Judy Chicago (American, b. 1939). The Dinner Party, 1974–79. Ceramic, porcelain, textile, 576 x 576 in. (1463 x 1463 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Elizabeth A. Sackler Foundation, 2002.10. © Judy Chicago. Photo: © Aislinn Weidele for Polshek Partnership Architects
Long-Term Installation
Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art, 4th Floor
The Dinner Party, an important icon of 1970s feminist art and a milestone in twentieth-century art, is presented as the centerpiece around which the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art is organized. The Dinner Party comprises a massive ceremonial banquet, arranged on a triangular table with a total of thirty-nine place settings, each commemorating an important woman from history. The settings consist of embroidered runners, gold chalices and utensils, and china-painted porcelain plates with raised central motifs that are based on vulvar and butterfly forms and rendered in styles appropriate to the individual women being honored. The names of another 999 women are inscribed in gold on the white tile floor below the triangular table. This permanent installation is enhanced by rotating Herstory Gallery exhibitions relating to the 1,038 women honored at the table.
The Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art was established through the generosity of the Elizabeth A. Sackler Foundation.
Media
Visit the website for The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago.
Cell Phone Tour
Visitors can use their cell phones to learn more about the artwork.
Visit the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center website.
Talk
Visitor comments
Very impressive! Now I saw The Dinner Party in real. Missing was Hadewijch of Antwerp, a mystical beguin, song writer and teacher, who lives in the Middle Ages.
Enjoyed the Dinner Party but missed Dolores Huerta who fought just as hard as Cesar Chavez and still is given second billing and on this occasion totally overlooked. She did this while raising a bunch of kids.
Loved this exhibit. This space is so important for women. After I left, I imaged all of the names I would put into a continuation of this project: Gloria Anzaldua, bell hooks, Patricia Hill Collins, Andrea Smith....the list goes on.
I am glad to see the name of Frida Kahlo in the list of the 999 Women of Achievement. She is a symbol of our Latina heritage and has become a major heroine in the feminist are movement.
wowzers,
Wouldn't it be nice if you could have The Dinner Party books reprinted and offer them for sale? Also Judy Chicago's posters?
Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum
