Pink and nasty. Go get ’em girls.
Creative minds do wondrous things when the right spark is lit. Kudos to Kate, who chose to get nasty.
by Kate Felstiner Lowe
While following hourly, cringe-inducing tweets and comments, we hardly noticed when Trump referred to Hilary Clinton as that “nasty woman” during the US Presidential debates. His slurs were, and continue to be so relentless, that it’s difficult to keep track and react. Even as a British-based Canadian, since Donald Trump showed up, I have felt that we are all drowning in Trump’s slanderous dribble.
Like many of you – I stomped in protest at the International Women’s March as a way of protesting his election. What an uplifting experience to join with my daughters and several hundred thousand people, of all ages and nationalities, in defiance of the alternative truths being peddled by Mr Trump. But when the March was over, life seemed to return to normal; and I realised what we all now know for sure.
Our resistance has to be a daily exercise. It can be loud or quiet and it can happen in kitchens, places of work, classrooms, doctor’s offices, with our politicians, our sons and daughters. As long as we don’t become worn down.
When I was asked to participate in a group art show called “Nasty Women” that was raising money to support victims of Domestic Violence in London (where I have lived for the last 20 years,) I was keen to get involved. Another chance to raise awareness and funds for the many women’s rights and protections that are actively under attack in America and other parts of the World. I am a mature student doing an MA in Fine Art at Chelsea in London. My fellow artists are a diverse bunch; some have left countries where women cannot speak freely. Others have been victims of domestic violence or abuse. Some have mental health issues. All these are areas are affected by the rolling back of women’s rights in the US.
Getting Nasty involved a very quick call for women artists to participate in our one night show. I was delighted when one of Britain’s top female brewers agreed to make us generous recipients of some delicious liquid support in the form of Wild Card Ale. Hot Pink posters screaming Nasty Women were printed and sprayed around the community and on line. On the night itself, the show was packed with friends, colleagues, family and even a few curators and collectors. The work was a mixed bag, but that wasn’t the point.
Nasty Women Chelsea gave me, and all my fellow artists and supporters a chance to continue our protest. We sold almost everything, raising about 5000 dollars in a few hours. We worked tirelessly, gathered and made some irreverent art, and most importantly we continued to be vociferous in our support for our hard-won dignity and rights.
I look forward to my next opportunity to get Nasty. I hope you are all Nasty too.
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