March 2008 is National Women’s History Month

Each year, March is designated as National Women’s History Month to ensure that the history of American women will be recognized and celebrated in schools, workplaces, and communities throughout the country. The stories of women’s historic achievements present an expanded view of the complexity and contradiction of living a full and purposeful life.

The knowledge of women’s history provides a more expansive vision of what a woman can do. This perspective can encourage girls and women to think larger and bolder and can give boys and men a fuller understanding of the female experience.
Women’s Art: Women’s Vision Theme

To honor the originality, beauty, imagination, and multiple dimensions of women’s lives, the National Women’s History Project has chosen Women’s Art: Women’s Vision as the 2008 theme for National Women’s History Month.

The history of women and art is quintessential women’s history. It is the story of amazing women’s accomplishments acclaimed at the time but written out of history. Join us in ensuring that their accomplishments are never forgotten.

This year’s theme provides a special opportunity to discover and celebrate women’s visual arts in a variety of forms and mediums that help expand our perceptions of ourselves and each other.

This month, CraftRevolution.com will feature each of the women celebrated through this program in a special Blog Post, allowing our readers to learn about each of them and to pull inspiration from their achievements.

To ensure that a diversity of art and artists are represented, the 2008 Honorees were selected based on their art, their vision, their art form, their cultural background, the region in which they live and the quality and passion of the nomination submitted. Stay tuned for more information on the honorees.

Judy Chicago - 1939
Painter/Printmaker/Tapestry/Needlework

Harmony Hammond -1944
Painter

Edna Hibel – 1917
Colorist, Painter, Stone Lithographer, Serigrapher, Etcher, Sculptress, and Filmmaker

Lihua Lei – 1966
Multimedia Installation

Violet Oakley –1874-1961
Muralist, Stained Glass Artist

Rose Cecil O’Neill – 1874-1944
Painter, Illustrator, Sculptress

Faith Ringgold – 1930
Painter/Quilter

Miriam Schapiro – 1923
Print/ Painter

Lorna Simpson – 1960
Artist

Jaune Quick-To-See Smith –1940
Painter/Printmaker

Nancy Spero – 1926
Painter

June Claire Wayne – 1918
Painter/Lithographer