I can remember my first period as a rather disappointing event. There was so much build up to the grand event, the idea of it being a "passage into womanhood" and all, that I wasn't quite sure what to expect of it. When it finally did occur, I remember being struck by just how natural it felt; I wasn't excited, ashamed, embarrassed, and I certainly didn't feel any special sense of maturity was ushered in with the tiny stain of blood. Perhaps my reaction is unique. I only became interested in my monthly cycle later in my life when I discovered an entire counter-culture of sorts centered around menstruation. I was excited to find websites, books, forums, and articles dedicated to changing the negative (or ambivalent) attitude that seems to be dominant.
One of my favorite examples of this rather provocative cultural revolution comes in the form of artist Vanessa Tiegs (http://spiralingmoon.livejournal.com/). In an attempt to take the stigma and "gross factor" out of menstruation, Vanessa creates beautiful and elegant paintings with her menstrual blood. I saw her work and found it beautiful before I knew the origin of the "paint" on the canvas. Her paintings utilize delicate strokes that are reminiscent of more Eastern styles, which emphasize the importance of each individual line and curve to the picture as a whole. Once I learned the magic ingredient and thus the underlying message of her work, I immediately gained a new sense of admiration and respect for her as an artist and a woman. Not once did I feel a twinge of disgust or shock. How could I; I knew from the first drop that this blood was all as natural as breathing or eating or sleeping. And it is unique to women, I like that. Only women can bleed like women. And here a fellow woman was using what she had inside her, literally and figuratively, to express and to change.
Menstrual art has taken other forms in the art world. I recall a display in the window of a fashion design studio in Los Angeles that proudly displayed a dress made entirely of tampons, some used, some new. Every time I passed it on Hollywood Blvd. I always found time to stop and study the dress for a few moments. Without a doubt it was the most provocative piece on display and I couldn't help but notice that while the other pieces were changed and rotated regularly, the tampon dress remained untouched. I remember mentioning this to some friends while out on the town one night and I heard a young man sitting at the bar next to us quip, "No one probably wanted to touch the damn thing!" Let's say that's true: Doesn't that perfectly demonstrate the power of the piece?
Perhaps the first piece of "Menstrual Art" to shock the shit out of the art world was "Red Flag" by Judy Chicago in 1971. It's a simple lithograph showing a woman removing a bloody tampon. The blood on the tampon is tinted a bright, defiant red and conversely all other colors in the pictures are muted, making the title "Red Flag" obviously appropriate. Red Flag now hangs proudly (as proud as a tampon string perhaps?) in the Museum of Menstruation and Women's Health(http://www.mum.org/).
I heartily recommend exploring the gallery at MUM-'tis good for your soul. Who wouldn't feel strangely uplifted by the rather coy piece by Ria Lee: a seemingly typical plastic ballerina in a pristine white tutu in the midst of an arabesque atop her music box who, upon closer inspection, has a subtle, tell-tale trail of blood running down her thigh. And she doesn't seem a bit concerned about ruining her nice little outfit and being ridiculed and taunted by the other toys. And to be quite honest, I admire that kind of attitude in art.
About the Author
Jenny Stein is a writer/artist/photographer/activist/bum currently located in Los Angeles. She lives in a basement apartment where she gets to watch bad shoes walk by all day. She is a self-professed bibliophile that enjoys fiery debates, people watching, and making friends with bums. Her favorite place to be is the subway, where you can get proposed to by a religious whacko, hear witty repartee between two bums, and win a debate with a stranger without speaking a word.
She dreams of traveling spontaneously for absolutely no reason. If she can keep her friends laughing when she's 99.9 years old then she will consider herself a success. Cheese is awesome.
Jenny is also the Sexuality Editor and Funny Grrrls Editor for Empowerment4Women. You can e-mail her at
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A Poem in Praise of Menstruation by Lucile Clifton
If there is a river More beautiful than this Bright as the blood Red edge of the moon if There is a river More faithful than this Returning each month To the same delta if there
Is a river Braver than this Coming and coming in a surge Of passion, of pain if there is
A river More ancient than this Daughter of Eve Mother of Cain and of Abel if there is in
The universe such a river if There is somewhere water More powerful than this wild Water
Pray that it flows also Through animals Beautiful and faithful and ancient And female and brave
Confidence I love this piece! It embodies so many truths that we sometimes can not see until someone eloquently spells it out, lit...
Meet the Cover Artist
Malgorzata Jasinska: Artist Statement
My curse is my gift. My nightmares, deep sensitivity, and emotional instability gives the best (and most uncomfortable) inspirations I could ever have. For me, art is passion - and visions are the mirror, which show my feelings and connect me with the rest of the world. Read More...
Menstrual art has taken other forms in the art world. I recall a display in the window of a fashion design studio in Los Angeles that proudly displayed a dress made entirely of tampons, some used, some new. Every time I passed it on Hollywood Blvd. I always found time to stop and study the dress for a few moments. Without a doubt it was the most provocative piece on display and I couldn't help but notice that while the other pieces were changed and rotated regularly, the tampon dress remained untouched. I remember mentioning this to some friends while out on the town one night and I heard a young man sitting at the bar next to us quip, "No one probably wanted to touch the damn thing!" Let's say that's true: Doesn't that perfectly demonstrate the power of the piece?
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