The Unwritten History Project Detail Record

Detail Record for Karen Finley

Event Title: A Woman's Life Isn't Worth Much
Series Title:
Location: Franklin Furnace
Date: 5/18/1990 - 6/16/1990
Event Type: Installation

Event Documentation:

A Woman's Life Isn't Worth Much	A Woman's Life Isn't Worth Much	A Woman's Life Isn't Worth Much	A Woman's Life Isn't Worth Much
A Woman's Life Isn't Worth Much	A Woman's Life Isn't Worth Much	A Woman's Life Isn't Worth Much	A Woman's Life Isn't Worth Much
A Woman's Life Isn't Worth Much	A Woman's Life Isn't Worth Much	A Woman's Life Isn't Worth Much

Artist Statement:

Bio:

Press Release: For Immediate Release April 16, 1990 Press Contact: Barbara Pollack Isabel Samaras FRANKLIN FURNACE ANNOUNCES AN INSTALLATION "A WOMAN'S LIFE ISN'T WORTH MUCH" by KAREN FINLEY Opening, Friday, May 18th, 1990, 6-8 pm, Through June 16th, 1990. Faren Finley's installation, A Women's Life Isn't Worth Much, takes an artform as old as the caves of Lascaux and applies it to contemporary issues. With drawings and stories painted directly on the walls, Finley creates a straight-from-the-gut reaction to the current repressive political climate and the latest attempts to curtail women's rights. In the front of the gallery, Finley's story with original images, "Why Can't This Veal Calf Walk?", compares women to cattle awaiting slaughter in order to focus on rape as a source of perpetual fear and daily oppression. In the back gallery, "Aunt Mandy," a story about a relative who died from an illegal abortion, confronts the gallery visitor with a very real life from the days before Roe vs. Wade. The astute combination of words and drawings with some of the most difficult aspects of this political subject matter gives new meaning to the phrase "The handwriting on the wall." Karen Finley has been a central figure in the world of performance art since the early 1980's. Her latest work, "We Keep Our Victims Ready," was performed at the Kitchen in April 1990. She has also performed at PS 122, Pyramid Club, The Tunnel, Frankfurt Art Fair, Alice Tully Hall, The Cat Club, La Mama, L.A.C.E., W.O.W., S.U.N.Y. Purchase, and many other performances spaces throughout the U.S. and Europe. Her paintings have been shown at White Columns, Real art Ways (Hartford), Hallwalls (Buffalo) Loughelton Gallery, Mo David Gallery, PS 122 Gallery and 8 B.C. Her written work has appeared in Artforum, City Lights Review, The Drama Review among others. "Why Can't This Veal Calf Walk?" appeared in Summer '89 issue of the Whole Earth Review. Finley is the recipient of numerous artists' fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, Art Matters, Inc., New York Foundation for the Arts, the Jerome Foundation as well as receiving the 1987 Bessie Award. Franklin Furnace is a museum for published and multiple art; a library of reference materials on this field of contemporary art; and an archive of unique documents which may be used to interpret works in the permanent collection. Founded by artist Martha Wilson in 1976 and still run by artists today, Franklin Furnace exhibits the historical avant-garde, and presents contemporary temporal art - artists' books, performance art, and temporary installations - which explore time as the new medium of this century. Franklin Furnace gratefully acknowledges funds received for this installation from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency; the New York State Council on the Arts; and the friends and Members of Franklin Furnace. XXX

Proposal Information:

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