In response to comments made about this post, Sylvia Mendel wrote:
Yes, I expect that if any group is invisible in certain organizations
or societal settings it’s worthy of question. For, you may be the one
who is excluded at some point in the future. If you are a curious
person you’ll notice that older women artists are invisible in the art
world and most other arenas of life, unless they’re generous
philanthropists or volunteers – which I call work without pay.I have
actually experienced this invisibility/exclusion recently. A Chelsea
gallery owner saw my work on a website. She made an appointment to see
the actual work. She saw me in person when I visited her gallery to
check out the space where my work might be shown. I said I was looking
forward to her visiting my studio and she canceled the appointment by
email the following day pleading sickness and never rescheduled.Women
are even more biased against older women than are men. That’s just the
most obvious incident. I recently did a series on age with one piece
called Wear Masks and have been asked to write a piece against this
invisibility for an art publication.
Mendel, Wear Masks and Missing Pages II
Sylvia: Your conclusions are dubious. In the story about the unnamed dealer, she already knew you were a woman, so take sexism off the table. The issue for you is age, but you have no proof that was the issue for the dealer. Maybe she didn’t like you. Did you come across as resentful, challenging, disapproving of the other artists in the gallery? I agree it might be age. It’s easier to sell the fresh-faced. Collectors like to think they’re getting in on the ground floor. It’s tough on older artists but there you are. It affects both men and women.
Look, Monica, women have it much tougher in the art world than men, and older women have it the worst. You’re just quibbling. Do you think you’re in a debating class or in your own life?
Sadly, I have had similar experiences, however all my life I have had experiences like this. I just keep making art and maybe one day my children will be able to see some reward from my labors. Is this a US thing? When I lived in Europe it felt easier.
Keep doing what you need to do and keep speaking about what is important to you because if you just allow it to go unsaid, how useful is that to anyone?
Regina, I enjoyed reading your blog. Going forward, it will be one of my “must reads”. I was drawn in by the “invisibility” discussion which I have felt keenly on many levels: you’re too young, (therefore I don’t see you); you are a woman (therefore I don’t see you), etc. I was reminded of the line from Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man: “I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me.”
It’s a daily challenge!
Sheila Williams
HI Sylvia: You are right on about the discrimination against older women artists. There are too many examples for there to be any question about it. How does one address this isssue. Do you have a plan? The “fresh face” argument is a bogus one imposed by intermediaries. Most collectors look for quality, creativity and formal maturity in a work of art. JWB
The worst example of ageism and sexism in women artists that I know of is the case of Camille Claudel, whose work was ignored by critics and often attributed to Rodin. She died in a mental institution. My book, Camille Claudel, a Novel, looks into the matter in depth.
Monica: I wrote a well-deserved response to your uninformed comments. Unfortunately I’m so old that I couldn’t get the two fuzzy words right. This is one area where even the blog requirements discriminate which is why I haven’t used one before. n What I do remember? You asked like a therapist if my attitudes were correct – i.i. how did I come across – then used a string of negative attitudes that I MIGHT have had. Though, I didn’t know you were there at the time. As for the artists I might have been negative about – it was a solo show with an original and exciting artist and noted these qualities to the gallery owner. If you don’t start noting every-day omissions re older women you wont notice how they figure in other biases and war in particular. “It’s tough on older artists but there you are?” It affects both men and women?” There you are??? Oh, please what can one say to such blindness but that women may be the worst offenders through self-hatred. I mean what could be more self-denigrating than reverting to foot-binding – this time around in 6″ heels? Oh, please!!!!!
Helen: I love your brevity especially about a debating class. You’re a fine example of impact with few words. You remind me of Gary Cooper’s daughter describing him for TCM – a program that shows old movies. She said “My father was a man of little words.” I hope someone tells her to change that reference to “few” words or Gary Cooper fans might get the notion that he was illiterate!! You’re a fine example of “brevity is the soul of wit.”