‘!Women Art Revolution’ examines the difficulties that female artists endure in the art world

!Women Art Revolution, Lynn Hershman Leeson’s new documentary about the lack of support for female artists, is an interesting, engaging and important testament to how the women’s movement unfolded in artistic circles. Many of the women interviewed for the film have created works of art that are beautiful, questionable, purposeful and downright necessary. Most of all, the art is deserving of an audience and deserving of respect from art institutions in the United States.

Hershman Leeson, an artist herself, knows how to make her point vividly. By piecing together interviews from these women, one right after another, it becomes clear that a great injustice exists. All of the talking heads report that getting their art shown in galleries and museums over the past 50 years has been difficult, if not impossible. The lack of institutional support caused this non-community to form an actual community; they were cast aside, but they never stopped their vital work. The fruits of their labor have now taken on a double meaning: their original intention and their hidden history.

The feminist art movement certainly had (has) its trials and tribulations. Enormous retrospectives would be held at leading art museums around the nation, and the percentage of female artists included was dismal, or nonexistent. This instantly pushed the controversial artists into protest mode; these women not only had their creations, but now they had a political message to convey. As the great social movements of the 1960s and 1970s continued to gain stride, feminist artists made their footprint known to the world. Whether it was founding unique, unconventional art centers, or spearheading aggressive public relations campaigns when an exhibit opened (i.e. the Guerrilla Girls), the women soon linked up with one another and began the process of being heard (and being seen).

There are many voices in Hershman Leeson’s documentary (perhaps too many), but Judy Chicago’s leadership in the early days of the movement seem to be a turning point. Her controversial installation piece, known as “The Dinner Party,” put the movement in the crosshairs of some congressmen and changed the feminist art movement forever.

Equally important was the founding of Womanhouse in Los Angeles by Chicago and Miriam Schapiro. This exhibit space promoted consciousness-raising techniques and provided a space for many female artists.

The documentary tells a story that doesn’t get reported too often. Still, its way of telling that story is rather rudimentary and raw. The archival footage is scattered haphazardly, and the sound quality on some of the interviews is atrocious. Although Hershman Leeson sticks to a general chronology, everything seems to be disorganized in its format.

We jump from one topic to another without a general feeling of progression or evolution. It’s admittedly a difficult topic to film; after all, many of the pieces and performances need to be experienced in person, rather than on a DVD.

!Women Art Revolution is admirable in its ambitions and deserved righteousness. For too long these artists have not received their justified recognition. The documentary is a great start to a long overdue conversation about the merits of appreciation.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

• !Women Art Revolution

• 2011

• Directed by Lynn Hershman Leeson

• Running time: 83 minutes

• Rating: