Martha Wilson
Martha Wilson | |
---|---|
Born | 1947 (age 76–77) Bessie Award |
Website | http://www.marthawilson.com/ |
Martha Wilson (born 1947 in
In the early 1970s while studying in
Education and early career
After attending
Career
She soon focused on performance art—using her own body as her medium. This choice further distanced her from her conceptual artist peers, who denigrated performance work on principle, upholding "the Cartesian subservience of the body to the mind."[8]
She created photographic
Franklin Furnace
In 1974, she moved to New York City, where she changed the
Disband
I have become my own worst fear
P•P•O•W was founded by Wendy Olsoff and Penny Pilkington in the first wave of the East Village art scene in New York City in 1983. In 1988 the gallery moved to Soho and in 2002 to Chelsea. P•P•O•W maintains a diverse roster of national and international artists. Since its inception, the gallery has remained true to its early vision, showing contemporary work in all media. It also has a commitment to representational painting and sculpture and artists who create work with social and political content. Wilson has worked closely with this gallery showing her works/events and exhibitions here since joining in May 2011.[14]
The works with the gallery are embedded with the ideas Wilson has been concerned about for four decades. Her work I have become my own worst fear, first presented in 2011,[15] consists largely of photo/text images shown with a videotape Wilson made in 1974. The works consist of nine new photo/text works created in 2008 along with two early works in her career, Alchemy, from 1973, and My Authentic Self, from 1974.[16]
Performance and earlier exhibitions
Since the early 1970s, Wilson has performed and exhibited her work at various galleries and museums in New York City and elsewhere. In 1973, her Breast Forms Permutated was included in the "c. 7,500" exhibit of conceptual art made by women at the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, California. In April of that year, she also performed Selfportrait at Project Inc. in Cambridge, Massachusetts.[14] More recently, she was part of the "Gloria: Another Look at Feminist Art in the 1970s" exhibit at White Columns in New York City in 2002 and DISBAND was included in the WACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles in 2007[7][17] as well as the Incheon Women Artists' Biennale in Incheon, South Korea in 2009.
Her signature performance work is
Staging the Self
From March until May 2009, an exhibition by Wilson and Peter Dykhuis for the Dalhousie Art Gallery in Halifax provided a deeper meaning and understanding of the work that she has created through a number of still images and constructed characters that surround the interpretations that one may have to a certain type of person.[19] Wilson created photographic and video works that explored her female subjectivity through the extensive use of role playing, costume transformations and invasions of male and other female personas.[20] This exhibition highlights the stages of Wilson's creative contributions (with the use of
Selected performances and exhibitions
1972
- Captivating a Man
1973
- Posturing: Drag
- Posturing: Age Transformations
- Posturing: Male Impersonator, Butch
- Breast Forms Permutated
- Transformance: Claudia (in collaboration with Jacki Apple (with Anne Blevens), Plaza Hotel, Soho streets, and galleries, New York, N.Y.)[24]
1974
- I make up the image of my perfection / I make up the image of my deformity
- A portfolio of Models: The Goddess, The Housewife, The Working girl, The Professional, The Earth Mother, The Lesbian
1975
- De-Formation (Whitney Museum of American Art and Downtown Branch at Federal Reserve Plaza, New York, N.Y.)[24]
1976
- Co-founded Franklin Furnace
- Queen (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, N.Y. and Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH)[24]
- Rose (Artists Space, New York, N.Y.)[24]
- Mudpie (LAICA, Los Angeles, CA)[24]
- Ditto (New York, N.Y.)[24]
1977
- Beast (University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa)[24]
1978
- Story Lines (Whitney Museum of American Art and Downtown Branch at Federal Reserve Plaza, New York, N.Y.)[24]
1980
- Disband (Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, Illinois)[24]
1983
- Alexander M. Plague, Jr.(Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey)[24]
1984
- Nancy Reagan Runs for Office (Franklin Furnace and The Kitchen, New York, NY)[24]
1985
- Just Say No to Arms Control
- Nancy Reagan at the Inauguration (P.S. 122, New York, NY)[24]
1992
- Barbara Bush on Abuse
1994
- Tipper Gore: Advice for the 90's
2002
- Gloria: Another Look at Feminist Art in the 1970s
- Personal & Political
2005
- How American Women Artists invented Post-Modernism
2006
- The Downtown Show
2007
- WACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution
2008
- Martha Wilson: Photo/text works, 1971–74
- Looking Back: The White Columns Annual
- re.act.feminism
2009
- 40 Years 40 Projects
