Discussion 13: Irina Nissen

This installation artwork by artist Judy Chicago is one of the first recognized “epic feminist pieces” and it is titled “The Dinner Party”. I chose the dinner party because I saw this installation as a kid and I remember it really sticking with me even though at the time I did not understand its message. The Dinner Party celebrates lost and under appreciated female culture and heritage through the array of dinner plates displayed, 39 in total. These 39 women are important historical figures who Chicago wanted to honor. Chicago also arranged to have 999 women’s names inscribed in gold on the floor below the table and 1039 women honored in the exhibitions rotating the table. Being that this piece was extremely meticulous and well researched, it was worked on from ’74-’79, 5 years. To conclude, the most significant thing about this installation to me were the points of the table. Not one placemat it seated at a point which would be a “head” of the table making it so each women is deemed of equal worth.

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