CREATIVE work by female artists, exploring body image, breast cancer and living with war, and celebrating Bradford women awarded blue plaques for social reform, is being showcased in a new exhibition.
Some artists have drawn inspiration from their own stories and experiences of how women support each other through difficult times.
Opening today, Not a Minority celebrates International Women’s Day, taking place on March 8. The exhibition, at Trapezium Gallery in Bradford, explores “women’s issues from all walks of life”.
Celebrating women’s achievements in the past, and raising awareness of present day concerns, it puts the focus on Bradford women.
Supported by Bradford Council, the exhibition brings together an eclectic mix of work, including painting, drawing, photography, 3D with various materials, textiles and the written word.
Pauline Cooke, a co-founder of Trapezium Gallery and producer of the exhibition says: “March 8 is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.
“I wanted to mark this day in 2024 with a month-long exhibition of work about women, their history and things they feel strongly about. And to challenge the idea that women should be labelled as ‘different’... Rather that women are people in society with specific issues which need to be highlighted.”
Subjects that the artists have explored include body image and dress, health and sexuality, women’s rights and abuses of power. Others have chosen to celebrate female icons and famous women from Bradford’s past. There is artwork recording the history of women’s work and women living with war.
Says Pauline: “Heather Sharp celebrates the resilience and fortitude of her grandmother.
“Caro Blount-Shah commemorates women from Bradford who have been awarded Blue Plaques for their significant contributions to women and children’s wellbeing and education.
“In ‘Surviving and Thriving’, Cath Muldowney presents a collection of portraits of women who have been affected by and supported each other through breast cancer.
“Liz Tolan’s paintings also show women standing together, offering the support that women provide for each other throughout their lives.
“Heather Sharp celebrates the resilience and fortitude of her grandmother.
“Christine Kelly, too, will be displaying garments and photos of the original sewing machines of her grandmother Olive, now 102, who was born in Jamaica and came to the UK in the l950s to work in Bradford’s textile industry.
“In ‘No one should Die’, Mary Whitehouse addresses the plight of women who have lost their lives working in dangerous conditions in the garment industry around the world.
“Safrana Musa addresses women’s relationship with body hair and a culture that encourages its removal.”
Adds Pauline: “I have been blown away with the response. The range of work relating to women’s issues is incredible.
“In addition, I want to encourage the idea that working together and sharing space achieves more, in terms of reaching audiences, than exhibiting alone. I hope we can build on this in the lead up to Bradford’s year as 2025 City of Culture, when the contribution of all Bradford’s resident artists is crucial.”
The exhibition opens today with a live performance Event from 1pm by Nabeela Ahmed and Irene Lofthouse.
Nabeela Ahmed, a multi-lingual poet and spoken word artist, will be sharing her poem The Year of Man, previously filmed and shared by the Bradford Producing Hub, covering issues facing women around the world. She will share poems in English, Urdu and Pahari, focussing on themes relating to women and how they affect everyone.
Irene Lofthouse is a Bradford actor, writer, storyteller and historian. Her performance will celebrate inspiring women. “’Women can’t...”‘ is an oft-heard phrase through time to the present day. Listen instead to stories of ‘Women Who Did and Do’,” says Irene. “Those who challenged perceptions, fought battles, created their own vision, changed laws, followed their own dream - whilst also bringing up children and caring for relatives and being income creators.”
Workshops taking place during the exhibition are:
* Vulva Workshop (for women only) by Rachel McMahon: Tuesday, March 5: 12-2pm;
* Introduction to Cyanotype by Caro Blount-Shah: Tuesday, March 19, 12-2pm;
* Not A Minority is at Trapezium Gallery, Kirkgate, Bradford, until March 23.
Opening times are: Tuesday, Friday, Saturday 11am-3pm.
There’s a chance to meet the artists at the exhibition launch today, from 12noon to 4pm.
For more information, or to book one of the workshops, visit trapeziumarts.com or email art@trapeziumarts.com
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here