- Martha Wilson: Staging the Self
2010
- The Man I Wish I Was
- Donna: Avangurdia Feminista Negli Anni '70
2011
- I have become my own worst fear, P•P•O•W Gallery
2013
- Skin Trade, co-curated with Larry List for P•P•O•W Gallery
2014
- ADAA: The Art Show 2014, P•P•O•W Gallery
- RE-ENACTMENT Self-Portrait (1973)
Recent events
- Staging the Self (Transformations, Invasions and Pushing Boundaries), September 17, 2011 at Book Launch and Artist Talk, Brooklyn Museum.[26]
- New York Studio Event, March 30, 2011.[27]
- Martha Wilson Dressing up and Poking Fun, in 'Mona/Marcel/Marge/, solo show, December 2015, at P.P.O.W.[28]
- Martha Wilson, curated by Peter Dykhuis, opened at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, in Salt Lake City on August 30, 2013. The exhibition explores current approaches toward feminism, identities, activism, and collaborative practice through Martha Wilson’s artworks and projects since the beginning of her career, forty years ago. Wilson worked closely with the Utah Museum of Fine Arts to deepen the exhibition in the local context, and create a new conversation engaging the local community. As the exhibition constantly evolves through each new venue, the Utah Museum of Fine Arts inserted Wilson’s own voice into the wall texts, changing the way the exhibition is narrated.,
- On November 7, 2016, Martha Wilson performed for a third time as Presidential Candidate Donald Trump but instead of assuming the character as she previously had done with other figures, Wilson plainly "highlight[ed] the intersection of the awful and the hilarious" by wearing obvious clothing and a wig that mimicked Trump.[29][30]
- In January 2020, Wilson was part of Artpace's exhibit titled Visibilities: Intrepid Women of Artpace.[31]
Video performances
Wilson's works are mainly involved with image, not the image from the piece she has created but instead the image surrounding a topic or subject. An example is her work from 1974, "a portfolio of models", in which she creates a series of models through the understanding that one's self has itself the topic in question.[32] The Housewife, The Goddess, The Working Girl, The Professional, The Earth Mother and The Lesbian are examples of Wilson's. This series of images are based upon one's stereotypical view of the subject matter.[32]
There are many works of Wilson's consisting of image, body and video showcasing characters she has created to connect with many other realities; find below a list of her work.
- Premiere and routine performance: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, 1972
- Art Sucks, Halifax, Nova Scotia, 1972
- Appearance as Value, Halifax, Nova Scotia, 1972
- Cauterisation, Halifax, Nova Scotia, 1974
- Deformation, Halifax, Nova Scotia, 1974
As Nancy Reagan
- For Oracle performance series at Exit Art, New York, 1985
- Nancy Reagan Beats Cancer, Sideshows by the Seashore, Coney Island, July 13, 1986
- Nancy Reagan Director, Atomic Gospel Hour,[clarification needed] New York City, April 12, 1987
As Barbara Bush
- Upstream Arts, Staten Island C.T.V., March 11, 1991
- Separated at Birth New York City,[where?] 2003[18]
As Tipper Gore
- Body Politic: Mental Health, Cooper Union, NYC, February 15, 1994
- Beauty and the Beast: The Weight Thing, Tacoma, WA, April 16, 1994
Academic work
Wilson has lectured widely on the book as an art form, performance art, and "variable media art," at
As
2011 events at Concordia University, Montreal
- Tour of the exhibition with her and curator Peter Dykhuis, January 19, 2011 at the Leonard & Bina Ellen Art Gallery.[33]
- Performance and Identity, January 20, 2011 at the Leonard & Bina Ellen at the Art Gallery.[34]
- Wilson offers her perspective on feminist research, February 19, 2011 at the Art Gallery.[35]
Selected grants and awards
- Honorary doctorate of Fine Arts, NSCAD University, Halifax, 2013[36]
- Specific Object (NYC bookstore) publication of the year for Martha Wilson Sourcebook, 2011[37]
- New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship, Performance Art, 2001
- Citation by Robert S. Clark, Andy Warhol Foundationsfor commitment to the principle of freedom of expression, 1993
- Bessie Awardfor commitment to artists' freedom of expression, 1992
- Obie Award for commitment to artists' freedom of expression, 1992
- Skowhegan School Governor's Award for Service to the Arts, 1991
- National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, Performance Art, 1983
- National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, Performance Art, 1978[25]
Books and monographs
- Martha Wilson Sourcebook: 40 Years of Reconsidering Feminism, Performance, Alternative Spaces, by Kate Fowle, Martha Wilson and Moira Roth. primary research material consisting of rare archival documents and excerpts of landmark publications that influenced Wilson, such as Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex, Erving Goffman’s The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, Susan Sontag’s On Photography.[37]
- ISBN 9781841503714.
