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| Work from Nasty Women, NY. Artists - Naoko Tadotsu |
In the reality TV show called, “The Debate” which aired back end of 2016. Starred orange face reality TV star, Donald Trump and the only hope for America, Hillary Clinton. In the final moments of the 3rd and final presidential debate, Trump interpreted Clinton as she was answering a question about social security. “Such a nasty woman”, he muttered into the microphone (trump has both called Ted Cruz and Clinton “nasty” in the past but never before had he so publicly paired the term with the word “woman”) The small but extremely offensive word started a movement of women and men proclaiming they are a nasty woman themselves. This word is a powerful callback to the misogynistic messaging of Trump's campaign, and a demonstration of solidarity among artists worldwide. Brooklyn based sculptor Roxanne Jackson posted a Facebook status that went viral, it read,
“Hello female artists/curators! Let's organise a NASTY WOMEN group show!! Who's interested? We need a venue!?”
700 pieces of work were displayed and sold all from the fact that people were pissed and wanted to make a difference and shows we ain't going to take it!
All there money went to Planned Parenthood, which is a brilliant organisation that helps a lot of women with birth control and practicing safe sex. The Republicans hate that women have choices with their bodies so they are planning to defund the organization.This exhibition was a huge success and all the work was sold. One of the works that was sold was Newcastle based artist and Nasty Women Newcastle curator, Lady Kitt. Whose work was sold to a local politician in New York.
People from around the world have started to organised their own Nasty Women exhibition. What's good enough for New York City is good enough for Newcastle! The exhibition is being organised by Byker Community Centre “maker in Residence” and Nasty Women “alumnus” Lady Kitt and artist and Byker Community Centre Development Manager Aly Smith. The little different for this exhibition is all work are welcome from artists and non artists. The profits for this exhibition will go to two charities. All profits from sale of artwork will be split 50/50 between LGBT campaigning group, The Fed and BCCs Women Group.
I am very proud and humble that these amazing women have let me help with this organisation. For me as a feminist curator, I am devoting my career to show the public that feminism is still as important as it was in the 1970s and shockingly not much had changed.
Women artists still do not get the same opportunities to display their work in solo exhibitions in such galleries like The Met and MOMA. Only last year Tate Modern had 50/50 women and male artists displayed together. Just this month, The Art Newspaper had an article about the Art Dealers Association of America Fair boasting about displaying more women artists than ever, even though dealers won't buy women artists because the price does not grow as much in time like male artists.
This project has just started and submissions are still coming in. One artist who has been selected, is local artist Juliet Fleming. Fleming recent work seeks to question stereotyping, particularly in class and genders often through wordplay.
Before starting this work Fleming encountered an article from the guardian looking into “3D-printed
clitoris model ... set to transform sex ed classes in France.” Since this article Flemings works has
been obsessed with this shape, and fervently draws it at every opportunity. Fleming says she sees
this work “as educational but also a positive affirmation, for removing taboos around female pleasure.
It is surprising how few people know the basics of this area of the female anatomy and that is still
shrouded in such mystery.” Fleming is interested in resent changes in the law which no longer allow
female ejaculation in pornography, and says “this seems like a backwards step towards true
enlightenment and acceptance of female pleasure”. This work seeks to empower, educate and
indulge in womanhood and female pleasure.
This is just one of many artists who have submitted their work to the Nasty Women Exhibition.
If you believe your a Nasty Women and would like to take part of this exhibition please email Lady_kitt@hotmail.co.uk deadline is 30th March.
Thanks For Reading
Michaela Wetherell
Founder of Finding Feminism
