California NOW

Feminist Art in SF

Check out Amber Whiteside's review and analysis in the SF Bay Guardian of the art exhibit "The Way That We Rhyme: Women, Art & Politics." The exhibit is at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (701 Mission, SF) through June 29th.

Whiteside points to the emergence of more feminist art shows, but wonders if too much of it has been "regurgitations of the same old feminist art show with the same discourse, participants, and audience." This show, though, she thinks breaks the mold to some extent. However, she asks an important question about feminist art, and indeed about feminist space and movement in general: "While I understand the rationale for creating a dedicated space for women's art, I think in some ways it only further marginalizes women. Let's integrate women's political art into the larger context and invite men to participate, reminding them that feminism is — and has always been — about men too."

Good point. What do you think?

Regardless, the show definitely seems worth checking out.

The pic is one of the artist's work featured in the show, Lisa Anne Auerbach. VERY cool stuff!

Check It Out: International Museum of Women

Masum Mamoya is the curator of the Women, Power and Politics Exhibit at the International Museum of Women.

The untold stories of women claiming and exercising their power around the world and throughout history come alive in I.M.O.W.'s global online exhibition Women, Power and Politics.

From March 8 to December 31, 2008, Women, Power and Politics is available to audiences worldwide in Arabic, English, French and Spanish. They focus on one provocative new topic each month and ask the questions no one is asking. Like never before, women and men are focusing on issues of substance concerning women's political participation.

If you don't already check out the online International Museum of Women on a regular basis, you should. It's gorgeous, powerful and empowering. We can learn so much about ourselves and each other! Here is a description from the website:  I.M.O.W. is a groundbreaking social change museum that inspires global action, connects people across borders and transforms hearts and minds by amplifying the voices of women worldwide through global online exhibitions, history, the arts and cultural programs that educate, create dialogue and build community. With its unique focus on cultural change, I.M.O.W. advances the human right to gender equity worldwide.

Support Feminist Films - They ROCK!

Last night I found myself all alone in a movie theater. Normally, I would be excited to have my own screening, but on this occasion it made me sad because it really brought home how under appreciated feminist film making is in our society. I went to see the absolutely wonderful film Girls Rock. At times it was a relief that I was alone in my enormous individual screening, that way no one could hear me crying my eyes out as I relived my teen years as the odd girl in black that listened to the music that no one else at school understood.

But there was also no body around to join me as I continued to cry (this time tears of joy) and laugh as these young women found their inner rockers. It's not everyday we get to watch young women empower themselves on the big screen and I hate the fact that this film was going to close its run early because not enough people had come out to see it. So the moral of this story is: Please don't put off seeing that amazing feminist film you've been thinking of seeing. I know we all do it. It does matter that you get out there and see them in the theaters. If we don't do it they won't stay in the theaters for long, they won't make money, and the next one won't get funded and made. And if that happens, what will we have to cry and laugh about when we go to the movies next time?

Nellie McKay plays for CA NOW

CA NOW is proud to announce that Nellie McKay will be performing at our private party at the Viper Room, Saturday, April 19.   Singer, songwriter, feminist, champion of animal rights and the funniest jazz musician ever!   

You may have heard her on The David Letterman Show, The View or the Prairie Home Companion.  Her newest album is Obligatory Villagers on her own label, Hungry Mouse Records, released by prestigious jazz house, Vanguard Records.   We can't wait to hear her ode to feminists, Mother-of-Pearl!    

It's The Anita Rufus Show!

Past president of Palm Springs NOW and National NOW board member, Anita Rufas has her own talk radio show.  You can guess you won't be hearing Stern, Limbaugh or Dr. Laura!

The Anita Rufus Show
Saturday  2pm-4pm
K-News, AM 970 KNWZ, East Valley
AM 1140 KNWQ, West Valley

Known throughout the Desert communities and around the world to friends, family, fans and foes alike, Anita Rufus IS the Lovable Liberal. Every Saturday afternoon from 2 to 4 pm, the Anita Rufus Show will engage you in a conversation about politics, relationships, and the realities of everyday life that we can all relate to, and about hich we all have strong opinions.

