Friday 27 March 2009

textiles and feminism, or, 'I wish I could be in Toronto'

from my inbox...

///////////////////////////////////////////

She Will Always Be Younger Than Us

Textile Museum of Canada
55 Centre Avenue
Toronto, Ontario

February 11 - September 7, 2009

She Will Always Be Younger Than Us focuses on contemporary artists working with fiber and feminist concepts, concurrent with a retrospective of the textile works of Judy Chicago. The exhibit includes the Nike Blanket Petition* (2003-2008) and the video Knitoscope Testimonies (2006). Other artists include Ginger Brooks Takahashi, Wednesday Lupypciw, Gillian Strong, and Orly Cogan.

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*The Nike Blanket Petition is complete. A new interface has been developed with all signatures from 2003-2008 with an overflow of over 1,000 participants from 40 countries. If you have mailed in a square, please find it at this link, stitched into the border of the blanket with your name: http://www.microrevolt.org/web/blanket.htm

Thursday 26 March 2009

advice to sink in slowly


Today I got some wonderful post... the 2nd postcard book from the 'Advice To Sink In Slowly' project.

Featuring such illustration gems as these below, it's a real keeper for when all creativity and confidence flies out the window! (which seems to be happening all to regularly at the moment...)


by Lee Basford


by Oliver Sutherland


by Amy Timms

"Advice to sink in slowly is a series of posters designed by recent and established graduates of University College Falmouth for the purpose of passing on advice and inspiration to first year students.
A poster is given as a welcoming gift to every first year student when they enrol."

Sunday 22 March 2009

sister spit in september

from my inbox...



Hi all,

Sister Spit, the awesome lit/spoken word/performance troupe led by celebrated author Michelle Tea of 'Rent Girl' and 'Without a Net' fame is coming over to the UK and Ireland this September with a whole new line-up of celebrated queer/grrrl artists, writers, zinesters and performers.

Michelle says: 'I write books, and host readings for other people who write books, to be listened to by people who like reading books. My last novel is called Rose of No Man's Land and is about a teenage genderqueer loner who gets mixed up with a speed freak mall rat and falls in love. Or something. My last anthology is called It's So You and it's full of essays by stylish people about how they came to look so great, such as Eileen Myles, Kim Gordon, Jenny Shimizu, Kate Bornstein, Ali Liebegott, Tara Jepsen, Beth Lisick and other modern role models. I run the Radar Reading + Salon series in San Francisco, and every so often pile a bunch of bitches in a van and set off across the country under the guise of Sister Spit: The Next Generation.'

...and the intro for their US tour in april: 'Sister Spit: The Next Generation is hitting the road again, with a whole new all-girl lineup of zinesters, fashion plates, novelists, performance artists, slam poets and fancy scribblers. Inspired by the legendary Sister Spit Ramblin' Roadshow of the 90s, Sister Spit: The Next Generation is hauling a vanload of killer underground female talent across the USA and into your town. The latest gang hits the road in April 2009!, carrying on the tradition of rowdy, raucous literary adventure. As they journey across the USA, they're joined by a rag tag bunch of special guests - old Spit travelers of yore. Come and meet your new favorite performers'
- This US tour features: Michelle Tea, Beth Lisick, Ariel Schrag, Sara Seinberg, Kirya Traber, Ben McCoy, Cristy C. Road and The Next Generation’s California tour is generously co-sponsored by the CA LGBT Arts Alliance and the California Arts Council.


This UK tour is still awaiting a full confirmation of artists, and we can keep you posted as we find out.

http://www.myspace.com/sisterspitnextgen
http://www.myspace.com/michelletea
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Tea
http://www.sisterspitnextgen.com/fall07/michelletea.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/texta/sets/72157602455971563/


If you're interested in organising a show as part of the Sister Spit UK tour in September 09, please contact me. We are looking for all manner of venues, audiences and set ups; from academic settings, student union events, LGBTQ, pride events, lit/spoken word shows and festivals, intimate performances in small venues, ladyfest events, grrrl/queer events etc

If you have any ideas or wanna forward this to anyone else you think may be interested, please feel free to go ahead!

I look forward to hearing from you :)

Em @ Lola and the Cartwheels

xx

lolaandthecartwheelssheff@hotmail.co.uk
lolaandthecartwheels.webs.com
emma.ledger@googlemail.com

spring cranes

To mark the first day of Spring, my friend Emily and I made over 600 paper cranes and have hung them in Hyde Park, Leeds. Go see them while they're still there!

