My Favorite Feminists

Today Milena and Megan cover botanist and suffragist Mary Agnes Chase & Japanese American abstract wire sculptor Ruth Asawa

Mary Agnes Chase

Today Milena covers our first agrostolist, Mary Agnes Chase. Just what the hell is that? You may be asking – well, a scientist who studies grass, duh. While presumingly not the most exciting of the botanical sciences, Mary made up for that in her fight for equal rights for women. Equal parts suffragette and scientist, Milena shares how a woman who dropped out of school at the 5th grade went on to work for the Smithsonian and became a leading figure in her field (in this case the field of agrostology and literally a field of grasses).

Ruth Asawa

Forced into an internment camp as a child, denied the right to graduate from college because of her race, sculptor Ruth Asawa impressively did not let those experiences hinder her creative practice. Born in 1926, Ruth lived though a wave of anti-Asian discrimination in 1940’s America that’s not unlike the current racism we’re seeing today. Determined to make the best of things, Ruth went on to become an nationally regarded artist of the 20th century. Today Megan covers how Ruth developed her sculpting techniques, the importance of a supportive community and how stuck up community developers can go fly a kite.

Selected Works

Image of the hanging wire forms that Ruth is most well known for

A piece inspired by a desert plant

View of Ruth’s home studio

* Executive Order 9066 – Signed by President Roosevelt in February of 1942, initiated the forced internment of Japanese Americans and Japanese residents * Japanese American Internment – Forced internment of over 120,000 people to “Relocation Centers” in rural America during WWII, including Ruth’s family* Black Mountain College – Unique liberal arts college located in rural North Carolina that featured a progressive curriculum. Staffed many internationally renowned visual artists * Josef Albers – First art teacher employed at Black Mountain College, German born artist best known for his color theory * Albert Lanier – Architect husband of Ruth’s, met when they were both at Black Mountain College. * Imogen Cunningham – Friend of Ruth’s, professional photographer that documented much of Ruth’s artwork* Ruth Asawa School for the Arts – The first arts magnet high school in San Francisco, formed due to the arts advocacy work of Ruth and others. Renamed after her in 2010* Venus flyplant poaching in NC, read about it HERE or listen to an episode of the podcast Criminal about it

Today BFFs Milena and Megan get nostalgic with cartoon characters in the arts & sciences – artist Ursula from Kiki’s Delivery Service and the wonderful Ms. Frizzle of the Magic School Bus

Ursula

Now Megan, you might ask, how can you possibly spend half an episode talking about a fictional artist side character from an animated movie? Short answer: I don’t. Today we dive into the many feminist characters featured within Studio Ghibli films through the artist character Ursula. While only a supportive role to the main character Kiki, today we examine the importance of their relationship, the history of magical girl anime and the impact Miyazaki films have had as a whole. As per usual we’ve got your standard dose of feminist history and sexism – this time Japanese style!

Selected Work

That’s it, the only finished artwork of Ursula’s that we see in the movie

* Hayao Miyazaki – Animator, writer, director and co-founder of Studio Ghibli * Magical Girl anime – Also known as shōjo, features school aged girls who have…well, magical powers. First anime of this type was the 1960’s show Sally the Witch* Eiko Kadono – Award winning children’s book author. The movie Kiki’s Delivery Service is based off her 1985 book of the same title * Ursula K Le Guin – American fiction author who Miyazaki is a fan of, apparently named Ursula in Kiki’s after her* Bechdel test – Simple 3 rule test that a depressing amount of films fail – brings to attention the prevalence of the male gaze within the cinematic universe * 2018 Japanese Medical School Sandal – When medical schools admitted less qualified men over women, read about it HERE* Japanese Women Protesting Wearing Heels – A #metoo movement of sorts, read about it HERE

Dr. Valerie Felicity Frizzle

The nostalgia is real today in Milena’s feature of a favorite childhood memory, Ms. Frizzle of the Magic School Bus. Based off a children’s book series by Joanna Cole, the character Ms. Frizzle has entertained generations of children through both the books and tv series based off her educational antics. Today Milena examines how this character came into creation, the importance of fostering children’s curiosity and how representation in STEM matters.

As always,

Today best friends Milena and Megan cover American geographer, geologist and educator Zonia Baber & African American concert soprano and founder of the Harlem School for the Arts, Dorothy Maynor. This episode is inadvertently dedicated to our favorite High School English teacher, Mrs. Burnett

Zonia Baber

Some women are ahead of their time – Zonia Barber is one of them. Born in 1962 as Mary Arizona Baber, she went by the way cooler name of Zonia. Deciding early on to pursue an education, Zonia dedicated herself to the pursuit of geography, geography and teaching the two in accessible, hands on ways. Today Milena profiles the educational advances Zonia made and how we’re still catching up to the progressive ideas she advocated over a 100 years ago.

Zonia pictured in 1895, collecting fossils at Mazon Creek, Illinois

Dorothy Maynor

This episode Megan steps out of her visual arts comfort zone with concert soprano Dorothy Maynor. A natural singer as a young girl, Dorothy pursed her interests with 110% commitment. It’s unsurprising then to learn the impacts Dorothy made not only in professional American concert singing, but in also producing educational resources for underserved communities.

Today we profile the educational support Dorothy received in Jim-Crow era America, the impact of racism on her career, and how retiring early only offers time for a second career.

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* Hampton University – HBCU, were Dorothy received encouragement to professional pursue a music career * Robert Nathaniel Dett – Choir director at Hampton University, gave Dorothy her first professional solo performances and later wrote compositions just for her* Serge Koussevitzky – Director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1939, gave Dorothy her big break * Spirituals – Musical precursor to Gospel music, traditional folk music developing on plantations. Dorothy sang Spirituals in addition to classical European compositions * Harlem School of the Arts – School that Dorothy founded in 1965* Recordings of Dorothy preforming can be found HERE & HERE

As always, music by EeL

Today Milena and Megan cover Lithuanian-Canadian primatologist Birutė Galdikas & African American figurative sculptor Beulah Woodard

Birutė Galdikas

Feeling overwhelmed with the reality that is 2021? Spend a few minutes looking at google images of Lithuanian-Canadian primatologist, conservationist, educator & author Birutė Galdikas and her orangutans – they’ll make you feel better, we swear.

Today Milena finishes up her coverage of the women scientists known as collectively as The Trimates; comprised of Jane Goodall (ep 32), Dian Fossey (ep 7) and last but not least, Birutė Galdikas. We explore how she became part of this group, just where orangutans are actually found and how that has anything to do with Terry Pratchett’s Discworld.

Beulah Woodard

Image of Beulah’s ceramic portrait Maudelle, shown on view at the Museum of Art and Archaeology at the University of Missouri

For every artist that we research there are countless more that have been left out of the historical record. Beulah Woodard is just one example of how people are actively marginalized from inclusion within Art History. In her particular case can it be attributed to systemic racism? We’re gonna go with a 110% yes.

Today Megan covers the biographical information we do have on the first African American artist to land a solo show at what is now the Los Angeles County Museum of Art – featuring a Russian prince, butthole Art Commissions, & whitewashing of history.

Selected Work

Two examples of Beulah’s ceramic portrait work, both are of performing artist Maudelle Bass Weston

1937 bronze cast work Untitled (Bust of a Mangbetu Woman)

1935 work titled Mask, it was one of 19 works featured in Beulah’s solo show at what is now known as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Mentioned this Episode

* Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson – Father of Black History Month * Paul Troubetzkoy – Russian Prince & artist who Beulah studied under * Meta Vaux Warrick Fuller – Fellow African American sculptor working at the same time as Beulah, profiled in Ep. 3* David Siqueiros – One of the Big Three Mexican mural painters, was hired to paint a public mural by the LA Arts Commission who subsequently whitewashed it* Mangbetu Tribe – Peaople from the northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo – their distinct beauty rituals have inspired modern creators like Beyonce* Miriam Mathews – First African American librarian hired by the Los...

Today best friends Milena & Megan cover Austrian-Swedish physicist Lise Meitner who helped discover nuclear fission & Mexican painter, poet & artist muse Nahui Olin, also known as Carmen Mondragón

Nahui Olin

Dying in near obscurity in 1978, Nahui Olin has seen a resurgence of interest & appreciated in the last two decades. Previously only remembered as an artists’ muse, Nahui’s creative work is now being fully realized as model, poet and painter. Today Megan covers how Nahui navigated the male-dominated creative scene of Mexico City and later faced backlash for her uncompromising personality. Taking her name from an Aztec concept of cosmic disruption, Nahui Olin proved to be a force to be reckoned with in her lifetime.

Selected Works

A favorite subject to paint were cats – distinct of her work is the stylized enlargement of the eyes

Nahui also frequently painted portraits of her romantic partner, pictured above her with sea captain Eugenio Agacino

Another portrait with Eugenio Agacino – featuring Nahui’s characteristic use of color, perspective and form

Nahui has been best known for her modeling, posing for photographers and painters alike in the 1920s & 30s

* Maria Izquierdo – Mexican artist featured in ep. 36 of the podcast, lived & worked at the same time as Nahui* General Mondragón – Nahui’s father, important figure in the Mexican Revolution & inventor of Mexico’s first semiautomatic rifle * Edward Weston – American photographer who featured Nahui in his portraits * Dr. Atl – Born Gerardo Murillo Cornado. Writer, painter, political activist, and scientist who Nahui had a tremulous relationship with * Mexican Revolution – Took place from 1910 to 1920, resulted in a democratically govern Mexico* Mexicanidad – Term for the essence of being Mexican* Lecture about the idea of Nahui Ollin: view HERE* DnD campaign (in Spanish) which I’m pretty sure is about the concept of Nahui Olin: view HERE* Blog featuring cats in fine art work: view HERE

Wanna know more? Always a book for that (usually) (or article)

In the first episode of season 3, Milena and Megan leave the US for Canada’s first woman known to professionally carve totem poles, Ellen Neel & the Italian Nobel laureate neurobiologist Rita Levi-Montalcini

Ellen Neel

True to form, for the first episode of the season Megan is covering…..a sculptor. Today we’re going to the far west stretches of British Columbia to explore the work of the first professional totem pole carver Ellen Neel. A member of the Kwakwaka’wakw First Nations Peoples, we dive into the history of the tribe, assimilation efforts by the Canadian government & how that played a role in Ellen’s career as a carver. 

Selected Work

Shown from left to right: Grouse Wild Man, Sun & First Man painted cedar masks

Shown from left to right: Grouse, Dsonakwa and West Wind red cedar masks

Thunderbird pole made in 1955, on display at Stanley Park in Vancouver, Canada

Kwakiutl (Thunderbird), dedicated in 1948 at the University of British Colombia on the right. No idea what the totem pole sent to the Welsh Boy Scouts looks like

Rita Levi-Montalcini

Rita Levi-Montalcini is yet another woman that proves when there’s work to be done, death can wait. Living to the age of 103, Rita is to date the longest-living Nobel Laureate. As a young woman Rita had to convince her father that educating women, like herself, was in their best interests. Upon getting her father’s ok to study, Rita made the most of it – not even stopping her scientific research as her family fled from Nazi’s in Mussolini’s Italy. That work paid off when she was co-awarded the Nobel Prize in 1986 for her research of nerve growth factor. Milena covers how Rita came to study neurobiology, the importance of educational support and what chicken parts have to do with all of this.

As always, music by EeL

In season’s 2 last episode, Milena & Megan cover American artist-potter and china painter Adelaide Alsop Robineau and the world-weary surgeon Dr. James Barry

Adelaide Alsop Robineau

Keeping with tradition, the last episode of the season becomes Megan’s opportunity to geek out on a ceramic artist. Today’s episode features Adelaide Alsop Robineau who was a leading ceramic artist of the early 20th century. Initially working with china paints (what’s that, you ask? Well give a listen & find out), Adelaide went on to involve herself in every aspect of the ceramic creative practice.

Today we cover her studio practice, the gendered politics of ceramics and how the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial World Fair kicked off a China Mania.

The Good Housekeeping article mentioned this episode can be seen HERE

Selected Works

Behold! The Scarab Vase – made in 1910, story goes it took over 1000 hours for Adelaide to finish. Considered one of, if the, best example of 20th century American art pottery

Adelaide worked in various style of form and color in her studio – experimenting most with carving and glaze formulations

Featured are assorted vases with various crystalline glazes

More examples of Adelaide’s surviving pottery. If she didn’t like a piece, she smashed it right out of the kiln. Only about 600 pieces made it through her trials

Example of the numerous china painting designs that Adelaide would include in the monthly ceramic publication she edited, Keramics Studio

Dr. James Barry

Where to start….today Milena is taking us on a dozy of a story, from late 17th century Ireland to the far reaches of the British Empire with Dr. James Barry. Studying at a early age for medicine, James became a doctor and ranking government official all while still a teenager. In the last episode of season two, Milena covers the doctor’s rise to prominence, the gross medical hygienic practices of the 1800’s and how we’re all under achievers by writing crappy teenage-angst poetry instead of becoming licensed physicians.

Left – a 1862 of the Dr. with servant John and dog Psyche. Right – a god awful painting c. 1815 of the Dr. Painted without their consent and with good reason – look at those eyes

As always, music by EeL

In today’s Election Day themed episode, BFFs Milena and Megan cover patriotic inventor, actress, and film producer, Hedy Lamarr & examine the allegorical figure that is Lady Justice

Hedy Lamarr

A beautiful thing about this nation is that anyone can be American. Just as equality, anyone can be screwed by America. Today we cover actress, film producer and inventor Hedy Lamarr who contributed to the war effort and received a polite ‘That’s nice, go raise up some money’ instead. Milena shares how she made a secret escape from an abusive partner, who performed the first feature film female orgasim & how we have wireless communication technology all thanks to Hedy.

Lady Justice

Justitia outside the the Supreme Court of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. We could learn from Canada by not blinding our Justice

Today’s episode is a Schrodinger’s cat – we’re recording on Halloween eve, releasing the during Election Week here in the States….potentially the results might be in….like, is it a sigh of relief, then back to advocating for change or just like a ‘oh god how could this happen, again?’

The election is a mess, Senate Republicans choice to push through a supreme court nomination instead of like…oh I don’t know, a Covid relief package…And on theme with this yea,r and really every year in America, we’ve had more fatal police shootings of Black Americans (Marcellis Stinnette & Walter Wallace Jr.) – in just the last week.

Right now particularly, justice seems fraught. Today, we’re not covering an artist, but instead giving the run down on a recurring female figure in art – Lady Justice. You know her – scales, sword, blindfold, found in courthouses all over the world – the saying goes Justice is blind.

Today we’re gonna learn that was not always the case, and how even back in the 1500’s people were calling bullshit on that with memes.

Selected Images

Political Memes 1500s style AKA illustration by Albrecht Durer for Ship of Fools

Roman coin from 23 AD featuring the goddess Justitia

Left: 1543 Lady Justice in Switzerland Center: Lady Justice atop the Central Criminal Court in London Right: 1961 Lady Justice in Brazil

* Themis – Greek Titian, where we initially get the inspiration of Lady Justice from * Dike – Daughter of Themis, who presided over justice in mortal affairs* Ma’at – Egyptian goddess of Justice & Truth, who Lady Justices gets the symbol of scales from* Justitia – Roman goddess that rolled Themis, Dike and Ma’at together forming the basis of Lady Justice *

In our Halloween episode Milena and Megan get spooky with 1950s monster movie special effects artist Milicent Patrick & prolific serial killer/chemist Giulia Tofana

Milicent Patrick

Happy Halloween everyone! Sure, here in America the scariest holiday is right around the corner – Election Day – instead of facing that nightmare of a reality we’re getting spooky. Today we’re covering a forgotten woman of Hollywood’s Movie Monster history, animator, illustrator, actress, and special effects artist Milicent Patrick.

While sexism plays heavily in her career, we cover what it took to make a monster (hint: over 170,000$), how to get hired as a makeup artist at Universal and how bad bosses get what’s coming to them.

Selected Works

Milicent sketching creature designs, shown with Bud Westmore

Image of the 1954 Gil-man, aka the Creature from the Black Lagoon. Milicent contributed to the creature design and custom paintwork for the mask

1955 photo of Milicent sketching Kirk Douglas while on set of ‘Man Without a Star’

In addition to her makeup effects and acting, Milicent also provide illustration works. Above, samples from The Westmore Beauty Book Milicent illustrated

* Creature from the Black Lagoon Movie – Film that Milicent worked primarily on during her career as a special effects artist * Hearst Castle – Ridiculously American mansion commissioned by publishing tycoon William Hearst and designed by America’s first woman architect Julia Morgan* CalArts – Where Milicent attended school, when it was still Chouinard Art Institute. After school went on to become one of Disney’s first women animators * Bud Westmore – Head of Universal’s make up department for over 20 years, hired Milicent. By all accounts major butthole of a boss

Wanna Know More?

Check out:

* The Lady from the Black Lagoon by Mallory O’Meara* The Fantastic Mystery of Milicent Patrick by Vincent Di Fate

Giulia Tofana

1903 painting The Love Potion by Evelyn De Morgan. No records of what Giulia looked like have survived

It’s Rome, 1640. You’re a upper-class woman with piece-of-shit husband.

Today best friends Milena and Megan cover Nobel prize winning American geneticist Barbara McClintock & French-American painter, sculptor, and performance artist Niki de Saint Phalle

Barbara McClintock

Barbara’s mother worried about her daughter. Natural to any parent, she fretted over the choices her child wanted to make. And natural to any parent she felt her child was not making the best decisions – after all, her child wanted to go an Ivy League school. Barbara’s life choices led to something much worse – winning a Nobel Prize for her discoveries in mobile genetic elements.

Today Milena covers how Barbara was led astray and spent a life dedicated to understanding the genetic components that we’re comprised of. We talk the importance of having family support, challenges of balancing motherhood and the importance of going with your gut. Oh, and how corn can actually be kinda cool.

Niki de Saint Phalle

Get yourself a woman who can do both

Italian princes, nervous breakdowns, Jane Fonda and .22 rifles. There are times Megan finishes researching an artist and wonders, how did I get here? That’s the case with French-American artist Niki de Saint Phalle. This sculptor/painter/performance artist ties all of those things together in her career that spanned over 50 years. While today gives us mostly feel-good vibes, Niki did face challenges in her early years.

Today we cover how those challenges impacted her studio practice, art world sexism in the 1960s and the personal costs of pursuing your dreams. Let’s be honest, if you never try – a little part of you will always hate yourself.

Selected Works

Early 1956 work completed while Niki was institutionalized for a nervous breakdown

1960’s piece The Bride on Horseback, one of many assembled artworks Niki was making early on. These gritty, critical pieces were part of the European New Realism movement

Image of Niki performing a Tir (shoot) performance painting. This series from the early 1960’s launched Niki’s career into international acclaim

Installation view of She – a cathedral. For the three months it was on view in 1966 over 80,000 came to see it at the the Modern Museum in Stockholm, Sweden

Into the 70’s Niki’s work shifted themes – above are pieces from her Nanas series of dynamic, colorful

Image of Niki’s sculpture garden, completed over ten years with the help of her partner, local craftspeople and an Italian aristocrats

* Gaudi – Spanish architect best known for his flowing, organic forms. After visiting his public park Niki was inspired to create her own sculpture garden * Brancusi – Romanian born sculptor who was a leading artist in the Parisian & international art scene, first to establish an art studio in the Impasse Rosin ...