Anita Rufus is an award-winning talk show host, previously recognized with the 20th Annual Commendation Award from American Women in Radio and Television for the best  small-market radio program. She has led the efforts on statewide referendums as well as run for the United States House of Representatives.  Anita has plenty to say, so don't miss one of the Coachella Valley's most progressive voices exclusively on the Anita Rufus Show Saturday's on KNews.

4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days

4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS and 2 DAYS addresses first-hand the all-too-real experience of a girl who braves the dangers of illegal abortion. 

Unfortunately this realistic depiction of the abortion issue did not get the press that the other films had received, despite its numerous awards and nominations.  J. Hoberman notes that the popularity of the film goes beyond the abortion question and into the treatment of women protagonists.  4 MONTH’s main characters as recognizably human – naïve, desperate, sympathetic – dealing with unintended pregnancy in a place where legal abortion is not an option, as opposed to the less messy situations of the leads in KNOCKED UP or JUNO, who have the option of abortion but choose to decline it. 

California NOW is proud to feature 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS, AND 2 DAYS on the 2008 State Conference handbill, and to offer support for and information about the film at the Conference in West Hollywood.  We are so proud to know that there are filmmakers and studios who will create and release projects that tackle the tough issues in beautifully artistic ways that remain true to the realities women face.

Submitted by Lindsey Horvath, VP Young Feminist CA NOW & President Hollywood NOW

Girls Rock Movie!

Check out Girls Rock Movie!

What a lovely sofa!

Oh wow. You've just got to love the community Craig has created via Craigslist. How else would we find those hard to find items, such as this Vagina Sofa! This is perfect for anyone who has longed for the perfect resting place.

When Does Life Begin?

If you were born before 1956, chances are you know a woman who had an illegal abortion; maybe even a woman who died from a botched abortion.  I do.  And if you were born after 1972 it is just so much nostalgia unless, of course, you live in a state that has no providers, or you have no money, or you have to work, or you can't tell your family, or you are afraid of protesters, or you believe in a god that tracks and punishes such things. 

I have been having this reoccurring daymare (not nightmare) that the Right to Life leaders have decided to infiltrate the US Media.  First they made, Knocked Up, a fun light romantic comedy with a star from Gray's Anatomy.  Recently they made Juno which extols the pivotal insight that Juno's unborn baby has nails.  How many thousands of born children with nails are starving, have HIV and/or are dying?  How many Iraqi's have nails? When does life begin?  I would suggest that life begins with the development of a conscience, with inquiry, with curiosity, with attachment and aversion - not with nails at all. 

TEETH?

From Guest Blogger, Rebecca Dolhinow, State Delegate from Pacific Shore OC Now ~

At a point in time when women’s bodies are the focus of so much attention do we really need a film that demonizes them even more? This is the question I asked myself after watching the trailer for the new film Teeth, directed by Mitchell Lichtenstein, artist Roy Lichtenstein’s son. It wasn’t until I had done a bit more research into the film that I came to realize the film itself appears to be a bit more complex than the trailer implies. The film revolves around the vagina of a young and sexually inexperienced woman, Dawn, who is the leader of her high school’s sexual abstinence movement. It is not until her previously abstinent boyfriend can no longer remain so that she realizes, as she is being raped, her anatomy is different (he too catches on pretty quick). Lichtenstein learned of vagina dentata, in a college class with controversial feminist social critic Camille Paglia.

This is where the film could become empowering to women or become yet another way to demonize the female body – in this case, make it truly monstrous. It appears the film complicates matters enough to make the viewer think twice about how this variation of the female anatomy could affect a woman’s life. Yet shock value seems to be the main ingredient in this recipe and we can only hope for a splash of understanding on the side.