Women and the Changing Contexts of Esoteric Art presented by The Golden Dome School
This class will explore the changing category of esoteric art from the “Occult revival” of the nineteenth century to the present day, with a focus on the women who have pioneered and innovated within the genre. I will be addressing women’s visual art, performance, and installation in exploring the different historical contexts in which esoteric art has emerged and how it has been received, ranging from early movements such as Symbolism and Surrealism, to the impact of Theosophy and Spiritualism. We will look at artists such as Florence Farr, Hilma af Klint, Georgiana Houghton, Ithell Colquhoun, Betye Saar, and a wave of contemporary artists such as Tai Shani, Saya Woolfalk, and even Bjork who are reconfiguring the boundaries of this exciting and fluctuating category.
Bio:
Dr. Amy Hale is an anthropologist and folklorist writing about esoteric history, art, and culture. Her biography of Ithell Colquhoun, Genius of the Fern Loved Gully, is available from Strange Attractor Press, and she is also the editor of Essays on Women in Western Esotericism: Beyond Seeresses and Sea Priestesses (Palgrave Macmillan). Other writings can be found at her Medium site https://medium.com/@amyhale93 and her website www.amyhale.me.