Counting, cover-ups, and consciousness-raising: strategies for a more inclusive and feminist (art) world.

In this presentation, feminist artist and activist Micol Hebron will discuss the tenets of her philosophy of "Feminism 4D" through examples of feminist projects, initiatives, and interventions that challenge, reject, and re-envision arts institutions both physical and philosophical. Feminism 4D is a proposal for daily living that integrates feminist thought and action, and draws connections between the personal and the political, the everyday and the artistic, the individual and the community. Hebron embraces the idea that change begins at home, and starts by applying feminist activism to her own body and actions. In addition to describing her tenets of Feminism 4D and helping listeners develop their own F4D tenets, she will discuss two of her feminist initiatives: Gallery Tally (2013-present) and the Digital Nipple Pasty, and will offer some performative strategies for addressing institutions that have insufficient amounts of womxn artists on view. Hebron will identify and discuss the challenges, successes, and questions that have emerged through her feminist organizing initiatives. She will discuss how feminism is inherent in the strategies of counting (ratios of male/female artists in galleries, the number of women artists on the cover of leading art magazines, the number of female directors of museums, etc), cover-ups (responding literally to the sexist double standards that permit male nipples online, but prohibit female nipples) and consciousness-raising (through Feminist Friday Conversations or Feminist Summer Camp think-tanks). Lastly, she will share an effective, interventionist performance art tactic that anyone can employ in museums to help draw attention to women artists.