Shriver unveils 'remarkable women' exhibit at state museum
Thursday May 13, 2004
By JIM WASSERMAN
Associated Press Writer
SACRAMENTO (AP) California is famous for its sunsets, mountains and Hollywood. But its women are also something to behold.
That's the theme behind a new state museum exhibit that salutes some of the biggest names in California's history more than 200 women from astronaut Sally Ride to television chef Julia Child.
It's the brainchild of first lady Maria Shriver.
Shriver, saying she quickly noticed a prominent lack of women's images in the state Capitol, spurred the state Department of Parks and Recreation early this year to produce a major exhibit on women pioneers and other standouts in the arts, business, sports, entertainment and the social world.
``This exhibit is about women who didn't contain themselves in any way,'' Shriver said during ceremonies unveiling the show Wednesday night. ``Each of them pushed their own boundaries and in so doing, opened the possibilities for all us.
``In every endeavor,'' she added, ``California women have shined. I hope this exhibit will show the country, this state and the world that the California girl is proudly uncontained.''
The exhibit, opening Thursday at the California State History Museum near the Capitol, testifies to numerous influences of California women inside the state and beyond. While spotlighting dozens of world-renowned superstars and celebrities, it displays three Academy Awards won by actress Elizabeth Taylor, the ice skates of Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi, and a black dress worn by actress Julia Roberts as she received a Golden Globe award.
But it also honors 91-year-old molecular biologist Marguerite Vogt, still working at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, and former slave Bridget ``Biddie'' Mason, who became one of the first black landowners in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles eye surgeon Patricia Bath, inventor of a laser device that transformed cataract removal surgery, called herself ``proud to be a part of this,'' saying, ``I've been in California since 1974, and this is my first knowledge of such an event.''
A jury of historians, curators and prominent Californians picked a broad range of achievers that includes Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, novelist Amy Tan, radio personality Dr. Laura Schlesinger and the late Ruth Handler, inventor of the Barbie doll. Among others: the late Amelia Earhart, who received her pilot's license in Long Beach in 1922, the late Joan Kroc, who donated millions of dollars from her McDonald's fortune to charities and Julia ``Butterfly'' Hill, who occupied a redwood tree for more than two years until 1999 and ``drew worldwide attention to the campaign to save old growth forests.''
``I feel like I came from a great family of remarkable women,'' Shriver said while leading a tour earlier Wednesday. ``I continue to be inspired by them.''
She offered special praise for the late architect Julia Morgan, who became the first woman to graduate from L'Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris, in 1902, then designed scores of buildings throughout California, including Hearst Castle.
``I love her. She's so extraordinary. So ahead of her time,'' Shriver said.
The exhibit features what Shriver called a ``red carpet of opportunity,'' a stroll designed to impress young women of the wide array of careers available to them, from judge and archaeologist to mayor and wife. The walk ends before a sign where women can be photographed as ``California's first woman governor.''
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)