Whether you choose to worship these deities or simply find them interesting, even inspiring symbols of some of the strengths found within women, I hope you’ll enjoy the infographic.
Once I started looking for inspirational thoughts from women about women and their place in the world, my problem quickly became deciding which ones I thought were most important to highlight in my remaining time and space.
Today’s post features three quote-images from strong women (two from the past, one contemporary) whose names we should recognize. It might be well to consider their words as our dialogue unfolds in the changing political atmosphere of post-2018-midterms USA.
That is, in itself, a problem. If we start assuming that only Democrats elect women (a severe overgeneralization, but it’s a growing perception), what good does that do for the overall diversity of debate and philosophy of governance?
It remains to be seen how much an influx of women will change the tenor and focus of politics, whether in the aspirational directions Abzug envisioned or in other ways.
Women’s History Month is coming to an end soon. Perhaps it’s time to make some evaluations, based on the words of strong women from history.
Do you feel well-represented?
How do you think today’s political parties measure up, by this standard?
How well do you think our international agreements align with this principle?
These are three different women from three different time periods. But each reminds us that women matter enormously.
I do not believe we can settle for having our needs left unmet in the name of “not the right time,” “strategic compromise,” or some imagined “greater good” that does not include good for us.
But each reminds us that women matter enormously. I do not believe we can settle for having our needs left unmet in the name of “not the right time,” “strategic compromise,” or some imagined “greater good” that does not include good for us.
Have you ever been walking down a city street, especially past a construction site, and heard somebody yell, “Hey, baby! Gimme a smile!” or similar stuff? If you’ve ever been a woman–particularly a young woman–you have. Guaranteed. Probably daily. (If you’re a man, then probably not, and you may not see what’s wrong with it).
While the occasional inexperienced country girl may mistake these catcalls for harmless flattery on first exposure, it soon becomes clear that the objectifying intent is neither harmless nor benign. Day after day, the merciless barrage can drag you down.
t’s recognized more properly as street harassment–and NO, women don’t like it. But what can be done, right? Most of us just duck our heads and keep walking.
Enter Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, and her “Stop Telling Women to Smile” public art campaign. All those things you so wish you could say to harassers? She says them. With large public art displays, right out there in the harassers’ space on the streets.
Fazlalizadeh has illustrated her messages with the faces of women she knows, women whose lives are impinged upon daily by these assaults. Her images empower all of us, not only her friends.
In this case, one amazing artist, whom I particularly associate with Capricon. Although Karen Ann Hollingsworth exhibits her work at many different sf conventions art fairs, and other exhibitions, and although she is an accomplished illustrator as well, I first met her when we were on a panel together at Capricon 38. That also was the largest collection of her art all in one place that I’d seen.
I was enchanted.
I’m also beyond excited to share some of her gorgeous work with you in this space. I hope her visual magic will enchant you, too.
Imagineis Hollingsworth’s “signature” work, because it embodies so many aspects of her art.
I asked Karen for permission to post some of her images here, and she not only gave me permission–she gave me stories for each piece. Here’s what she said about Imagine:
“I must lead with my signature piece Imagine. It combines both [of] the ways I approach my work. The right side the way I work when I do illustrations and commissions and the left is done in the intuitive way I approach my fine art pieces. It also embodies the sense of magic and wonder I try to infuse in all my work.
“Most of my work is done in watercolor and colored pencil on hot press watercolor paper. The only time I involve the computer is when I scan the images in to make reproductions, for a client or for doing promotion.”
Catnip Dreams by Karen Ann Hollingsworth
Karen wrote: “Catnip Dreams is an example of one of my private commissions. I got permission from the client to sell reproductions of this one of the three images I did for them.“
Shades of Grey by Karen Ann Hollingsworth
Karen described the origins of Shades of Grey: “This is an example of one of my intuitive fine art images. I was experimenting with doing a black and white watercolor.”
I not only saw the next piece atCapricon 39, I voted for it.
“Green Tea Dragon is one of my most poplar images. This year I finally got around to finishing the series, with the Coffee and Hot Cocoa Dragons,” Karen wrote. “I do like doing series. I don’t always realize . . . till after I do something that it will become a series.”
And speaking of series (she has created 7 or 8 series so far), here’s an example of another:
Great Horned Owl by Karen Ann Hollingsworth
“I completed [this series] last fall. My owls,” Karen wrote. “I started with the Screech Owl that I had been hearing outside my window at night. I didn’t know what it was. When I found out and saw photos I had to draw one. More often I hear the Great Horned Owls. To my amazement they sound just like the owls in cartoons. It’s always special hearing them. I don’t find they sound spooky at all.”
I told her I usually like to include links to pages where people can buy prints, but she is still rebuilding after website problems last year. “As far as buying reproductions or prints of my work the best way to do so is in person at the Art Fairs and conventions I participate in,” she said. “People can contact me online via email if they know the image they want.”
What’s next for Karen? “At the moment I am hard at work prepping for my next Art show/convention. . . . I’ll be in Kansas City, MO [March 29-31, 2019] showing and selling in the Spectrum Fantastic Art Live pavilion [Booth #1412] withinPlanet Comicon.
For artists, our art is our voice. That may seem fundamental, but people forget it often.
Women in Art for Peace published this about today’s quotable person: “Unni Askeland is a Norwegian artist. She studied at The National Academy of Fine Arts, Bergen, and The National Academy of Fine Arts, Oslo. Her art has transitioned from Munch-inspired painting to American-style photography-based serigraphy, Askeland creates work that intends to shock and challenge conceptions of the contemporary art world.”
Very few women in the world today have any question that gender-based discrimination exists. Everything from loud, in-your-face sexism or violent physical aggression to the softer forms of diminished expectations and subtle direction away from riskier, higher-profile, leadership, or more lucrative options.
We’ve all seen at least some of it, but we don’t often see it diagrammed out. The focus here is science, but no field is immune. Imagine the expanded potential if women could achieve parity!
IMAGE: This mathematically delectable dessert was created by the PBS News Hour’s Facebook friend and birthday girl Kay Sweet in 2015 (find out what was so special about Pi Day 2015). By now the pie’s all gone, but we still can savor it in our hearts.
The breeds are commonly used working dogs. German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois are the most common working breeds now and in the past. The Doberman was used extensively In WW2, particularly in the Marine Corps, and the Husky and other northern breeds were used to carry equipment and pull sleds in WW2 and during the Cold War.
The mixed breed dog in the center is Stubby, of WWI fame, but he’s representing all the mixed breeds and unusual breeds used by the armed forces and civilian agencies.”
I thought I should finish off this post with my all-time favorite tribute to Military Working Dogs and their handlers, by Josh Tannehill. You’ve seen it on this blog before, but it bears re-posting!
These magnificent animals have no choice in whether they will defend our country and our troops–but they give the full measure of their devotion and provide an important force-multiplying factor. We owe it to them to honor them, and make sure they are well cared for throughout their lives.
Angelou had good reason to know this truth. Like love, like generosity, like any attitude, discipline, or craft that you practice, the more you practice it, the richer your store.
