Joyce Wieland Being A Woman / Artist

Joyce Wieland Menstrual Dance 1987


Joyce Wieland Untitled



The noted Canadian artist Joyce Wieland, I never had the privilege to meet but certainly would have been honoured to have done so. I relate to why she never wanted to call herself a feminist. I always was concerned and involved in women's issues but never wanted to call myself a feminist. I don't much care for labels, though I do understand why we have them, as being the discourse we use whether we are artists or not. I am grateful to her and women like her that have gone on before as trail blazers for other women.




Today found a few websites that I see are related to the work Joyce Wieland was doing, particularly her love of and involvement in fine needle work . I have posted some photos and the links to these sites below. These are inspired by woman writers. This is based on the work of Emily Dickinson. I think they are just beautiful and amazing works. Willow also embroiders illuminated manuscripts. She has she produced a book cover entitled "Blue" inspired by the work of Artist, Cliff Eyland.

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http://web.me.com/wrector1/Willow_Rector/Home.html

Cliff Eyland Self Portrait Blue Manuscript

http://capacioushold-all.blogspot.com/
This blog is beautifully written along with photos that are sure to touch the spirit.







"I think being an artist is about following your own way, and having the courage to be who you are and what you are. To have self-knowledge ... that deep, dark discovery of self, part of which is maturing, part of which is creating wholeness." - Joyce Wieland

Joyce Wieland Video Transcript
Orphaned at only nine years of age, Joyce Wieland found solace in her drawing and painting, which would eventually become her career. She was ahead of her time; she used traditional crafts like quilting and embroidery. Nor was she afraid to deal head on with the issues of the day. For the sixties, her art was refreshingly new. Yet her struggle with the art establishment was won when Joyce became the first woman to have a major exhibition of her work, staged during her lifetime, at Canada's National Gallery. Joyce Wieland dislikes being called a feminist. She says she takes it for granted. But she's convinced that men and women create art that, as she puts it, comes out differently.


http://www.jstor.org/pss/1358083 Here is an interesting article written in the 1980s about Judy Chicago and Joyce Wieland From The Women's Journel