A long overdue major museum exhibition of art by women

Review by Grady Harp

There are several approaches to evaluating this very well designed, well written, well documented, extravagantly illustrated book that serves as a catalogue for the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts exhibition of art by women. Some will shout ‘Bravo! – it is about time women artists were honored in such a manner, others will say that other museums in this country and in Europe have already curated such an exhibition, others will say that too many important artists were not included, and still others would say that presenting the art by women artists makes them appear as a subgroup of real art – that women and men together in an exhibition that perhaps honors women’s role in the arts would be more dignified. And each stance deserves respect and credibility. Continue reading →