The photos are dark as we did our guerrilla hanging mission under the cover of darkness so that we didn't get stopped from doing it (the cops only spoke to us once!)
Go see the cranes (while they last) during the day to see them at their best :)

They're hung in six bush sections of the park... Follow the chalk arrows to the small paved "courtyard" bit, where there's benches, slap bang in the middle of the park; if you follow the paths from hyde park corner/hyde park road to the university you'll hopefully pass them/the circular "courtyard" bit.

Happy Spring!!










Wednesday 18 March 2009

one freak show

Lynnee Breedlove's One Freak Show coming to the UK at last!

How absolutely wonderful to go see a gender-bent and bending border-crossing whip-smart cutting-edge performer—who allows the audience to become children for a few moments. Terry Baum, SF Bay Times

Maybe most of this stuff will never make it to the mainstream. That's the mainstream's loss...Rachel Howard, SF Chronicle

Uninhibited humor lends tender insight and perspective to a gender politics debate that often takes place in a fiercely contentious atmosphere...Billy Tania, SF Bay Times

Lynn Breedlove returns to the UK as a no-op transsexual comic 15 years after tearing through as dyke lead yeller of punk dyke band Tribe8. Since then, fronting the band, writing the urban punk novel, Godspeed, performing with the all woman spoken word troupe Sister Spit, and hosting San Francisco’s queer cabarets, Breedlove has developed an onstage persona sharp as a new chainsaw blade humor and an intimate, improvisational fluidity that reaches everyone, turning the specific universal, and making high-minded political concepts fun at last.

The One Freak Show has been touring Europe and North America in six languages, in a form that continues to bring the activism, laughs, visibility, and education through the usual ridiculous, confusing, and shocking antics, this time including stuffed animals and eggbeaters. Don't worry, knives and body parts are still part of the show.

(Note: There are two solo shows: Tranny 101, and Confessions of a Poser. Confessions of a Poser will show at Bar Wotever in London. Everywhere else, including Club Wotever in London, will be Tranny 101.)

March 25 Bristol
9 Bath Buildings, also the address (just off cheltenham road, Montpelier)
godspeed movie, show

March 27 London (Tranny 101)
Club Wotever
Venue: The Cross Kings, 126 York Way, King's Cross, London N1\
Doors: 20:00 -02:00
Show start 21:00

March 28 manchester
yard theater, old birley street, hulme
7:30 doors for 8pm start
with manchester performance poet jackie hagan www.myspace.com/jackiehagan

March 29 manchester workshop
workshop 1-3
lgbt centre, sidney st (behind the 8th day on oxford rd)
free.

March 29 leeds


March 31 London (Confessions of a Poser)
Bar Wotever
Venue: Central Station, 37 Wharfdale rd, King's Cross, London N1
Doors: 19:00-00:00
Show start 21:00

April 1 Dublin

April 2 Newcastle urban cafe/dance city
Godspeed movie 915
show 945

zine: race privilege identity

CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS:

Zine for Race, Privilege & Identity gathering

*please forward*

Race, privilege and identity is a gathering taking place in Bristol,UK, 25-26th April 2009 (see http://raceprivilegeidentity.wordpress.comfor more information)

Its aim is to engage with issues of race, privilege and identity in DIY queer-feminist communities through building dialogue, coalitionsand resources. The gathering will be both practical and issue based - we aim toprovide a skill-base so people can feel empowered to constructively tackle multiple forms of exclusion that are silenced through the hidden normativities of radical queer and feminist communities.

As part of the gathering, we're compiling a zine to be made availableat the gathering, to provide resources & starting points for discussion.
... & we need your fabulous & fierce contributions to make this happen!

Possible topics include:

* personal narratives - How do these issues affect you? How have you seen them play out within DIY/queer/feminist communities?
* practical suggestions - What can you do when you're faced with your own privilege (or when someone else points it out to you)? What does it mean in practice to be an ally? How & when do you confront people with their own privilege in a way that keeps you safe? Other ideas could include privilege checklists or other tools to get folks thinking.
* required reading - What books, articles, zines do you feel are crucial to understanding identity issues & the ways in which they intersect? Tell us about them & why you recommend them. Also don't forget relevant projects that we should be supporting & working with.
* or... your brilliant suggestions here!

Please send contributions to raceprivilegeidentity@riseup. net by April 15, 2009.

