Hot Flash Fan

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Jul 182008
 

I will be on vacation for the next week, so I leave you with this awesome piece of art which is on display through August 10 at the Huff Gallery at Spalding University in Louisville, KY.

“The Hot Flash Fan was created in 1985 and facilitated by renowned feminist artist, Judy Chicago. The Hot Flash Fan, an immense wall hanging, encompasses various media and materials including: elaborate knotting, roping, beading and stitching. In addition, the piece is swathed in vibrant colors, which enhances the viewer’s image of the realities and experiences of menopause.

This specific piece has particular historical significance because it was one of the first artworks to ever visualize the subject of menopause. Through its vivid colors and intricate detailing the Hot Flash Fan depicts the various myths, stereotypes, as well as lived experiences of women transitioning through the multiple phases of menopause. Though historically, representations of menopause have largely focused on the decaying of women’s bodies, as the piece indicates, there are also many reasons to celebrate menopause as one of the important phases in women’s lives.”

“The Hot Flash Fan, purchased by the (Kentucky Foundation for Women), was a collaborative project completed by more than 50 artists. “The project is a fan incorporating needlework, knotting, quilting, and painting in an expression of feelings associated with menopause.”[8] Lead artists for the project were: Judy Chicago, facilitator; Ann Stewart Anderson, originator and principal coordinating artist; Ada O’Connor, principal embroidery artist/coordinator; Judith Myers, quilting coordinator. The Hot Flash Fan was on display at the Water Tower, home of the Louisville Visual Art Association, before being added to the Foundation’s permanent collection.”

I remember seeing this fabulous piece of art when it was first created–they handed out miniature fans as programs! I confess that now being in my 50′s, I love this piece even more. It is an astounding piece of feminist art and like The Dinner Party, deserves a space of its own and not just to be brought out of the vault every now and again.

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 Posted by on July 18, 2008

NBC Hires Walmart To Create Mommy Content

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Jul 172008
 

I am trying to pack up to go to the beach, so if I forget to take my bathing suit, it is all NBC’s fault, because I just had to post this darling example of callus, crass, commercial disrespect of mothers:
From Bulldog Reporter’s Daily Dog:

“NBC apparently thinks Wal-Mart, not mommy, knows best. In a multimillion dollar deal, Wal-Mart will create content and material to appear this week on the “Today” show and NBC’s website iVillage. Content will focus on topics like childcare and cooking family meals, the New York Times reports. In exchange, Wal-Mart will air commercials following segments on “Today” and receive other advertising opportunities. The deal was arranged through NBC Universals Women@NBCU unit, which offers advertisers access to female-friendly assets, the Times reports.”

Will somebody please change the channel?

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 Posted by on July 17, 2008

The Keep Your Hands Off Our Ovaries, Uteri And Other Reproductive Organs And Go Play With Yourselves Because You’re Sure Not Gonna Get It Here Department

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Jul 152008
 

I was already in a kinda pissy mood, but in the Keep Your Hands Off Our Ovaries, Uteri and Other Reproductive Organs and Go Play With Yourselves Because You’re Sure Not Gonna Get It Here Dept., the Bush Brigade,

“(W)ants to require all recipients of aid under federal health programs to certify that they will not refuse to hire nurses and other providers who object to abortion and even certain types of birth control.”

As Feministing points out,

“The rule defines “abortion” so broadly that it could also apply to birth control pills and emergency contraception. And because the rule would apply to federal health programs, low-income and uninsured women will be most affected.”

Cristina Page at RH Reality Check explains the chilling ramifications of this proposal:

“Up until now, the federal government followed the definition of pregnancy accepted by the American Medical Association and our nation’s pregnancy experts, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which is: pregnancy begins at implantation. With this proposal, however, HHS is dismissing medical experts and opting instead to accept a definition of pregnancy based on polling data. It now claims that pregnancy begins at some biologically unknowable moment (there’s no test to determine if a woman’s egg has been fertilized). Under these new standards there would be no way for a woman to prove she’s not pregnant. Thus, any woman could be denied contraception under HHS’ new science.”

Planned Parenthood has a statement here. Stay tuned, we suspect we’ll hear more on this, but for now, spread the word, let’s stop this hateful, misogynist crap before it starts. Go to NARAL to let your Congressional Rep. know what you think. And do check out the very righteous graphic with the Feministing post (link above).

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 Posted by on July 15, 2008

Radical Women’s 41st Anniversary Conference

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Jul 152008
 

Conference info from Radical Women:

You are invited to Radical Women’s 41st Anniversary Conference:

The Persistent Power
of Socialist Feminism
October 3-6, 2008
San Francisco
The Women’s Building, 3543 18th St.

Speakers:

  • Embattled civil liberties attorney Lynne Stewart
  • Activists & scholars from Central America, China, Australia and the U.S.

Key topics:

  • Multi-racial organizing in a society divided by racism
  • The dynamic leadership of youth and queers
  • Women of color and immigrant women spark a labor revival
  • For a grassroots feminist movement independent of the twin parties of war & reaction

Workshops:

  • Organizer skills training * Strategy workshops
  • Radical culture & more!

For more information, to register or donate, go here.

“Radical Women’s 41st Anniversary Conference occurs at a very important time. Around the world, women are part of a bold resistance to reactionary social and political forces. In Latin America, women and indigenous people are providing vibrant workingclass leadership against crippling neoliberal trade agreements. In Mexico, “Adelita” brigades shut down congress to oppose privatization of the nationalized oil industry. These movements provide a powerful stimulus to the entire hemisphere.

Continue reading »

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 Posted by on July 15, 2008

Code Pink Is Right–Rove Should Be Arrested

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Jul 122008
 

You’ve got to hand it to the House Judiciary Committee that set up a chair for Karl Rove on the day he was supposed to testify, even though he was a no-show. Now that is hospitality.  But polite is as polite does.  According to Dana Milbank,

“Before the hearing began, (Code Pink) entertained the arriving crowd with a chant of “They do the crime and we do the time.” Then one of them placed an “Arrest Rove” sign on the empty chair. “Ma’am, we can’t do things like that,” a Capitol cop told her gently. “Let’s not go overboard.”"

Overboard?? Actually, issuing an arrest warrant for someone who is so arrogantly in contempt of Congress sounds more like an act of patriotism to me.

Someone really needs to send our elected representatives copies of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

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 Posted by on July 12, 2008
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