Faith Wilding's Fearful Symmetries

Book excerpt: Deeply influenced by studies of female iconology, the medieval, the subconscious, and hybrid bodies, Faith Wilding's art is instantly recognizable. In keeping with Wilding's own artworks, this book is a bricolage: memoirs and watercolors sit alongside critical essays and family photographs to form an overall history of both Wilding's life and works as well as the wider feminist art movement of the 1970s and beyond. This collection spans fifty years of Wilding's artistic production, feminist art pedagogy, and participation in, and organizing of, feminist art collectives, such as the Feminist Art Program, Womanhouse, Womanspace Gallery, and the Woman's Building. Featuring contributions from scholars and artists, including Amelia Jones, the book is the first of its kind to celebrate the career of an artist who helped shape the feminist art of today. Intimate, philosophical, and insightful, Faith Wilding's Fearful Symmetries is a beautiful book intended for artists, scholars, and a broader audience.