Fundamental Feminism

Beginning of article

WACK! ART AND THE FEMINIST REVOLUTION

MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART

LOS ANGELES

MARCH 4-JULY 16, 2007

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles presents one of the most interesting and thoughtful exhibitions in its history, "WACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution." Curated by Connie Butler, "WACK!"--an invented term meant to express the energy and idealism of a moment in time--provides an overview of first generation contemporary feminist art, which includes works made between 1965 and 1980 from 120 artists (all of whom are women) from twenty-one countries. The exhibition positions feminism as a critical force that creates dynamic new ways of organizing culture. Butler suggests that feminist art practice has brought about fundamental social and artistic change, resonating beyond modernist art paradigms. Feminist art upends the primary artist-centric preoccupation with form and the stereotype of the heroic individual male artist.

What becomes clear through "WACK!" is that …