The Pink Glass Swan

Ostensibly the topic of these essays is women and contemporary art; however, given the author's own activism, it offers a much broader reading of alternative culture, its politics and practices. A feminist and journalist, Lippard has been penning her accounts of the art world with the acumen of an experienced foot soldier since the early '70s. This collection brings together works from various publications, including the Village Voice, Z and the Nation, along with selections from three of Lippard's previous books, including From the Center: Feminist Essays on Woman's Art. What begins with a commitment to art by women, evolves into an even more radical commitment to change. Having initially worked as a writer in New York to bring women into the mainstream, Lippard ends up establishing herself firmly in the margins: her most recent essays champion global cross-cultural exchanges that take place well outside the limits of the established art world. Her subjects include the well-known feminist artist Judy Chicago and the infamous Guerrilla Girls, as well as the less-known ``Garbage Girls'' (artists who make art from trash). Her frankly opinionated writing is clear and concise, characterized by a welcome sense of critical flexibility. Lippard calls it as she sees it--albeit sometimes mistakenly--to make accessible the work and politics of many vital and lesser-known artists working today. (Mar.)