Marvin Gaye Chetwynd at WOW Festival
Returning for its seventh consecutive year, the Women of the World (WOW) Festival brings together women from a variety of sectors and creative paths to celebrate women’s achievements. Thursday 10 March sees the premiere of Turner Prize nominee Marvin Gaye Chetwynd’s new performance piece, Here She Comes (pictured top), one of the Arts Council Collection’s 70th Anniversary Commissions. The work tells the stories of key women in history, from Boudicca to Montessori, and includes feminist texts such as Doris Lessing’s The Grass is Singing and Charlotte Perkins Gillman’s The Yellow Wallpaper. The festival also features talks, poetry readings, exhibitions, film screenings and the Women in the Creative Industries Day on Wednesday 9 March.
8-13 March 2016, Southbank Centre, London, SE1.
wow.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on
Wonder Women 2016
Reminding us that in just two years time, it will be 100 years since women got the vote, the vibrant Wonder Women Festival returns to Manchester. Events include tours of The National Football Museum with the spotlight firmly on the women’s game, living history performances at the People’s History Museum and an exhibition at the John Rylands Library celebrating the legacy of the Suffragettes movement. Reminding us that feminsim isn’t only for women, Bryony Kimmings and Tim Grayburn’s performance, Fake It Til You Make It, confronts this gender taboo.
Until 13 March 2016, Wonder Women Festival, various venues, Manchester.
www.creativetourist.com/festivals-and-events/wonderwomen
The Match Women’s Strike 1988
The restaging of Alison Marchant’s 1988 exhibition, Wall Paper History, revisits the work of an artist who has continuously researched working-class women’s history, developing a body of live art works and responsive living history projects. These early prints, etchings and collages were inspired by archival imagery and an accompanying series of talks, events and workshops draw attention to the feminist cultural history of London’s East End.
Until 7 May 2016, Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archive, London, E1.
www.ideastore.co.uk/local-history-match-womens-strike
Moments
This exhibition by Leeds-based artists Liz Nast, Rachel Johns and Helen Dryden, draws parallels between each artists’ works. Themes of daily life, youth culture and the energy generated by relationships is displayed in each artist’s distinct approach to portraiture and life scenes. In a playful body swap workshop, the artists exchanged techniques to emulate each others artistic styles, becoming a different artist for the day. Also taking place in Leeds for International Women’s Day is the Festival of the Body, featuring a Live Art + Feminism Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon amongst the diverse programme of events.
Until 13 May 2016, The Bowery, 54 Otley Road, Headingley, Leeds.
www.a-n.co.uk/events/moments
Arab Women Artists Now Festival
At Rich Mix, two exhibitions, Textural Threads and Ana Djazairi – the latter a term which translates as ‘I am Algerian’ – explore diaspora, cultural stereotypes and gender discourses. A one-day festival on 12 March will present spoken word performances, discussion panels, film screenings and an evening of music and DJing. Moving to The Arab British Centre from 17 March, a series of events and workshops further explore Middle Eastern arts in the UK.
Until 19 March, Rich Mix, London E1 & 17-24 March, Arab British Centre, London EC4A.
www.facebook.com/ArabWomenArtistsNow
Elles in Rogue: XX Protagonists
An exhibition of eight emerging female artists alongside new works by both male and female artists that explore the gender gap within the art world. The show takes place at The Elephant Artworks, a pop-up creative venue constructed from shipping containers that functions as an alternative shopping mall and start-up hub.
Until 9 March 2016, The Elephant Artworks, Elephant Road, London SE17.
www.a-n.co.uk/events/elles-in-rogue-xx-protagonists
Concentric Exhibition
The top floor gallery space of Jacob’s Market introduces the work of 10 women artists, each exploring diverse media and techniques. The underlying theme of ‘what it means to be a woman in the 21st century’, provides scope for experimentation through painting, installation and performance art, with the artists drawing on a range of internal and external motivations to explore personal states and social history.
Until 19 March 2016, West Wharf Gallery, Cardiff.
www.internationalwomensday.com/Activity/5748/Concentric-Exhibition
Pillow Talk: conversations with women
A transparent geodesic dome will appear in the Brixton East Gallery, filled with 60 pillows that chart histories of women artists and celebrate stories, achievements and ambitions. Each pillow has been created by a member of South London Women Artists and the dome will function as a nomadic reading room, drawing on material gathered from the Women’s Art Library.
Monday 14 March, 6.30-9pm & Tuesday 15 March, 11am-5pm, Brixton East Gallery, 100 Barrington Road, London SW9.
www.brixtoneast1871.co.uk/pillowtalk
Reel Women / Women in Art
On International Women’s Day, Birmingham’s Intercultural Arts Centre presents a short film programme by several of Birmingham’s female filmmakers, highlighting social issues, health, inequality and women’s role within the music and film industries. Later in the week this screening and panel discussion is followed by the opening of the Women in Art exhibition, highlighting the work of West Midlands-based female artists and craft practitioners.
8 March & 10-31 March 2016, The Drum, 144 Potters Lane, Aston, Birmingham.
www.the-drum.org.uk/news/whats-on
Feminism and Gender
Launching its extensive rehang in time for International Women’s Day in the iconic dome and gardens of one of Cambridge University’s all-female colleges, the internationally reknowned New Hall Art Collection presents a sample from its collection of over 450 works by female artists. Feminism and Gender includes pieces by Mary Kelly, Sandra Blow, Paula Rego and Lubaina Himid.
Until 31 August 2016, Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge.
www-art.newhall.cam.ac.uk
Drawing down the Feminine
Curated by artist Kate Walters, this group show brings together the work of 11 women and three men who over the past year have engaged in a dialogue to openly examine the variety of traditions and meanings invoked by notions of the feminine. Part of Newlyn Art Gallery’s Transition 2016 programme which enables artists to try out new ideas through a series of week-long shows, there are a number of talks and workshops taking place alongside the exhibition that look to further the group’s dialogue, and its ambitions of openness and equity.
8-12 March 2016, Newlyn Art Gallery, Newlyn, Cornwall.
newlynartgallery.co.uk/transition-2016/
More on a-n.co.uk:
Women and contemporary art: why gender inequality is still an issue
Phyllida Barlow to represent Britain at 2017 Venice Biennale
