Smart Woman: Museum of Women in the Arts

Ten years ago, a museum like no other in the world opened its doors in Washington, DC. Its' founders chose to celebrate the work of a group of artists largely ignored throughout history. <br><br>The

Tuesday, July 27th 1999, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Ten years ago, a museum like no other in the world opened its doors in Washington, DC. Its' founders chose to celebrate the work of a group of artists largely ignored throughout history.

The triangular historic landmark was once a Masonic temple. Today, it houses a museum. A spectacular stairway leads to an art collection unlike any other in the world. Five centuries of artwork grace the walls including paintings, etchings, sculpture and photographs. The collection is unparalleled because a woman created every piece in the National Museum of women in the Arts. "We are the only museum in the world that shows art solely by women artists. If you walk through any other museum in the world, you'll be hard-pressed to find art by women," says Jordana Pomeroy, associate curator.

The reason for this blatant discrimination in the arts? For years, only men received art instruction. Here, you'll find works by more than 100 women, such as Freida Calho, Georgia O'Keefe and Mary Cassatt. "It's my first visit and I think it's incredible. It's really an inspiration, being a woman artist myself, and then to see that women artists throughout history are finally being noticed and recognized," said art student Lydia Linker.

From graceful faces of centuries ago to the striking portraits of today, women artists throughout history are finally finding the recognition they deserve. If you can't visit the museum in person, you can take an on-line tour on the museum's web site at
http://www.nmwa.org

The National Museum of Women in the Arts also displays work from emerging artists. They've helped launch the careers of several women. If you're an artist interested in submitting your work, you can request guidelines from the museum. You'll need to send a resume and photos of your work.

Contact:

The National Museum for Women in the Arts
1250 New York Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20005-3920
Telephone (202) 783-5000