In January over 700 artists from around the world took part in the sell-out “Nasty Women” exhibition in New York, a fundraiser for women’s health charities. In April a group of Newcastle based artists and curators hosted their very own version “Nasty Women Newcastle”, which attracted over 2,500 visitors and raised more than £3,000 for local women’s and LGBTQ+ charities. Now the same group, called “Nasty Women North East”, are planning a second even bigger exhibition plus the first ever Nasty Women conference and they’d like your help.
Named after the Trump slur to Clinton during presidential debates “Nasty Women” offers artists (and others) the opportunity to be involved in a visual protest against the Trump administration whilst raising money for women’s and LGBTQ+ organisations.
Byker Community Centre (BCC), which has long been a hub of cultural and social activity in the East of the city and beyond, is hosting the open submissionexhibition entitled “Are You Still Nasty” and a two day conference with key note address by Roxanne Jackson founder of the original NYC exhibition.
After local artist Lady Kitt showed work at “Nasty Women NYC” she, along with feminist curator Michaela Wetherelland BCC Development Manager Aly Smith, decided to run their own version of the event in April. Michaela Wetherellsaid “as our last exhibition was so well received by local people and as the global Nasty Women movement is developing at such a fast rate we thought now would be a perfect time to combine local talent with this amazing international network and create a second exhibition and conference.” Submissions are open to everyone- there is no need to be an artist, a woman or from Newcastle, in fact the last exhibition included work from people all over the world including Amsterdam, Poland and the USA! As well as over 100 art works from local people such as, a painting called “Starry night for fantastic and amazing women” by 5 year old Finn from Heaton. After the last exhibition received artwork from mutli award winning artists including Margaret Harrison and Sky Arts scholarship recipient Sarah Maple, Kitt, Michaela and Aly are encouraging even more local people to donate their work to the event. And it’s not just creative work the Nasty Women North East team are looking for, they are also hoping local people will come together to help run the conference, which has received no funding and is entirely organised by volunteers.
Kitt, whose Nasty Women NYC artwork was purchased by an American Politician, says:
“Being part of the Nasty Women movement, as an artist, has been an amazing experience for me. I’d recommend it to anyone; it’s given me opportunities to show my work all over the world.
The reason I’ve become involved with organising the event at Byker Community Centre is because the centre is such a widely used and invaluableresource for the women of Byker and we feel it is a fitting venue for the first ever conference celebrating this international feminist movement. Michaela, Aly and I are delighted and humbled by how generous people have been – the offers of help we have received so far are wonderful – it’s a very exciting time!”
The deadline for submissions is Oct Fri 27. For information about volunteering / submitting art work for the exhibition please visit the groups Facebook page “Nasty Women North East” or email Michaelamichaela.wetherell@hotmail.co.uk
To buy tickets for the conference please see: www.lladykitt.com/nastywomen-tickets
Money raised by the exhibition will be used to cover the conference expenses and fund community workshops.
The exhibition preview is on November Friday 17 6.30-8.30pm at Byker Community Centre and the exhibition runs until November 30. The conference is on Thurs 16 & Friday 17 November.