SIGNAL BOOST: DONATE TO A Different Mirror: An Exhibition On Body Image:
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A Different Mirror is an art exhibition and series of educational activities in London by Women of Colour artists exploring body image.
Hana Riaz began The Body Narratives, a web-based project, earlier this year as a way of curating and documenting the ways in which Women of Colour understand and own their bodies and experiences. These four short months has seen an overwhelming response from all over the world.
In using the body as a starting point, it’s time to extend this platform and continue the conversation. As a response, we have pulled together an experienced all Women of Colour arts production team to manifest this passionate mission!
The Team!
‘A Different Mirror’ is a three-day multidisciplinary art exhibition by 9 artists in Brixton, London. Socially constructed ideas about race, gender and culture remain key in how Women of Colour perceive themselves. The exhibition will use art as the basis to capture and explore body image and perception, examining the effects of body image on who we are. In addition to supporting these artists we want to create a programme that relates to, engages with and celebrates the experiences of Women of Colour in London where these discussions are often limited.
For this reason, we will be hosting the exhibition in Brixton, Lambeth that statistically has the second highest proportion of black – Caribbean’s and mixed raced white and black – Africans in the country; the “highest proportion of people classified as Other Black (i.e. not Caribbean or African)” and; a female population of 50.2%.
We want to use this platform as a safe space and creative medium to discuss body image, body positivity and healing by creating accessible educational activities:
Commission a two-day poetry/art workshop for 7 Women of Colour to create an interactive installation on their experiences of shame,
Host local school group visits as part of Personal, Social and Health Education classes,
Run an artist seminar to encourage the use art for empowerment and healing,
Host an afternoon women’s circle to nurture dialogue and discussion about the exhibition and women’s experiences.
This requires your help!
WHAT DO WE NEED?
Our goal of £1200 will help us commission a two-day poetry and visual art workshopby I Shape Beauty titled ‘Secrets Women Keep’.
Installation sketches
Artist Lesley Asare and poet Indigo Williams will work with 7 Women of Colour aged 18 – 24 to create an interactive installation that will be featured in the exhibition, sharing their stories and journeys into owning their bodies.
£1200 will cover the cost of facilitating the workshops and the materials for participants to write and record their poems, and create this 7-foot-wonder of an installation with the artists.
STRETCH GOALS
If we raise:
£500 over the goal we can host 3 local school group visits to the exhibition
£1000 over the goal will allow us to also host school groups and an artist seminar
£1500 over the goal will allow us also to host school groups, an artist seminar, and an afternoon women’s circle
£2000 over the goal will allow us to also collaborate with One Of My Kind Zine to produce 200 additional copies of an exclusive educational Zine with artist’s work, short pieces exploring body positivity, tips for wellness and wellbeing, and the poems by workshop participants for the exhibition.
MEET THE ARTISTS
Indigo Williams is a poet and teacher. She is winner of 2012 New Generation slam, has performed at Tedx Brixton, BBC Radio 4, and Glastonbury. She is the co-founder ofishapebeauty.com.
Lesley Asare is a visual artist and performer focused on understanding ourselves and bodies. She’s presented within Artsadmin Toynbee Studios, Lost Theatre, and Bush theatre. She is a founding member of the collective ‘The Ahhhness of Things’. She is co-founder of ishapebeauty.com.
Sanaa Hamid is a photography student that uses her work to explore multiculturalism, gender, and body politics within a South Asian context. Her series ‘Cultural Appropriation: A Conversation’ has sparked a global conversation.
Patricia Kaersenhout is a visual artist based in Amsterdam that explores the African diaspora in relation to feminism, racism and slavery. She has widely exhibited in Netherlands, at the Caribbean Crossroads New York 2012, and the Black Magic Woman festival 2012.
Nasreen Raja is a visual artist that explores memory and cultural experiences from Pakistan, UK and Islam. She uses digital, screen-printed, dyed techniques on 100% silk. Her designs featured in Southbank Centre’s Alchemy 2013 show.
Ng’endo Mukii is a film director and animator. Her short ‘Yellow Fever’ explores African Women’s self-image; winning Best Animation in Kenya International Film Festival 2012 and Best Short film at Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards 2013.
Sarina Leah Mantle is a designer/Illustrator/singer that uses her work to explore indigenous cultures and nature using reclaimed/unused fabrics. She’s toured internationally as 1/2 of Native Sun and teaches workshops.
Wasma Mansour is a Saudi photographer that incorporates text and oral history. Her work explores representations in private spaces and she has exhibited in UK, Italy, Bangladesh and Denmark.
…AND THE TEAM
Hana Riaz is a feminist writer and editor and recent graduate with an Msc in Race, Ethnicity and Postcolonial Studies. She has curated and coordinated arts related events such as films screenings with panels, photography exhibition exploring Britishness at SOAS, charity music & poetry events, and workshops.
Mysa Kafil-Hussain is currently working for a Middle Eastern charity based in London, leading on fundraising events and appeals, in addition to past experience in the Adult Events team at the British Museum. A recent SOAS graduate, Mysa studied Arabic and History and was the president of The Middle East Society.
Grace Okereke is a freelance and employed arts management professional with 9 years of experience and has an MA in Policy and Management. She is currently employed with Uchenna Dance and Greenwich Dance where she project manages programmes, events, and community/education development. She was a performer and teacher.
Fatema Zehra is freelancing in editorial, consultancy and event organising. She is a Trustee (Head of Fundraising and Marketing) at Al Mizan Charitable Trust. She has over three years of experience with a strong footing in PR, Marketing and Media. She has worked on events including pop-up gallery for Seeds of Peace and TEDx SOAS.
THE REWARDS
Postcard Pack
Indigo Wiliams’ ‘Dark Girls’ poem
SPREAD THE WORD
Follow our project on The Body Narratives, our Facebook and on Twitter@body_narratives to keep track of our progress and to stay current on upcoming fundraising events.
Ask your friends, family, neighbours, and social communities to get the word out about our project to help encourage body positivity within the UK! Share our project on Facebook, Tweet it, blog about it, talk about it.
We hope this will be the beginning of expanding our journey!
A big thank you to Martyna Przybysz for shooting our video and taking our photographs!
Risks and challengesLearn about accountability on Kickstarter
A Different Mirror production and creative team completed detailed project planning stages at the beginning of September 2013, including a detailed time line and budget with room for contingency. The venue has already been booked and confirmed for 18 – 23rd February 2014 for both the workshops and exhibition. And all participating artists have also already been confirmed.
We have set aside sufficient time for all fundraising activities to ensure we receive the funds needed to put on both the exhibition and ancillary educational activities.
We are a very experienced Arts management team and have the skills, knowledge and drive to overcome any obstacles and ensure that we can put on this project successfully.
Quality, however, is imperative and should there be any drastic unexpected set-backs we will push back the dates to manifest the vision we are so passionate about.
please signal boost and consider donating. we need to support more artistic endeavors by women of color, especially around issues of body images so white women’s narratives don’t continue to dominate the discourse
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