Will Bowen | Downtown News

“52 percent of the population of America are women, yet there are only five museums dedicated to women in the whole country — and we are one of those five,” said Ashley Gardener, a former TV and radio personality, who is now the executive director of the Women’s Museum, located at 2730 Historic Decatur Road, in Liberty Station.

“People should know more about women’s history,” advised Gardner. “Women have been left out of history and left out of the political process, at least until about 100 years ago, when we finally got the vote.”

This last August the Women’s Museum moved from its former location in Golden Hill to its new headquarters at the reconverted Barracks 16 at Liberty Station and in the process, expanded from 1,000 to 3,000 square feet.

“We are trying to step it up a notch and move closer to the museum standards, established by the American Association of Museums, necessary for national accreditation,” Gardner said. “There are only 10 museums in all of San Diego that have attained that level.”

The original museum, founded in 1983 by the late Mary Maschal, was housed in her Golden Hill home for many years. As a child, Maschal wanted to become a minister but was prevented from that vocation by her gender. This lead Maschal to search out inspirational women who had transcended the limitations placed upon them by society. Maschal also hoped to reclaim women’s history and bring to light what had been left out of the history books regarding women.

Maschal began to collect clothes, books, and other memorabilia from high-functioning women and in the process began what she called “The Women’s History Reclamation Project.”

In 1996, Maschal’s collection was moved out of her house and into a small museum in Golden Hill. Gardner joined the board of the museum in 2002 and was elected president four years later in 2006.

“I was introduced to the museum and Maschal’s work when I was working with Ron Roberts on the San Diego County Commission’s study on the status of women in San Diego. Over time I have become more and more involved with her work,” says Gardner.

The present day Woman’s Museum occupies two floors at Barracks 16. The upper floor has offices, archives, and a library.  Downstairs there is an art gallery and a gift shop.

The current exhibit in the art gallery, which will run until Feb. 24, is called “Capturing the Wonder of Women.”

Gardner said the show reflects the museum’s search for “Wonder Women” – female heroes and role models who are exceptional and extraordinary. It includes sculpture, mixed media, videos, photography, and paintings.

Capturing the Wonder of Women was curated by UCSD lecturer Li Huai, who was educated at the Beijing Film School in China and Cal Arts here in California. Huai said the current exhibition celebrates the museum’s move to a new location and is an opportunity to contemplate the depth and strength of women. Huai sent out over 700 invitations to artists to participate in the show and selected 47 works from the 150 submitted.

“The relocation of the Women’s Museum of California to the lovely environs of Liberty Station is a most welcome development,” Huai said. “The move constitutes a new beginning. Capturing the Wonder of Women celebrates this important moment of transition.

“Viewers can reflect on striking and challenging visual images that treat many cultural, social, political, and economic dimensions of women of the past, present, and future. This exhibition captures the rich diversity of women and presents a testament to the vitality, resilience, and potential of women in California,” he said.

The show was juried by Robert Pincus, who was an arts reporter at the San Diego Union newspaper for many years.

First place and a $1000 cash prize went to Angela Dominquez Burris for a life-sized black and white self-portrait. Lee Putter took second place for an extravagant life-sized sculpture. Third place went to by Claudia Cano for a photograph of a maid in a kitchen entitled “La Cha Cha.”

Gardner said that there are plans to place six new historical exhibits in the art gallery, in and among the art work. The exhibits will be called “California Trailblazers” and include a Hall of Fame of important women in San Diego history, such as Kate Sessions, Ellen Browning Scripps, Madge Bradley (first woman on the Superior Court), and Midge Constanza (on former President Jimmy Carter’s advisory committee).

Gardner said the museum serves up to 100 students per year from local high schools and colleges who come to work as interns. Gardner offers classes, presents speakers, and the public can use the library for research by appointment. The museum also puts on an annual fund-raising benefit called the “Wine, Cheese, and Chocolate Festival” each June 14 in Spanish Village at Balboa Park.

From her position as executive director of the museum, Gardner said she has come to some conclusions.

“Men and woman are definitely different in how they see things,” she said. “There is a woman’s point of view, which seems to look at things more through consensus rather than competition, conflict, or adversary – which is more the domain of men.

“In government, women are the type who would build coalitions. Women also seem to be better at multi-tasking, while men are more focused. Women are more open to work in teams, while men like to go it alone.

“But the main thing I would like to correct is that there are a lot of women in the world who do not have the equality that they should have,” she said.

The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 12 noon to 4 p.m. For further information see womensmuseumca.org or call 619-233-7963.

Will Bowen writes about arts and culture. You can reach him at [email protected].