the Woman's Building

The Woman’s Building History: Nancy Buchanan

In addition to producing video, Buchanan's practice includes installation, drawing, artist's books and work with fabric. She was a founding member of several seminal artist's collectives: F-Space Gallery, Grandview Gallery at the Woman's Building, Los Angeles, and Double X, a feminist art network. In addition to producing her own work, Buchanan has also curated and reviewed exhibitions. She is currently on faculty at CalArts.
This video was commissioned by Otis College of Art and Design for the exhibition "Doin' It in Public: Feminism and Art at the Woman's Building" (1973-1991) in the Ben Maltz Gallery, October 1 January 28, 2012 and is part of an ongoing series of oral histories about the Woman's Building partially funded by the Getty Foundation.
The exhibition is part of a "Pacific Standard Time: Art in L.A.1945-1980," a Fall 2011 citywide initiative sponsored by the Getty Foundation.

The Woman's Building History: Paula Lumbard

Paula came to the Woman’s Building in 1976 after reading Judy Chicago's Through the Flower, and studied in the Feminist Studio Workshop, studying with Faith Wilding. She also participated in the iconic CR, or Consciousness Raising Groups, starting other groups herself. A painter, she co-curated the multimedia exhibit: Bedtime Stories: Women Speak Out against Incest, which Paula refers to as a "vehicle of healing."
This video was commissioned by Otis College of Art and Design for the exhibition "Doin' It in Public: Feminism and Art at the Woman's Building" (1973-1991) in the Ben Maltz Gallery, October 1 January 28, 2012 and is part of an ongoing series of oral histories about the Woman's Building partially funded by the Getty Foundation.
The exhibition is part of a "Pacific Standard Time: Art in L.A.1945-1980," a Fall 2011 citywide initiative sponsored by the Getty Foundation.

The Woman’s Building History: Phranc

Phranc refers to herself as the "all-American Jewish lesbian folksinger" and the "Cardboard Cobbler." As a teenager, she attended the Feminist Studio Workshop at the Woman's Building where she studied printing and design. She then went on to perform as a member of several punk bands including Catholic Discipline, and Nervous Gender. She has toured internationally with many acclaimed and notorious artists such as The Knitters, The Smiths, The Pogues, and Morrissey. Later she returned to her acoustic roots. She has recorded 5 albums. Both her music and visual work employ humor to raise consciousness, trigger response, stimulate memories, and provoke discussion. Phranc is a former artist-in-residence at the 18th Street Arts Center in Santa Monica and a recipient of the 2007 C.O.L.A. Fellowship. She was featured in a solo exhibition in 2008 at CUE Art Foundation in NYC. See also: phranc.net/biography.php
This video was commissioned by Otis College of Art and Design for the exhibition "Doin' It in Public: Feminism and Art at the Woman's Building" (1973-1991) in the Ben Maltz Gallery, October 1 January 28, 2012 and is part of an ongoing series of oral histories about the Woman's Building partially funded by the Getty Foundation.
The exhibition is part of a "Pacific Standard Time: Art in L.A.1945-1980," a Fall 2011 citywide initiative sponsored by the Getty Foundation.

The Woman’s Building History: Sheila de Bretteville

Sheila de Bretteville, renowned designer and typographer, left the Feminist Art Program at CalArts to co-found the Woman's Building, the Women's Graphic Center, the Feminist Studio Workshop and Chrysalis Magazine. After that she became the founding Chair of the Communication Arts Department at Otis College of Art and Design. She is currently on faculty at Yale.
More info: aiga.org/content.cfm/medalist-sheilalevrantdebretteville
This video was commissioned by Otis College of Art and Design for the exhibition "Doin' It in Public: Feminism and Art at the Woman's Building" (1973-1991) in the Ben Maltz Gallery, October 1 January 28, 2012 and is part of an ongoing series of oral histories about the Woman's Building partially funded by the Getty Foundation.
The exhibition is part of a "Pacific Standard Time: Art in L.A.1945-1980," a Fall 2011 citywide initiative sponsored by the Getty Foundation.

The Woman’s Building History: Sisters Of Survival (S.O.S.)