*** We're also still seeking volunteers for the gathering, so pleaseget in touch (raceprivilegeidentity@riseup. net)! ***

the idiot cycle



from my inbox...

Dear friends and family,

Here's the an excerpt from the press kit of my new film, "The Idiot Cycle":

"The Idiot Cycle" a feature length documentary written, directed and produced by award winning filmmaker Emmanuelle Schick Garcia has already started to create a buzz.

The film, shot over three months in eight countries, looks at the shocking facts about cancer.

"The Idiot Cycle" uncovers is that only 2% of the world's 100,000 synthetic chemicals have been fully tested for toxicological data. The film also uncovers a secret EPA report that the chemical industry has spent decades burying, that states that 95% of cancers are caused by the environment and that more people will get cancers from dioxin pollution (caused by chemical processes like making chlorine products or pesticides) than any other cause, more than sitting out in the sun, more than smoking. Why don't you know this?

It's simple. The petro chemical industry that makes all your plastic consumer goods, automobile parts, pesticides, fertilizers, rubbers and so forth are basically six companies. These six companies also have a monopoly on cancer treatments and they're the one's that have financed and marketed "cure for cancer" runs and associations for the past decades.

So while these companies have made you sick, they'll also profit a second time by giving you drugs. It's also no secret why cancer is the most expensive drug on the planet.

Where is the government? Whether it's Canada, the USA, or Spain, governments have sided with these companies time and time again. The film also uncovers the reason why your concerns and health take a back seat.

But "The Idiot Cycle" continues. Now these same 6 companies are producing genetically modified crops. These new foods have never been tested by anyone, anywhere for long term effects like cancer. Are we seeing a similar pattern to that of the chemical cycle? I think so.

While independent studies have shown G.M. foods to cause cell proliferation, those studies were stopped before they could be completed. But don't worry, because if these foods make you sick, the same 6 companies will be there to treat your cancer.

Film out September 2009.
Official web site out June 2009.

Please become a fan at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/JPS-Films/110677360257
And please pass along to friends and family touched by cancer.

Tuesday 17 March 2009

i think if i knew her...

... I would be inclined to hug Keri Smith warmly and often

"... also as if it knew exactly what I needed the universe has sent me a flood of mail full of things that I needed to hear. I am all ears. and my darkish mood lifts. though I do believe these dark periods are entirely good and necessary. they prepare us to enter into a new place or stage. doesn't mean that they feel good at the time.
move we must. or sit still and stagnate. I feel something big stirring inside these sleepy bones"...


The above is from her March 16th blog.

friendship: art

from my inbox...

From: www.myspace.com/disc0kid

Im currently working on a photo installation based upon friendship and what it means to different individuals. I need as many as people as I can get to participate (I need AT LEAST 150 images) so Im trying to reach as big an audience as possible. I need people of all ages, all sexes and from all walks of life to take part in this.

All I need is people to write on an A4 piece of paper what friendship means to them, and hold it up in front of them, take a photo in portrait format and then email it to me. The text has got to be big enough to see in a photograph, but apart from that theres not much else that’s required. The text can be one word, a sentence, an in joke or even a drawing – its pretty open.



I am aiming for AT LEAST 150 of these in the next 3 weeks! I need as wide a variety of people to take part as possible so please pass it onto all your friends, and get yer parents and granny in on it too!! The final piece is going to be part of a huge photo installation kinda thing (and its gonna be amazing!)

Any contributions are very gratefully received!!

Monday 16 March 2009

not curated down to

There's a lot of this sort of documenatation about at the moment, and this trailor sadly looks like it doesn't refer much to the women active in this form of art, unlike some of the better documentaries and media I have seen, but I like this clip for the statement,
“[people] can buy what they like instead of what has been curated down to them from art consultants, art curators, stuff like that…”



New Brow Trailer 1 from New Brow on Vimeo.

useless talents

Am reposting this post from the Pikaland blog, cuz I love this idea so much :)

For the record, I can fit my full fist in my mouth..

http://pikaland.com/2009/03/16/useless-talents-irrational-fears



By Sarah Watts

Sunday 15 March 2009

entry point

from my inbox...


In celebration of International Zine Month for July 2009 I am creating a compilation zine about how YOU got into zines. The zine will be titled, "ENTRY POINT" aka "How did I get myself into this mess?" It's time to spill your guts about how Sassy Magazine, Riot Grrrl, the book Hard Love, etc turned you into the zinester you are today.

