Berdich, a Chicago printmaker; Louise Noun, Iowa art historian; and Margaret Tafoya and Lucy Lewis, New Mexico potters, will be honored at 8 p.m. in the Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. The artists` work will be on display in a Cultural Center gallery. The presentation is free and open to the public.
For further information about the conference call 708-969-3189.
