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Arlene Raven

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Arlene Raven was a highly influential figure in the world of art. She was an art historian, a critic, a curator, and an educator. Raven played a central role in the Feminist Art Movement. This movement sought to support women artists. It also aimed to provide them with chances to show their work. These artists wanted to create art about their specific experiences as women. Raven believed that art should reflect shared social contexts and lived experiences.

Raven used many different methods to support these goals. In 1973, she co-founded the Feminist Studio Workshop. She worked alongside Judy Chicago and Sheila Levrant de Bretteville to create this school. The workshop was an independent art school. It was eventually located in the Los Angeles Woman's Building. The school focused on cooperation, collaboration, and sisterhood. It allowed working individuals to grow through a shared community. Raven also co-founded the Center for Feminist Art Historical Studies. This center focused on serious research regarding women artists. They developed a specific feminist art historical methodology. They also created a slide archive to preserve the work of women.

Raven's work included several distinct types of leadership. She was a founding member of the Women's Caucus for Art. In 1976, she also helped found The Lesbian Art Project. As a lesbian herself, Raven used this group to explore lesbianism through art. Members researched past artists, such as the painter Romaine Brooks. They also questioned the cultural meaning of the term "lesbian." Additionally, Raven served as an editor for the magazine Chrysalis. This publication focused on women's culture. Her work spanned teaching, writing, organizing shows, and researching history.

Raven's academic journey provided a strong foundation for her career. She was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 12, 1944. Her parents were Joseph and Annette Rubin. She earned an Artium Baccalaureatus from Hood College in 1965. She then moved on to advanced graduate studies. She earned an MFA in painting from George Washington University. In 1975, she completed a PhD in art history from Johns Hopkins University. These academic achievements allowed her to become a leading expert in her field.

Throughout her career, Raven achieved significant professional milestones. In the 1980s, she became the chief art critic for the Village Voice. She also curated ten different exhibitions. These shows were held at institutions like the Baltimore Museum of Art. One notable exhibition was titled "At Home." This show gathered artists and ideas she had championed for a decade. In 2000, she became the critic-in-residence at the Rinehart School of Sculpture. This was at the Maryland Institute College of Art. In 2002, she received the Frank Jewett Mather Award. This award recognizes excellence in art criticism from the College Art Association.

Raven was a prolific author who wrote nine books. These books explored themes of art, identity, and social concern. Some of her notable titles include "Feminist Art Criticism: An Anthology" from 1988. She also wrote "Crossing Over: Feminism and Art of Social Concern" in 1988. Another book was "Art in the Public Interest," published in 1989. She wrote monographs about specific artists as well. These included works on Nancy Grossman and June Wayne. Her writing helped define how people study feminist art history.

Raven's influence extended to many major educational institutions. She taught at the California Institute of the Arts and UCLA. She also taught at the University of Southern California. Other schools included Parsons The New School for Design and the Maryland Institute College of Art. She even taught at The New School for Social Research. Her career connected the worlds of academia, journalism, and museum curation. She lived in Brooklyn, New York, for much of her life. Raven died of cancer on August 1, 2006. She was 62 years old. She was survived by her father, her sister, and her life partner of 23 years, Nancy Grossman.

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