Viewing page 85 of 110

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

The powerful organization which we have secured extends around the world, and stands with perfect solidarity for the purpose of serving the interests of our sex and making the industrial conditions easier for them.  We have such an organization as has never existed of women for women.  That this work is needed is evidenced by the pathetic answers from some of the countries where our invitation has been declined.  For instance, a letter received from the government of Tunis states that a commission of women cannot be formed in that country because local prejudice will not allow the native women to take part in public affairs.  Syrian correspondents write that it will be impossible to secure the official appointment of a committee of women in that country, as custom prevents women from taking hold of such work, and the government will lend no aid; but that an effort will be made to send a small exhibit unofficially.  Other Oriental countries make the same regrets-no schools; women not intelligent enough to undertake the work.  Incredible that the governments would be willing to make admissions that reflect so much upon themselves.*

[[image]] [[caption]] The Bath-Mme. Demont-Breton  France [[/caption]]

Three years ago, when we opened Womanspace, I gave a lecture together with Arlene Raven on the Woman's Building of Chicago 1893, and started to focus on Mary Cassatt's mural of "Modern Woman" which was commissioned for the central gallery of that Building.  Now, three years later, I have written many pages on that mural and the Building, but meanwhile we created our own Woman's Building, superceding by far any expectations we had at the time.  The existence of the Woman's Building here in Los Angeles, naturally furthered the interest that we have had in the precedent after which we consciously named ourselves.  And as I am writing this now, I have just found out a few days ago, that a dream we had about a year ago is about to come true; we received a grant, thanks to Michele Kort's efforts, to create a documentary exhibition about the Woman's Building, Chicago 1893, and we hope to make it a travelling show that will reach many places in the country, and initiate the kind of activities and energies that led us here to create our Woman's Building.

        Ruth Iskin


[[image]] [[caption]] Sheila de Bretteville, her son Jason, Judy Chicago, and Arlene Raven on Woman Made Day, March 1974. [[/caption]]

[[image]] [[caption]] Women greeting during the Design Conference, March 1975. [[/caption]]