Join the Chicago Public Library in its annual observance of Women’s History Month featuring a variety of programs highlighting the achievements and contributions that women have made to the visual arts.

The opening program for Women’s History Month 2010 is “Tragedy to Triumph – The Story of Artemisia,” a uniquely inspiring music/multimedia performance about 17th century Italian painter Artemisia Gentileschi. This contemporary piece features Linda M. Smith on vocals, guitar and piano with Eugenia Elliott on vocal harmony, flute and guitar, Katherine Hughes on vocal harmony and violin and Robert Arendt on vocal harmony, electric bass and guitar. Smith’s passionate and soulful style weaves poetry, music and video of Artemisia’s work to communicate the intriguing life story of the best known female artist in western art history before the modern era.

Find out more about women’s contribution to the visual arts.

Find out more about women’s history.

Find exhibits by local women artists at neighborhood libraries.

Women’s History Month Calendar of Events
Please check the Chicago Library website for any program changes in this section.

Art Tour of the Harold Washington Library Center
Tuesday, March 2, 2:00 p.m.
Harold Washington Library Center
1st Floor Lobby

Celebration of Women through Chinese Traditional Song
Tuesday, March 2, 6:00 p.m.
Harold Washington Library Center
Cindy Pritzker Auditorium

Origami Ornaments: Create a Kusudama
Thursday, March 4, 4:00 p.m.
West Lawn Branch

Tragedy to Triumph-The Story of Artemisia
Thursday, March 4, 6:00 p.m.
Harold Washington Library Center
Cindy Pritzker Auditorium

Art for Mothers and Daughters
Saturday, March 6, 2:00 p.m.
Sulzer Regional Library

Art Tour of the Harold Washington Library Center
Tuesday, March 9, 2:00 p.m.
Harold Washington Library Center
1st Floor Lobby

Learn to Knit: Knitting Basics
Wednesday, March 10, 4:00 p.m.
Rogers Park Branch

Women of the White House!
Wednesday, March 10, 4:00 p.m.
Legler Branch

Origami for Kids
Thursday, March 11, 3:30 p.m.
Mabel Manning Branch

Jan’s Clan’s Puppets
Friday, March 12, 10:30 a.m.
Woodson Regional Library

Honoring Georgia O’Keeffe’s Art
Saturday, March 13, 11:00 a.m.
North Pulaski Branch

The Power of Glamour: Screen Goddesses of Hollywood’s Golden Age
Saturday, March 13, 2:00 p.m.
Edgebrook Branch

Great Women of History: Jacqueline Kennedy
Saturday, March 13, 3:00 p.m.
King Branch

Art Tour of the Harold Washington Library Center
Tuesday, March 16, 2:00 p.m.
Harold Washington Library Center
1st Floor Lobby

Through the Eyes of Women-Famous Visual Artists
Tuesday, March 16, 4:00 p.m.
Beverly Branch

Learn to Knit: Knitting Basics
Tuesday, March 16, 4:00 p.m.
West Belmont Branch

Meet Mary Cassatt: An American Artist
Thursday, March 18, 3:30 p.m.
Garfield Ridge Branch

Through the Eyes of Women-Famous Visual Artists
Thursday, March 18, 4:00 p.m.
Toman Branch

Women’s Collective Art Practice in Chicago: 1937-2007
Thursday, March 18, 6:00 p.m.
Harold Washington Library Center
Video Theatre, Lower Level

Meet Mary Cassatt: An American Artist
Friday, March 19, 11:00 a.m.
Roden Branch

Honoring Georgia O’Keeffe’s Art
Saturday, March 20, 1:00 p.m.
McKinley Park

The Power of Glamour: Screen Goddesses of Hollywood’s Golden Age
Saturday, March 20, 2:00 p.m.
Roosevelt Branch

Meet Mary Cassatt: An American Artist
Monday, March 22, 11:00 a.m.
Jefferson Park

Origami Ornaments: Create a Kusudama
Monday, March 22, 3:30 p.m.
Walker Branch

Art Tour of the Harold Washington Library Center
Tuesday, March 23, 2:00 p.m.
Harold Washington Library Center
1st Floor Lobby

Through the Eyes of Women-Famous Visual Artists
Tuesday, March 23, 4:00 p.m.
Scottsdale Branch

Through the Eyes of Women-Famous Visual Artists
Wednesday, March 24, 11:00 a.m.
Harold Washington Library Center
Multipurpose Room (Lower Level)

Documentary Film Screenings: Conversation with Women Artists
Wednesday, March 24, 6:00 p.m.
Harold Washington Library Center
Video Theatre

Through the Eyes of Women-Famous Visual Artists
Thursday, March 25, 1:00 p.m.
Vodak-Eastside Branch

Origami Ornaments: Create a Kusudama
Thursday, March 25, 4:00 p.m.
Humboldt Park Branch

The Beatrix Potter Collection
Friday, March 26, 11:00 a.m.
Clearing Branch

Art for Mothers and Daughters
Saturday, March 27, 2:00 p.m.
Portage Cragin Branch

Great Women of History: Jacqueline Kennedy
Monday, March 29, 6:30 p.m.
Austin-Irving Branch

Art Tour of the Harold Washington Library Center
Tuesday, March 30, 2:00 p.m.
Harold Washington Library Center
1st Floor Lobby

Documentary Film Screenings: Conversations with Women Artists
Wednesday, March 31, 6:00 p.m.
Harold Washington Library Center
Video Theatre