The Dinner Party

Rating All Ages Genre non fiction Publisher Merrell

Imagine a huge dining room with an equilateral-triangularly shaped table, with 39 place settings. Visualize each setting with its own large, unique ceramic-art platter resting on an intricate, detailed needlework runner, and realize that each place setting honors a different woman in history. What you might have imagined is an exhibit called The Dinner Party.

Such an exhibit really exists and this book tells all about it. The exhibit, arguably the largest, most beautiful, powerful and impressive artistic tribute to the history of women, was created and sent on tour in the 1970's. It was conceived, designed and directed by Judy Chicago, but the execution of the project required numerous volunteers and months of labor to complete. After 20+ years of international touring and controversy, the exhibit at long last found a home at the Elizabeth Sackler Center for Feminist Art in New York.

This book chronicles this amazing project's history, but the best thing about the book is the photography of the elegant ceramic and needlework pieces of the exhibit, as well as information about each of the women honored. The format and presentation of this book is actually similar to previous books on this subject. However, this new edition is different from any others, and includes some photos and information not captured previously. Its comprehensive nature makes this edition the best choice to own if you would wish to buy only one book on this subject. If you are a fan already in possession of previous books, you will certainly want to add this one to your collection as well.