An intriguing exhibit at The Clark Museum in Williamstown explores the “escape” of women from domestic strictures, and into the creative realm. A Room of Her Own: Women Artist-Activists in Britain, 1875–1945 is on view until September 15, 2025. Well worth a trip just for this exhibition, but with The Clark the regularly scheduled permanent collection, buildings, and scenic grounds (great for easy hiking) are always there in all of their magnificent glory!
From the Clark’s exhibition write up: A Room of Her Own celebrates twenty-five women artists working in Great Britain during Woolf’s lifetime; women who fought to establish themselves as professional artists at a time when the field was dominated by men. These artists created spaces for themselves and others—in their homes, studios, art schools, and exhibition sites—insisting their production deserved critical attention as well as appropriate compensation. Many of them gave public lectures and wrote books about navigating the profession. They served as teachers in established art schools or founded their own schools. They made being a woman artist normative at a time when women faced countless challenges to secure training, join professional art societies, and find opportunities to show in serious exhibitions. The works which sprang from these thematic underpinnings come together in an unexpectedly stunning grouping. By unexpected, I mean many artists completely unknown to me. What a treat when you “meet” quality and creativity of the highest order which appears in the art world’s equivalency of “out of the blue”. Eye opening and extremely satisfying. Have a look:
The Clark’s space for temporary exhibitions in the lower level of the new building is versatile and pleasant, with breathing room for each visitor to roam and linger.
Well, that’s a quick blog tour of a notable happening at a gem located in Williamstown, MA since 1955. Summer is evaporating quickly…
The Art of Dealing Art 