THE WOMEN'S STUDIO WORKSHOP

The purpose of this study is to bring to the forefront the lives and experiences of women artists within one context, the Women’s Studio Workshop. In order to ensure that women artists have equal inclusion in the canon, we must record their lives and work (Sandell & Collins, 1997; Korzenik, 1990; Nochlin, 1971). In response to the lack of opportunities, U.S. women artists have organized for more than a century (Briggs, 1932; Skiles, 1975; Sturken, 1978). An upsurge of women's artist organizations occurred during the early 1970s feminist art movement as a part of the larger women's liberation movement (Brodsky 1994). Driven by my curiosity about women artist organizations, I located a present day group of women artists to research. The overarching question "What is the nature of one woman centered art space?" guided my inquiry and the overarching theme of giving voice to the women artists shaped the story. The Women's Studio Workshop is one example of a women's artist community that provides support, education, exhibition, employment, and empowerment to women artists since the early 1970s.