ABSTRACT
At the beginning of the feminist movement, the artist, art, issues and audiences were fresh. Women artists plunged into previously taboo subjects and materials—autobiography, politics, rape, silk, and blood—and exhibited these in the new feminist alternative spaces and all-women shows to be seen by the new audience of other women. The spectrum of spiritual feminism ranges from an all-out, literal adoration of the Great Goddess to a more abstract belief in intense, emotional and mystical bonds among women, which create a women's spiritual community. Lacy and Stevens are deeply involved in the intense and lively feminist art communities of Los Angeles and New York respectively. Communities and networks among women also constitute a pivotal theme in the art of Lacy and Stevens, as they do in that of many others in the movement. Such artists are working on the creation of powerful visual forms for, and images and symbols of these past, present, future, imagined and real networks and communities.
