There are realities about being an artist. The main reality is that it is a difficult journey, especially for a woman. An art historian friend who advocates for women artists told me that only 3% of all the art in all the worlds museums is made by women. This is not because women don't become artists, it is because they can't get their work shown. Women are not less talented, less well trained or less productive. We have to work three times harder for the same recognition. I can count on one hand the number of men I have studied with that have put my work and my success ahead of theirs. I have been lucky to have that many. Every woman I have studied with has been my advocate. Every one.
I have known several professional women artists who are, or were, literally living in poverty. It's a disgrace. One of those artists was my friend Caroline Henderson. I just learned of her passing in 2023.
Caroline ran her own clay studio and was a teacher at Lancaster Country Day School. She was a powerful advocate for students and without her advocating for my work, I would never have gotten it shown in the galleries in Lancaster. As it was, they would only show my ceramic work. She was fierce, nobody pushed her around. She taught me to stand up for my work and my rights as a woman artist.
Thanks Caroline.
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