This learning lab will be a way to view 20th century history through the lens of the surprisingly rare female artists. I took an outstanding AP Art History class when I was in High School, and I remember the teacher making a point of noting how late into the class' curriculum we were before we had a woman artist featured. This learning lab would be an essential piece of an Art History class, but would be an interesting seminar to participate in during a non-art history class.

Learning about this artistic vision of these women is interesting, but hearing their stories gives good perspective into the expanding role of women in society over the century. 

Alma Thomas' letter telling her own story provides a good jumping off point, and centers the conversation here in DC. I then would tell students to go to the Judy Chicago letter next. In that letter (listed second on here), she classifies 3 buckets that all female art falls into (in her opinion): (1) female art that is indistinguishable from men's art, (2) female art that centers on the "female condition" of being trapped/controlled by society, and (3) women using abstract/modern methods to depict femininity in a new and liberating way. 

Centering the rest of our conversations on those 3 buckets will be helpful. It will allow us to see if we agree with her categorization, but we can also examine female artists whose work doesn't fit into those buckets, and examine why. 

I included several other famous female artists with profiles, articles, artwork, etc. This will be a good place to both explore, and to try to answer "what is women's art?"