According to the ethos of the late 1800s and early 1900s, a woman's natural destiny was to be a wife, mother, and guardian of the virtues of hearth and home. Some women wanted more, however, and despite cultural expectations chose to explore their creativity and seek training in art. Often at considerable social cost, these women exchanged washboards, ovens, and mending baskets for the challenges of a piece of canvas or block of stone. In Skirting...

This documentary explores the lives of women who pursued careers as professional artists during the early twentieth century. Includes interviews with an artist of the era as well as historians, art curators, and specialists in the field. The stories of these Hoosier artists offer insight into the culture and values of the greater Midwest during this period.