getting attention

Current media coverage, active campaigns, public involvement and creative interventions, in the debate that has been running since at least 1952.

Inspiration

If you are thinking of starting a campaign for a statue or memorial honouring women and would like to find some wonderful inspiration for ways of getting attention just check the tactics used in campaigns like those for Mary Wollstonecraft and Emmeline Pankhurst.

What a brainwave to project Mary Wollstonecraft's image on to the Houses of Parliament, a great way to get her in the public eye.

And imagine the power of organising a public vote like the one in Manchester to start the conversation and get a real sense from the wider public about who they truly value.

The energetic, effective campaign, led by engineer Jane Priston, to celebrate the astonishing achievements of pioneering aviator Amy Johnson resulted in not one but two beautiful, lively statues.

So that’s a thought to bear in mind; is there more than one place that is significant in the life of the person or group that you are campaigning for? Once the sculptor’s work is done, more than one cast can be made. We have such a lot of ground to make up in terms of the recognition of women that this is a strategy worth considering. Amy was important both to the people of Hull where she was born and in Herne Bay where she died.

Another clever feature of these statues is that even without a sound component they still allow Amy’s inspiring words to reach us through engravings of her words on the surface of the statue.

Amy Johnson statue text - Believe nothing to be impossible

Changing Attitudes

And for some food for thought from the USA take a look at the Moving On page for the Millie Dresselhaus video. Attitudes are changing everywhere.

The clever "Wifies" - www.wifie.org.uk - in Edinburgh made life size portraits (above) of the women they wanted to see honoured, then set them around the city: a real call to action.

Sheffield City Council used the “Just Giving” site as part of their fundraising efforts. They attracted 295 supporters and exceeded their goal of raising £150,000 and actually got £163,166. The campaign reached a highly motivated group of givers. One of the very many supporters who donated said she had made her donation:

“In memory of our lovely brave Mother, Mary Gilbert (Nee Broomhead) who worked in Munitions at Stocksbridge Steel Works during the Second World War. Remembering too, all these ladies, from both wars.”

With the extra money raised Sheffield City Council were able to strike commemorative medals to be presented to the surviving steel factory workers.

What a Statue Stands For.

April 30, 2017

In Denbigh artist Wanda Zyborska has developed an annual ritual re-veiling of the controversial civic statue of H.M. Stanley as part of a public protest about a man who supported slavery and was guilty of crimes against humanity.

HM Stanley was a famous name in the late 19th century, mainly as a result of his search for Scottish missionary and explorer David Livingstone who he found in East Africa in 1871, after eight months of searching, coining the well known phrase; " Dr Livingstone, I presume?"

The many protestors say that Stanley was part of a brutal and exploitive regime that resulted in millions of Congolese being killed. They cover the statue in a rubber "condom" to symbolically stop the spread of the "seed" of corruption and exploitative power. A wreath is laid to commemorate those murdered in the Congo.

Protestor Wanda Zyborska, who is the artist that made the rubber covering, said: “Rubber is a particularly appropriate medium for the Stanley re-veiling sculpture, as there was so much abuse related to the collection of rubber by the people of Congo, who suffered punishments such as cutting off a hand and flogging for failing to deliver.

Wanda is a member of Sexcentanary, a collective of women who identify as older, committed to the collaborative performance of gender, feminism and ageing.

www.sexcentanary.com

- Why does this statue in Denbigh divide opinion?

www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/136841/why-does..

Row over statue of 'cruel' explorer Henry Morton Stanley ...

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/...

www.wandazyborska.co.uk

The Untold Story

April 30, 2017

In Govan attention is being called to the lack of a memorial to lady Dinah Pearce. Amonst her many philanthropic achievements she set up the Peace Institute as a gift to the people of Govan, was a pioneer of "Fresh Air Fortnight" which sent hundreds of sick children to convalesce at the coast or countryside, fought to improve living conditions of the poor and to alleviate hardship. She paid for this statue of her husband to be erected but there is no menmorial to her.

This protest is staged by Sexcentenary, a collective of women who identify as older, committed to the collaborative performance of gender, feminism and ageing.

www.sexcentanary.com

Breaking the "Bronze Ceiling" in the USA

April 20, 2017

"Where are the Women?" is the campiagn for a statue of the first real women in New York's Central Park.

The park is, of course, liberally supplied with icons of male power and status, but not a single real woman. Alice in Wonderland is the closest they have managed. Two prominent suffragettes have been suggested and "The Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony Statue Fund" is working for the placement of a statue of the two women's rights pioneers in Central Park. This is one aspect of the wider push for recognition of women's achievments in the states, represented by EVE - Equal Visibility Everywhere - organisation which works for all kinds of public memorials, statues, stamps, street names etc.

http://equalvisibilityeverywhere.org

Metrofocus Thirteen. WLIW@! NJTVInterviewer: Jenna Flanagan, April 6, 2017

April 06, 2017 at 6.27 pm Sexism in Central Park?

