Business creator, woman, artist, mother and wife: Women of the World
As I network this week with other women designers today I think on some of the challenges and opportunities faced particularly, but not only, by women.
One person’s life befits my musings. Jane Burden was known only as "the wife of famous " the Scottish William Morris. Referred to only as painter’s muse and as the “wife of” Morris. Her own designs and paintings in the famous Art Deco and Pre-Raphaelite Design Workshop were submitted to clients and later published under her husband’s portfolio.
How indeed have we honored and remembered the famous and "infamous" individuals. And, how have we forgotten the contributions of scores of others over time?
This reminds me also of learning how women Khoi-San painters were once not only permitted but also tasked to paint the hunt on the cave walls of southern Africa. Later they were not only ousted from this key form of cultural and creative expressionism, a powerful mystical societal role, but also found their works painted over by others over the centuries - unacknowledged, excluded even.
Think of all the famous women, who published their works as men, using pseudonyms, just to see their works not only published, but also read.
Archetype and typecast lives of many women - the life of designer, Jane Burden was so much more than her given role of wife and artist muse, I realize as a sometime artist and muse myself.
I remember with a smile an afternoon in Orchards when Armando Baldinelli wanted to paint me as a nude. Feeling exposed, I fled his studios thinking I'd rather be on the other end of the paintbrush.
These interesting few thoughts emerged for me this day as I conceptualize the challenges faced by women designers - and as I network with other Women of the World.
How indeed does one best promote art so that all artists are fully credited, and more importantly empowered by their daily work and networking? Fair Trade, Women without Borders - what is the State of the Nation for women artists and creative designers?
Women of the world still strive to be recognized for their design and their labor in the workplace and at home everywhere.
This week’s documentary on the life of Yoko Ono and John Lennon in NY at The Bioscope, Johannesburg - deeply evoked me with their commitment to highlight issues experienced as new immigrants - moving the media between their apartment, recording studios and public protests. They immersed themselves in creative endeavors and controversy to highlight peace programs and events, human rights and justice campaigns, with an anti-war fervor, and giving weight to many of the civil rights issues of the day.
These issues are as ever critical in our contemporary society, and across Africa, as women from NGOs and community based projects this morning reveal in their discussions with Michelle Obama and her daughters in Soweto, South Africa. Certainly, and with relief we may celebrate how Michelle Obama is so much more than the fashion icon she has been portrayed to be?
In the words of the Yoko-Lennon song: "Woman is da Nigger of the World" provoked debate and awareness around key issues of power and place - and promotion! Consider this powerful slogan to be published in a song by Lennon – Yoko Ono who came up with this turn of phrase in a 1969 magazine interview. Despite being one of the lowest ranked songs from the beloved songbook accredited to Lennon - Oko and Lennon were both very excited. Lennon affirmed it was the first women's rights song before popular "I Am Woman"[1] and support for the song rallied from black activists and spokespeople alike in the USA at the time.
Attributing usage of the term "nigger" for its being thrown off the radio and BBC airwaves, the song provoked much deeper under the skin of much greater societal issues, and even perhaps notions of the unifying potential of gender across the no-go zones and boundaries of race politics. These were not particularly popular concepts to be triggering in Vietnam-era USA. Nor indeed today!
Indeed these kinds of issues so rankled FBI intentions that efforts were intent on edging Ono and Lennon not only off the airwaves and protest marches, but also out of the USA.Describing the subservience of women and male chauvinism across all cultures, the song led to political congressman Ron Dellum's saying: "If you define 'nigger' as someone whose lifestyle is defined by others, whose opportunities are defined by others, whose role in society is defined by others, the good news is that . Most of the people in America are niggers."[2]
How much are we challenged or willing even to work collectively to face key issues in our homes, in our working organizations and society?
