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Dear Ulrike Mueller.

The political ideas generated by the Feminist Art movement have colored my life. The most important ideas for me were that women artists had value, that the materials women chose to use for art were acceptable and that sharing and collaborating with other women artists was a valid way to work.
    I waited quite a while to have children because I saw so few women artists balancing family and work successfully.
     After CalArts, I worked in various fields as a designer to survive. I now teach art to visually impaired adults. I address many of the same feminist issues with my students. They are "invisible" or out of the mainstream because they are handicapped and often elderly. I encourage them to value their instincts, opinions and ultimately themselves.
     I am doing my own work, very slowly, as time allows. I show occasionally, but am not actively pursuing a career as an exhibiting artist. I am the sole support of my family of four, at this time. My husband, a painter, is pursuing a career. We both spend much time nurturing our daughter, who is a talented dancer, and our son, who is active in sports.

 

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    I teach and work with four other women artists. We work in different media, often have different perspectives, but we respect and value each others' opinions. We collaborate on projects and classes, bounce ideas off one another, share our work and problems. We all struggle to maintain family, work, art and find adequate time for all.
    I have felt frustrated by the many problems and committements of work, family, and finance to find that peaceful, relaxed state of mind I need to do art. I am joining with other women artists to form a support group to address the issues of women artists.

I look forward to hearing from you.
My best wishes for your project.

Yours truly,


Dori Atlantis