The format will be 1/2 sized. What I would like is for each zinester wanting to take part to submit their own ONE page of a 1/2 zine, already layed out. I think it will give an interesting look to have all of these zinesters from all around the world use their own style and layout techniques to talk about how they got into zines. If you want to be able to be contacted, or even promote your own projects, please list your contact information on your page.

I would prefer that these are mailed to me so i can paste them all ready to go in a mock up. Emailing is also an option, but remember the quality just won't be as good if i have to print it out.

Each person who has an entry and any zine distros interested will receive a "flat" from me. The idea is to give this zine away for FREE in the month of July. You can make your own copies to give out to as many people as possible.

If you wish to participate please submit your piece NO LATER than April 30, 2009. I will do the mock up in May and i will ensure everyone has their flat at the beginning of June so they can get their copies ready for International Zine Month in July.

Submit work to:

Nicole Introvert
P.O. Box 35501
Richmond, VA 23235
USA

Questions? nicole.introvert@gmail.com

Would you like to donate some cash to help with the cost of copies/shipping? Pay Pal any donations: nicole.introvert@gmail.com

IZM Blog: http://internationalzinemonth.wordpress.com/

Wednesday 11 March 2009

lost constellations


There's this neat thingy where you can flip through the pages of Tara McPherson's upcoming book online. Go here
Neat-o-rama!
If anyone wants to buy me one of her sculptures I wouldn't turn you down :)

Saturday 7 March 2009

rosemary has the right idea


By Rosemary Travale.

Am listening to Liz Phair's 'Ant in Alaska' as I type - jeez, what a song...

is she looking?

Sometimes I think artist and writer Keri Smith is peering into my brain...


'An Observation' from Keri's blog, The Wish Jar

Wednesday 4 March 2009

grassrootsfeminism.net


An interview I did for Reassess Your Weapons zine with Red Chidgey about the European Grassroots Feminism website is up now on The F Word website, HERE

Incidently, the website also features much artwork from the UK Ladyfest Art Collection that I have been archiving for the past few years, and there's also a small interview with me on there too - eek!!
Being a small part of this growing project has been neat, and please do feel free to get involved with it yourself!

Tuesday 3 March 2009

looking super sweet



THE BREEDERS
THROWING MUSES
X
KIMYA DAWSON
TEENAGE FANCLUB
SHELLAC
TRICKY
MELT BANANA
GIANT SAND
TARA MCPHERSON ART EXHIBITION

This is swiftly turning into some sort of dream festival lineup for me :) Can't wait til may!

Monday 2 March 2009

girls rock! UK - get involved

From my inbox...

Apologies for the silence this year. Things at Girls Rock have been on hold a while due to a number of reasons but we thought you'd like an update...

Since the management committee reformed at the end of last year we have had a number of useful planning meetings and started working towards some funding applications for the GRUK 2009 programme. There have also been a couple of successful benefits - thanks to everyone who helped with those. Unfortunately we had to cancel the general meeting and now Ladies Rock 2009 due to the flooding at Lambeth Women's Project. Girls Rock UK is totally seperate from LWP but sees the building and organisation as its home and family. We feel it is important to help secure and support this amazing organisation. The management committees of both organisations have significant crossover so it has been a difficult time and we have had to be realistic about what GRUK events we could pull off this year.

I know lots of you have expressed an interest in helping out with GRUK so here is how you can;

- run a benefit to create funds for another event to happen - let us know what we can provide in terms of promo/merch etc
- update our paperwork so we can apply for more funding
- Apply for funding (please contact us first for appropriate info)
- Plan curriculum/workshops for a future camp

To make the project work we really need more people on board helping at the management level - we need people who are clear about how much time they can commit, who have excellent communication skills and who will deliver on time. We are all incredibly stretched so it would be great to have people on board who will hear/see what needs to be done and sort things out. Until the basics are back in place we will not be having general meetings. We really want to work together and have a united, coherent project that is the best that we can deliver. Please contact us if you would like to do a smaller scale project under the banner of Girls Rock! UK - lets work together!

If you would like to help get us in shape for a rock camp later this year or 2010 please contact girlsrockcampuk@gmail.com or call 07973718431.

If you want to use your time in a more hands on way you could always help get LWP back in shape for the local ladies and another rock camp - contact lambethwomensproject@yahoo.co.uk if you'd like to help.

Hope to see you soon,
Naz, Ego & Victoria
xxx