Customer Reviews

Beyond the Flower: The Autobiography of a Feminist Artist

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It seems that while Women continue to produce some of the most important art work of our time, there are many men in the art world and in criticism who wish to pretend that the most courageous Women's voices are not heard. I salute Judy Chicago for combatting what these men have perpetrated upon us as artists and as Women. She is so courageous, so forthright, never one to shy away from speaking the truth at all times even as she questions 'truth'. Her experiences with her Black lover are also fascinating, and it seems that now that Women and African Americans are joining to fight patriarchal assumptions/proscriptions, we are better able to appreciate the efforts of Judy Chicago to proclaim the relations of artistic struggle and the struggle of civil rights. A WONDERFUL artist.

A beautiful and powerful book by a great Woman artist, an artist who has never allowed the white male patriarchal art world to dismiss her work (although they are still trying). I found her experience with her black lover and her rejection of white male attitudes touching and stirring. A fine book that questions the male attempt to dismiss women from art.

Is there a more gifted artist in the world than Judy Chicago? While men continue to pretend that women artists do not even exist, Chicago has fought all the male paradigms and WON! Her gut-wrenchingly honest writing will inspire a lot of fear among males who are trying to keep women from showing their work, but every once in a while I feel that women have nothing to worry about as far as that goes: because artists like Judy Chicago continue to astonish all with her brilliance!

Courageous, breath-taking insight into the shabby workings of the white male mind. This is a truly great book. Chicago's life is an inspiration to all of us. I'm giving this book to both of my daughters.