Women and Art (Womart) Round Table New York City, New York

Women and Art (WomArt) Round Table Meeting ARLIS/NA 2004 Conference , New York City, NY Monday, April 19, 2004, 8:30 a.m.

ATTENDEES: Susan Clarke, Sara Harrington, Eumie Imm-Stroukoff, Sue Maberry, Sara MacDonald, Ellen Petraits, Bonnie Reed, Laura Schwartz, Shannon Van Kirk, Sharon Wasserman.

INTRODUCTIONS Shannon Van Kirk, current chair, opened the meeting. Last years’ minutes were passed around, read, and approved. Participants introduced themselves. Ms. Van Kirk thanked Eumi Imm- Stoukoff for her help in the transition this year, then introduced the incoming moderator, Sara Harrington.

CONFERENCE SESSIONS/PROPOSALS This year’s session is Expanding the Canon: Women Collectors and the Arts. Sara Harrington and Dr. Ferris Olin will moderate. Sharon Wasserman, Sue Nurse, Dr. Ferris Olin, and Ms. Ruth Bowman are speakers. Ms. Nurse said that women’s patronage of the arts has always been her area of interest, and she will put up a bibliography on the web. Ms. Harrington strongly recommended that the Round Table propose a session every year and that we need more exposure. She explained that this organization is different from others. When other sessions are proposed, there are prepared panels, whereas many people never hear about ours. We need wider announcements and more word of mouth. She reminded the group that the deadline for proposals is May 31st. Groups are no longer required to propose sessions; proposals can be made by individuals.. The theme for next year’s conference is Diversity and Multiculturalism.

WOMART WEBSITE Ms. Clarke was unable to update the website this past year due to elimination of the software originally used in designing the website. She hopes to be able to learn the new software and completely revamp the website during the coming year.

WOMART LISTSERVE. Ms. Harrington past around the instructions for joining the WomArt Listserve and suggested that everyone be sure to sign on. It was suggested that our first public discussions on proposals could begin on the WomArt Listserve and then the discussion should open on ARLIS-L, then move back again to finalize details. It was suggested that lists of past sessions we have already sponsored be announced on ARLIS-L listerv, and the WOMART listerv, as well as on the website. People might not be aware of past sessions.

BIBLIOGRAPHIES/WEBLIOGRAPHIES Ms. Van Kirk passed around a bibliography on Arab and Persion women art.. She has done sessions on this topic and there is a lot of interest. She recommends sending in any bibliographies having to do with women and art. Ms. Nurse will put her bibliography on Women Patrons on the web. Ms. Imm-Stroukoff may do a Georgia O’Keefe bibliography. Other ideas were discussed. Ms. Harrington suggested webliographies as well. Ms. Harrington discussed the potential use of web pages as a clearing house of symposium on women in the arts. Other organizations are interested in the research we are doing. We need to develop criteria for links and sketch out an architecture and see what we could do. Artists’ books by women artists, and women who are turning to web to sell their work, feminist artists, lesbian artists, etc. were discussed as possible interests. Arlis leadership is interested in pumping up the ARLIS/NA website.

UPDATE EDITOR: The position of column editor for Update was accepted by Ms. Nurse. Much of what was discussed relating to bibliographies and webliographies, as well as new announcements could go to Update and generate interest in the group.

NEW BUSINESS Sara MacDonald mentioned again the need for an archive. Ms. Wasserman agreed to archive WomArt Materials. Ms. Nurse has papers from Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. It was suggested that we need to do an inventory, identify the gaps, gather materials, possibly scan them, and then use the year to investigate further what other measures we need to take. Archival materials should be sent to Sharon Wasserman.

INCOMING MODERATOR FOR 2005 A call was put out for incoming moderator for next year. Sara MacDonald volunteered and was accepted.

Minutes submitted by Susan Clarke