- Martha Wilson: Staging the Self. By Peter Dykhuis and Jayne Wark. 2011. ISBN 978-0-770300-28-9.[38]
Writings
By Martha Wilson
- "Going Virtual." Art Journal 59, no. 2 (summer 2000).[39]
- "The Personal Becomes Political in Time." n.paradoxa no. 5 (2000): 83–90.[7]
- Wilson, Martha. "What Franklin Furnace Learned from Presenting and Producing Live Art on the Internet, from 1996 to Now." Leonardo 38, no. 3 (2005): 193-200
About Martha Wilson
- Anon (2018). "Artist, Curator & Critic Interviews". !Women Art Revolution - Spotlight at Stanford. Archived from the original on March 26, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
- "Old," "Crazy" and "Hysterical." Is That All There Is? by Huffington Post, Oct. 5, 2011.
- "Martha Wilson: The Liminal Trickster" by Lauren Bakst, BOMB magazine, Oct 5, 2011,[40][41]
- "Artist Martha Wilson at P.P.O.W., New York City: Aging Gracefully, with Political Consciousnes M. Gómez, September 10, 2011[42]
- Reckitt, Helena and Peggy Phelan. Art and Feminism: Themes and Movements. London: Phaidon Press.[43]
- "Martha Wilson: Not Taking It at Face Value," by Jane Wark, Camera Obscura: Feminism, Culture and Media Studies. Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press. ISSN 0270-5346 (print).
Interviews
- Edgar, Anne. "A Conversation with Franklin Furnace." Afterimage 13, no. 1-2 (Summer, 1985): 28–30.
- "Interview with Martha Wilson, Co-Founder of Franklin Furnace Archive," by Claudine Ise, Chicago in Bad at Sports (November 8, 2010).[44]
- Martha Wilson Speaks on Free Zones, by Felicity Tayler, Vague Terrain: Digital Art/Culture/Technology, March 21, 2011.[45]
- !Women Art Revolution - Wilson, among others, was interviewed for this film[46]
References
- ^ a b "Organizational Overview". Franklin Furnace website.
- ^ Leimbach, Dulcie (September 1997). "For an Avant-Garde Center, An End and a Beginning - NYTimes.com". New York Times.
- ^ "SF Camerawork: Exhibition Detail". Art Slant San Francisco. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
- ^ ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
- ^ a b Miller, Bryan (Aug 23, 1985). "A Controversy in Tribeca: Is It Art or An Eyesore?". The New York Times.
- ^ "Franklin Furnace, making the world safe for avant-garde art". Franklin Furnace.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Martha Wilson". Official website.
- ^ a b Wark, Jayne. "Martha Wilson: Not Taking It at Face Value". Archived from the original on 2002-02-06.
- ^ "Out of the Furnace: Martha Wilson's Feminist Critique". brooklynrail.org. The Brooklyn Rail. May 2008.
- ^ Hershman, Lynn (May 12, 2006). "Transcript of Interview with Martha Wilson 2006". Stanford University website.