More here

An Artist Speaks for Sylvia

April 20, 2017

In the short video ( link below ) artist Hester Reeve, reveals interesting aspects of Sylvia Pankhurst's life. Did you know she gave up her studies as an artist for the suffrage movement? Hester speaks in the film about Sylvia’s life as an artist and the way she used her skills in the campaign for suffrage and women’s rights

https://vimeo.com/213489740

Womanchester Winner

April 18, 2017

It has just been announced that Hazel Reeves proposal "Rise Up, Women" for the first statue of a woman in Manchester in 100 years - other than the ubiquitous Queen Victoria - has been selected as the winner. How appropriate that a woman sculptor should give us this memorial. The work is due to be erected in 2019.

AND...

Hazel has also been selected for a statue commission celebrating women biscuit factory workers – the ‘Cracker Packers’ – at the McVities factory (formerly Carr’s) in Carlisle. The bronzes of the two Cracker Packers, one from past times and one from today, will be unveiled next International Women’s Day, 2018. It seems there really is a growing awareness of the power of this kind of recognition of the true worth of 'everyday' women as well as the exceptional individual. For the full details see the press release. Photo by Stuart Walker.

www.hazelreeves.com

More international news

April 4, 2017

Civic Statues as an apology for war crimes?

In October, 2016 two statues of a Korean and Chinese girl were unveiled in China, the first monument in China to honor the victims of Japan's wartime sexual slavery. The statues were erected inside Shanghai Normal University in the Chinese city with the help of donations from citizens of Hwaseong, south of Seoul. It is the fifth monument to be built outside of South Korea in honor of the hundreds of thousands of women who were forced into sexual slavery for Japanese troops during World War II. Most of the women were from Korea as the country was under Japanese colonial rule from 1910-45, but some of them were also brought from China, Taiwan & other nations. While the governments hailed it as a landmark agreement, many of the victims and their supporters accused Seoul of "diplomatic collusion" and demanded their grievances be properly addressed through an acknowledgment of legal responsibility and other means.

The other statues have been erected in the United States, Canada and Australia.

Source - SHANGHAI/HWASEONG, South Korea, Oct. 22 2016

At last, a woman in Parliament Square.

April 2, 2017

Leading Suffragette, Millicent Fawcet, is to take her place alongside the 11 men in Parliament Square.

Prime Minister Theresa May said:

"The example Millicent Fawcett set during the struggle for equality continues to inspire the battle against the burning injustices of today."

The new statue will be funded using the £5m fund announced in this year's spring Budget to celebrate next year's centenary of the first British women to get the vote. There are so many other women whose contributions to our society have gone unsung that might benefit from this fund.http://Budget 2017: Women's suffrage centenary gets £5m See the Waiting List page for some excellent suggestions as to who they are, and add any that are not yet there.

Image: Dame Millicent Fawcett addressing a meeting in Hyde Park - circa 1913 - as president of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies.

http://Millicent Fawcett to be first woman statue in Parliament Square BBC News02 Apr 10:39

Congratulations to the excellent energetic campaign on change.org

"Put a statue of a suffragette in Parliament Square to mark 100 years of female suffrage"

run by Caroline Criado Perez.

Meanwhile, in Bulgaria.....

March 29, 2017

This March in Bulgaria's capital Sofia, an artist called Erka, working with the arts organisation Fine Acts http://fineacts.co/about has made a dynamic protest about the complete lack of any civic monuments to women. There are none at all. She has placed "everywoman" busts on plinths around the city to help wake up the consciousness of the public. http://This artist is filling Bulgaria's capital with statues of ... metro.co.uk › Arts › Art.

There has been an interesting reaction to this bold initiative from Jonathan Jones' blog in the Guardian http://Feminism doesn't need more female statues – it needs political action Jonathan Jones where he tells us that there's no point in putting up statues of women, what's needed is political action - as if the two were mutually exclusive - and ignoring the fact that this initiative is a political action.

Jonathan says "Campaigners who think Britain, too, needs more statues of women may be surprised by my insistence that there are plenty." 'Plenty' is an interesting way to describe a paltry 15%. Maybe that's an easy opinion to hold when you are part of the gender represented by 85% of the UK's civic statues instead of the 15% that have to get by with endless images of Queen Victoria and nameless, naked frolicking nyphs to look up to as 'role models' sanctioned by the society that you are part of.

