Credibility as an artist is built up in a plethora of ways. Gaining awards, residencies, shows and being featured in publications all adds to the aura of success.
Abergavenny Library
A few months ago, I was in my local library in Abergavenny and it struck me that there are a disproportionately high number of artist-painter monographs (books about individual artists) about men compared to women. There are 36 on men versus 3 on women, 2 of which are in the local studies area. Seeing such a disproportionate number of artist books featuring men is dispiriting and perpetuating a world where women are so often not seen as professional in the art field.
Then, in august, on the way to see family, I stopped in Newbury for lunch and, naturally for me, called in to have a browse at the central library.
Newbury library is much bigger than Abergavenny and there were several shelves worth of books on individual male painters, I counted 100 books - and only 3 on individual female painters!
I spoke to a member of library staff, who was shocked and suggested I send a list of books on female painters, which I have. So far I don’t know if they have acted on it, I hope so, but I am well aware of the funding shortage in local services and so I am thinking of plans B, C and D to sort out this inequality.
My aim is to have an equal number of painter monographs on woman artists as men, starting with my local library.
I would love to know how your local library fares in their representation of each gender with their selection of books on individual painters!
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