- ^ a b c d Anderson-Spivy, Alexandra. "Martha Wilson at PPOW Gallery - artnet Magazine". Artnet. Archived from the original on October 26, 2011. Retrieved October 31, 2011.
- ^ Vogel, Carol (1993-11-26). "Inside Art". The New York Times.
- ^ "Wack! Audio Tour: Disband". MoCA L.A. website. July 25, 2007. Archived from the original on July 7, 2010. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
- ^ a b Denson, G.R., Huffington Post.
- ^ Gómez, Edward M. (Nov 2011). "MARTHA WILSON and the Well-Examined Female Self". The Brooklyn Rail.
- ^ "Biography, Martha Wilson". P.P.O.W. website. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
- ^ "Wack! Art and Feminist Revolution". MoCA L.A. website. Archived from the original on November 1, 2012. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
- ^ a b "Videos". Official website. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
- ^ a b Sant, T., p. 29.
- ^ a b "Martha Wilson: Staging the Self (press release)" (PDF). ICI website. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
- ^ "See It: Martha Wilson, Staging the Self". canadianart.ca. Canadian Art. 2009-05-07. Archived from the original on 2016-07-22. Retrieved 2011-10-30.
- ^ "Martha Wilson CV" (PDF).
- ^ Gallery, P·P·O·W. "Martha Wilson | Biography | PPOW Gallery". www.ppowgallery.com. Retrieved 2018-03-24.
- ^ OCLC 18259773.
- ^ a b "resume" (PDF). Official website. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
- ^ "Events: Martha Wilson, Staging the Self (Transformations, Invasions and Pushing Boundaries)". ICI website.
- ^ "Events: Martha Wilson, New York Studio Event". ICI website.
- ^ Cotter, Holland (December 17, 2015). "Martha Wilson Dressing Up and Poking Fun, in 'Mona/Marcel/Marge'". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
- ^ "Martha Wilson as Donald Trump, One Last Time Before the World May End". Observer. 2016-11-04. Retrieved 2017-04-11.
- ^ "Martha Wilson at UMFA - Events - Independent Curators International". curatorsintl.org.
- ^ Rindfuss, Bryan. "'Visibilities: Intrepid Women of Artpace' Group Show to Open Year-Long Celebration of Female Artists". San Antonio Current. Retrieved 2020-05-23.
- ^ a b Silas, Susan (2018-10-08). "Martha Wilson Tries on Prescribed Female Roles, from Housewife to First Lady". Hyperallergic. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
- ^ "Exhibitions: Martha Wilson". ICI website.
- ^ "Events: Performance and Identity". ICI website.
- ^ "Events: Wilson offers her perspective on feminist research". ICI website.
- ^ "Martha Wilson: Biography". P.P.O.W. website.
- ^ a b "Shop: Martha Wilson Sourcebook". ICI website.
- ^ "Main page". ABC Art Books Canada website. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
- Art Journal. via official website
- ^ "BOMBLOG: Martha Wilson: The Liminal Trickster by Lauren Bakst". 2013-10-11. Archived from the original on 2013-10-11. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
- ^ Bakst, Lauren. "BOMB Magazine — Martha Wilson: The Liminal Trickster by Lauren Bakst". bombmagazine.org. Bomb Magazine. Archived from the original on 2016-04-23. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
- ^ Gomez, Edward (10 September 2011). "Artist Martha Wilson at P.P.O.W., New York: Aging gracefully, with political consciousness, "beauty" and sass" (PDF). Retrieved 14 April 2016.
- ^ "About Martha Wilson". Retrieved 14 April 2016.
- ^ Ise, Claudine. "Interview with Martha Wilson, co-Founder of Franklin Furnace Archive : Bad at Sports". badatsports.com. badatsports. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
- ^ "Martha Wilson speaks on Free Zones". Archived from the original on 2011-04-03.. Retrieved October 2011.
- ^ Anon 2018
External links
- Artist's website
- Franklin Furnace website
- Guide to the Martha Wilson Papers at Fales Library and Special Collections at New York University Special Collections.