Sisters Of Survival (S.O.S.) is a collaborative performance art group founded in 1981 by Nancy Angelo, Jerri Allyn, Anne Gauldin, Cheri Gaulke and Sue Maberry. Focusing on anti-nuclear issues, S.O.S. initiated End of the Rainbow, a three-part project including a European tour in Spring 1983. S.O.S. also produced a media performance (Shovel Defense), an artists' book (Sisters Of Survival's Memento Mori), a billboard (Something is Clouding Your Future), and other theatrical and participatory performances.
This video was commissioned by Otis College of Art and Design for the exhibition "Doin' It in Public: Feminism and Art at the Woman's Building" (1973-1991) in the Ben Maltz Gallery, October 1 January 28, 2012 and is part of an ongoing series of oral histories about the Woman's Building partially funded by the Getty Foundation.
The exhibition is part of a "Pacific Standard Time: Art in L.A.1945-1980," a Fall 2011 citywide initiative sponsored by the Getty Foundation.

The Woman’s Building History: Sue Maberry

Sue Maberry graduated from Pitzer College with a major in art and worked for 15 years in arts administration. After attending the Feminist Studio Workshop at the Woman's Building from 1976-77, she joined the WB staff serving as a program director and later became director of the Women's Graphic Center, its profit-making arm.
She also worked as an artist and graphic designer, collaborating with numerous artists and art groups and is a cofounder of Sisters Of Survival. From 1987 to 1991, she served as program director at the Armory Center for the Arts (Pasadena) where she organized activities and events for both children and adults. Maberry returned to graduate school for a Master's Degree in Library and Information Science (MLS) from California State University, San Jose. After working briefly as a newspaper librarian at the Los Angeles Daily News, she was hired as Director of the Library at Otis College of Art and Design in 1992. Over the years, she initiated many projects with faculty using technology to enhance the curriculum. In 2005, Director of Instructional Technology was added to her title. Maberry was one of the Project Directors of Doin' It in Public.
This video was commissioned by Otis College of Art and Design for the exhibition "Doin' It in Public: Feminism and Art at the Woman's Building" (1973-1991) in the Ben Maltz Gallery, October 1 January 28, 2012 and is part of an ongoing series of oral histories about the Woman's Building partially funded by the Getty Foundation.
The exhibition is part of a "Pacific Standard Time: Art in L.A.1945-1980," a Fall 2011 citywide initiative sponsored by the Getty Foundation.

The Woman’s Building History: Susan E. King

Susan E. King moved to Southern California in the 1970's to be part of the Feminist Studio Workshop where she started writing and making artists' books. For many years, she was on faculty and she served as Studio Director of the Women's Graphic Center at the Woman's Building. King grew up in the South, in a family of storytellers. Southern oral tradition and history, and writing about place often appear in her work. Trained as a sculptor, she brings sculptural aspects to making artists' books. Her work is included in major collections including The Getty Center, the Bibliothèque Nationale, Museum of Modern Art Library, and the Victoria and Albert Museum Library. A trade edition of her artist's book, Treading the Maze, was published Chronicle Books in 1997.
This video was commissioned by Otis College of Art and Design for the exhibition "Doin' It in Public: Feminism and Art at the Woman's Building" (1973-1991) in the Ben Maltz Gallery, October 1 January 28, 2012 and is part of an ongoing series of oral histories about the Woman's Building partially funded by the Getty Foundation.
The exhibition is part of a "Pacific Standard Time: Art in L.A.1945-1980," a Fall 2011 citywide initiative sponsored by the Getty Foundation.

The Woman’s Building History: Suzanne Lacy

Lacy is best known for her work with feminist and social-justice issues, and in her four-decade career, has worked in various media, including installations, video and performance art. Her work addresses social issues such as sexual violence, poverty and incarceration.
This video was commissioned by Otis College of Art and Design for the exhibition "Doin' It in Public: Feminism and Art at the Woman's Building" (1973-1991) in the Ben Maltz Gallery, October 1 December 3, 2011. This video is part of an ongoing series of oral histories about the Woman's Building (partially funded by the Getty Foundation).
The exhibition is part of a "Pacific Standard Time: Art in L.A.1945-1980," a Fall 2011 citywide initiative sponsored by the Getty Foundation.