Oral History Collection From The Archives Of American Art

Judy Chicago's bold do-it-yourself attitude empowered her to make her own reality in the art world. In this excerpt from an interview conducted in 2009 for the Archives of American Art, she talks about her major collaborative piece, The Dinner Party, an installation of place settings for 39 mythical and historical famous women. When The Dinner Party was first exhibited in 1979 to critical acclaim, Chicago was surprised that it also generated controversy. This interview was funded by the Terra Foundation for American Art. The first voice you will hear is interviewer Judith Richards.