30 For 30: Chicks Telling It Like It Is
To celebrate Women’s History Month, we’re featuring items from the PWP Archives* each day on this blog. In looking back, we see not only where we started, but how far photography, women, and the world have come since 1975.
Since the start of PWP, seeing the work and hearing the stories of other women photographers has been crucial. These talks inform, instruct, and inspire. Through changes in technology, aesthetics, and meeting places, they remain the beating heart of PWP. Here’s a quick look at some of the wonderful speakers we’ve had over the years:
Speakers Frances McLaughlin-Gill, Eva Rubinstein, members gathered for a PWP talk, 1970s-80s
Many of the women who spoke in the first years of PWP were either early members or big supporters of the group. This image from the late 1980s or early 1990s pictures Erika Stone (left), Raeanne Rubenstein (center), with Mariette Pathy Allen who was president of PWP in the 1990s:
Erika Stone, Raeanne Rubinstein, Mariette Pathy Allen
When PWP celebrated some of the pioneering legends of women’s photography in the early 2000s, Erika Stone was a vibrant participant (center photo, bottom right, and right photo to the left of Ruth Gruber).
PWP’s Pioneers of Photography evening
It was a popular, all-star evening. In the left picture above former PWP president Katherine Criss speaks with Rebecca Lepkoff. The center image above features Tequila Minsky, Rebecca Lepkoff, Nancy Reynolds, Katherine Criss (top row, left to right); Ruth Gruber and Erika Stone (bottom row, left to right). The right image above shows Erika Stone and Ruth Gruber, who is holding up her book Witness.
PWP member Catherine Steinmann with Rebecca Lepkoff; Ruth Gruber; Nancy Reynolds
These ladies were movers and shakers, and they came prepared to work the room and sign books. Their spirit was tremendous. Another speaker whose unshakable spirit moved PWP was handicapped, near-blind photographer Flo Fox:
Flo Fox speaking at PWP (with then president Beth Portnoi Shaw), and out taking pictures
Memory runs deep for members of the organization. In a short video, Dianora Niccolini, PWP’s first president, reflects on an early studio photo of the group: Dianora Niccolini on the studio group image
– Catherine Kirkpatrick
*The PWP Archives were acquired by the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, & Rare Book Library of Emory University
Links to all the 30 For 30 Women’s History Month blogs:
Help Me Please! Hopelessly Waiting…
Exhibition and Anger
Spreading the Word
Early Ads On Paper
Cards and Letters
A Lady, a Truck, a Singing Dog
Women of Vision
A Show of Their Own
Taking It To the Street
Sisters of Sister Cities
Sold!
Education and More
Face of a Changing City
Digital Enabling
Expanding Walls and Other Possibilities
A Wonderful Life–Lady Style
Branding–the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
The Great Change Sweeps In
PWP Goes Live!
Honoring the Upcoming
Continuity Through Change
Reaching Out
Eye a Woman Naked
Rapidly Multiplying Alternative Options
Women In the World, As Themselves
Kudos!
Friends Who Overcame and Inspired
Reversing the Gaze
Photography and More
Chicks Telling It Like It Is
Looking Back With Thanks