Judy Chicago: The Crowning Needlepoint, 1983
Widely viewed as the most ecofeminist of all Chicago’s works to date, ‘The Crowning Needlepoint 3’ (1983) is a radiant and refreshing depiction of the birth process and its inherent connection to flora and the earth’s natural terrain. This decorative textile piece is significant to the understanding and growing prominence of ecofeminism in art as Chicago successfully addresses feminism, ecology, spirituality and flora all in one artwork. This piece demonstrates that the act of giving birth is not merely a physical act, but an emotional and spiritual one also. A display of needlepoint mounted on fabric covered board, one cannot overlook the divinity of the female ‘empowered in this life-giving act’(Dickson,2012,p83). This is contextually poignant to my practice as Chicago highlights the beauty of the birth process, empowering the female within society.

Judy Chicago, The Crowning Needlepoint 3, (1983)
This reinterpretation of the myth of genesis from a female point of view, not only gives power to the female, but also affirms woman as ‘the creator’; exemplifying how woman and the natural world are intrinsically interwoven. As mentioned, the all-female, collaborative aspect to Chicago’s collection of 84 textile tapestries celebrates these feminate themes of craft, and motherhood (Dickson,2012,p81). Working with needlework and embroidery, materials historically rebuffed by men as ‘women’s crafts, Chicago liberates the female, paying tribute to unsung heroines. Within this embroidered piece specifically, a direct connection to botany and womanhood can be identified through Chicago’s golden light emitted from a ‘flowering vagina’. In this sense her symbolism is not dissimilar to O’Keeffe. Yet Chicago takes ecofeminist theory one step further; not only is this innate relationship identified, but Chicago indirectly confronts notions of patriarchal social politics by embellishing the vulva with a regal crown. Here, Chicago rejects traditionalist beliefs that the degradation of nature coincides with the oppression of women. She instead sheds a literal ‘golden light’(Dickson,2012,p84) on what was considered a shameful process resulting from a sinful deed, presenting birth as noble, divine and most importantly, ‘natural’.