Photos : Mihail Novakov

You Can Influence the future in Edinburgh

March 27, 2017

Edinburgh Napier University will be holding their degree shows in May, including one by Rebecca Morrice who is currently conducting research into the relationship between heritage and women in Edinburgh.The aim of Rebecca's research is to develop a variety of platforms that reveal the city's historic places, events and historical female characters through participatory and interpretation design, highlighting the areas of significant inequality for women's heritage.The project seeks to represent what is evidently an underdeveloped area of the city's community heritage; that is to say, there are currently more statues of animals than of women in the city! And there is no shortage of suitable candidates, proven by the dynamic interventions by the WIFIES ( Women in Focus in Edinburgh ) http://www.wifie.org.uk with their pop-up, cut out statues of Muriel Spark, Mary Somerville and others, strategically placed around the city for Women's Day, in March 2016. For more information about the value placed, or rather, not placed, on women's contributions to society see Scotland's feminist organisation, Engender. http://www.engender.org.uk
Rebecca's degree show will be viewed by Historic Environment Scotland, www.historicenvironment.scot who want to see the outcome and public reaction - and if it proves significant they may then be open to working on some changes to their policies on heritage.The exhibition is due to open on 18th May, www.napier.ac.uk so do go and visit, leave your comments and influence the future representation of women.

Historic England and Women’s History Month March 2017

March 22, 2017

Another big organization is putting its weight behind the movement for gender equality in civic statues.

This Women’s History Month, Historic England is talking about the representation and commemoration of women throughout history

They estimate that a mere 2.7% of statues in the UK are of historical, non-royal women – and note that there are now a number of campaigns are looking to change that.

They are inviting your suggestions (as is inVISIBLEwomen on our “Waiting List“ page) for women who should be honoured.

Visit Heritage Calling: 8 Statues of Courageous Women in History to read more and add your suggestions.

Put Her on The Map; the US's newest ad-campaign

March 15, 2017

This is the latest campaign from America - there is movement everywhere.

BBDO, a large American advertising company, launched a new public awareness campaign to encourage cities and corporations to put women on the map by naming streets, statues and buildings after influential female figures. Andrew Robertson, President and CEO of BBDO Worldwide, unveiled the "Put Her on the Map" campaign at the MAKERS Conference, one of the leading gatherings for trailblazing women of today and tomorrow. The announcement was made in tandem with Amy Elaine Wakeland, the First Lady of Los Angeles.

Women make up 50% of the population, but most streets, landmarks and monuments are named after men. "Put Her on the Map" challenges cities and corporations with influential ecosystems to disrupt this cycle.

"When successful women are not visible in our world, there is no precedent for female potential," said Mr. Robertson. "By changing the map, cities and companies can change the face of our communities and inspire future female leaders."

A short film features a series of vignettes in which young girls are asked to describe things named after women and what these girls want to be when they grow up.

Their answers reference superficial items such as the "Lazy Susan," a "Bloody Mary" and "Mary Jane" shoes. The film ends with a call to action: "Women make up 50% of the population, but most streets, monuments and landmarks are named after men. We should change that. Let's inspire girls by honoring great women."

The film can be viewed here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQZ5HyOO7kw

This campaign was launched at

The 2017 MAKERS Conference | MAKERS

www.makers.com/conference/videos

Civic statues; the UK's oldest subliminal ad-campaign for patriarchy

March 8, 2017

Leonardo said that an image is worth a thousand words. It’s something we all experience; an image will bypass the rational mind and reach deep into our imagination.

Therein lies the quiet, persistent power of the civic statue. We are, in effect, surrounded by the coded story of what power is about and who wields it; a constant reminder that women are barely in the running. With 85% of civic statues being of men and their achievements, we are witnessing the oldest nationwide campaign of subliminal marketing of men and masculine values.

By questioning the status quo we have the opportunity to re-define the story we tell ourselves and coming generations. We can rewrite the script for this old, outdated ad-campaign.

We can re-assess what it is that builds a good society. Does it consist mainly of men’s achievements – military, political, accademic - or do we in fact value, and need, equally to see the other, as yet largely unsung, contributions to society? We could see – we have the power to bring about - images of female achievements, of political peacemakers, of community building, of collaborative endeavour, as well as honouring all the female artists and cultural icons alongside their male counterparts. For a great analysis of attitudes to women and power listen to the radio 4 talk by Professor Mary Beard on Women in Power at bbc.co.uk. or at the London Review of Books site www.lrb.co.uk

What Your MP Thinks

March 8, 2017

International Women’s Day 2017

InVISIBLEwomen has been running for one year and has witnessed a wonderful uprising of campaigns for civic statues to women all over the country. It has been inspiring to see the weight of public approval for these campaigns.

In celebration of this first year’s progress and to mark International Women’s Day the country’s MPs are now being given the opportunity to tell us what their views are on the concept of gender equality in civic statues in the UK and what is happening in their constituencies.

To see what the person who represents you has to say about this issue see

What Your MP Thinks

Finalists for Emmeline Pankhurst statue

March 6, 2017

These are the six finalists for the statue in Manchester to honour the emminent suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst, who was born there. The winning entry will be erected in 2019. It will be the first statue of a women, amonst the 18 statues of men and one of Queen Victoria, in 100 years.