Effie Artist goes to market…

As a little light relief, those of you who aren’t out a-protesting this weekend might like to stop in to see and buy the delightfully quirky work of Catherine Anne Hiley, printmaker and artist. Her “Why not wear a Mustache” card is one of my favourites…  and if you can’t make this weekend you can catch her work at an exhibition later on!

to let you know I will be at the Market at St.Columba’s by the Castle, Johnstone Terrace, Edinburgh, this Saturday 28th from 11 – 5! I’ll be sharing a stall with my studiomate, the ever-talented Mina Braun and we will have lots of stuff, including a new selection of art postcards and greetings cards, so do turn up if you can! There will be many interesting arts&crafts stalls by local artists, so it will be well worth a visit.

Catherine’s new book “Selkie” is being featured:

 in the opening exhibition of a new art bookshop on the Grassmarket, called the “Golden Hare”. It opens on May 1st and will run for two months. There will also be a reception at the end of May, where you will be able to meet the owners and artists. The show is curated by Ruth Grindley and will feature several Edinburgh Printmakers artists who work in book form.

Exciting times!

More of the Same? Women and the Scottish Local Government Elections 2012

Reblogged from Gender Politics at Edinburgh:

By Dr. Meryl Kenny (UNSW) and Dr. Fiona Mackay (Edinburgh)

Thirteen years after devolution heralded a ‘new dawn’ in women’s representation – with Nordic levels of women MSPs elected to the first Scottish Parliament – the story remains very different at local government level. Less than 1 in 4 candidates for next month’s local government elections are women, leaving the face of local politics looking decidedly ‘male, pale, and stale’

Read more… 1,914 more words

male pale and stale? food for thought in the election run-up!

Can I get fries with that shake?

Some interesting thoughts from a friend and fellow feminist who has been discussing feminism with her neice. Without sounding older than my years, it gives me hope for the youth of today!

Can I get fries with that shake?

Abortion: a panel debate and Q&A co-hosted with Ed Uni Life Soc

Reblogged from Feminist Reading Group Joy:

Event this Thursday – hosted by the Edinburgh Uni Feminist Society (EUFS) Tickets are £2

Thurs 1st March, 19.15-21.00, Appleton Tower Lecture Theatre 5, Crichton St

So – we’ve decided to engage the Ed Uni Life Society! We’re hosting a short showcase debate followed by an open forum discussion a la the BBCs Question Time.

Pro-choice? Pro-life? Undecided?

Across the world, abortion remains a cultural, religious, moral – and sometimes legal – morass.

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PETA, Veganism and Kink

I am  at a loss how to respond to PETA’s ridiculous adverts which seem to engage sexism and misogyny to raise awareness of themselves without regard to the cost to veganism or the wider concerns of politically engaged compassionate living.  Its always a double lose for feminist vegans or vegetarians.  Forced to chose between staying silent on the sexism which is used to advocate for something you believe in,  or you play their game and respond, raising their profile (if not their message) and at the same time open up extra spaces for both your vegan or vegetarianism, and feminism to get further ridiculed by trolls.  I get cross.  However there is a brightside to PETAs latest hideously and insultingly gendered offering (which i am not linking to) a really interesting conversation has emerged over on the Bright Green Scotland blog surrounding their use of images of physically harmful sex.  Which together explore the referencing of abusive relationships and kink.   With Alyson MacDonald spelling out why yet again PETA has sacrificed the message for the medium, and an interesting response by an kinky feminist vegan looking more closely at ways to critique PETA without further marginalising certain sexualities.

 

 

 

Films about FGM @ the Filmhouse

For the organised folks planning ahead the Scottish Government is sponsoring the Filmhouse to show two short films about Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) to commemorate International Women’s Day this year.

Female Genital Mutilation dosen’t strike me as the easiest subject matter to watch – but the films both look really interesting – I’ve been wanting to see silent scream for a while.   I think choosing two films – one set in the UK and the other abroad, in Kenya is an interesting choice, and I’m curious to find out whether this was a deliberate choice by the hosts.  I guess thats something to ask in the panel discussion afterwards!

Details:

12 March 2012 at 6.00 pm @ Filmhouse on Lothian Road

Silent Scream: A drama-documentary made by 27 young women who attend schools in the Bristol area.
Abandon the Knife: In the Pokot community in Kenya, young girls are starting to fight back against the brutal rite of passage that is female circumcision.

The screening will be followed by a panel discussion session chaired by Mukami McCrum (Scottish Government), and composed of  Khadija Coll (African Women’s Health Project, Glasgow), Laura McCrum (Saheliya), Monica Mhoja (DARF)  and  Police.

Innovative Chrystal Week

Reblogged from Feminist Reading Group Joy:

Next week as part of Innovative learning week there will be not one but two Chrystal themed events, as well as the ongoing exhibition!  Some Femjoyers will be there, participating in one way or another, so looking forward to seeing folk.

Session 1:  Who is Chrystal? What is she to us? 

Wednesday   February 22 from 2pm-4pm

Chrystal Macmillan Building, Seminar Rooms 1/2 (Ground Floor) 

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Exciting times at Edinburgh university - Innovative learning week is a range of events open to the university and wider community! So do come along if you can :o)