Photo by: N.L. Belardes
One Bakersfield Woman's Blog to Mankind
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Burn the Witch
I told someone last week that I was looking forward to going to the all women Burn the Witch art show at the Empty Space. “A woman’s art show? That sounds like you, you’re all about women’s rights.”
Their comment surprised me at first…
“Yeah I guess I am. Probably comes from a lifetime of trying to escape dominating relationships and surviving an oppressive and dominating marriage.” I replied.
I firmly believe that a woman should be with a man for love, not because she needs him to pay her bills. I am a woman who works hard and supports myself without the help of a man. I am proud of that. Even when I am in a relationship I don’t ask the man to pay my bills. He can buy me dinner, take me places, but I’ll pay my own bills.
I also surround myself with strong women who take care of themselves and their children, as most of them are single moms. I admire these women. It takes guts to make your own way in life and raise a family without help. It’s hard. And these women do it with grace even when they are down to their last penny and its three days until payday. (I’ll include my single dad friends who are slugging it out in life and have custody of their children… I admire you as well. You can be honorary women in this blog).
Being married is different; you have a partner and combined financial interests. Don’t get me wrong it can be just as hard to make your way as a married couple in life. But when you’re single and doing it, you don’t have the emotional or financial support that is part of being married.
It’s hard enough to survive, much less find a way to follow your dreams…
So, yes I was looking forward to going to the Burn the Witch all women art show and seeing the art of local women following their dreams. Especially after reading about the show…
Jenn Williams art pictured...
“Why the name ‘Burn the Witch’ and only women artists? As a female artist, one faces some challenges that male artists don’t, or rarely do. ‘Oh, that’s some girl artist,’ or ‘She’s just some girl,’ or ‘But don’t you want to get married to some nice boy and have some children?’ or ‘Oh an art major? So you have a husband who is going to support you?’ or ‘You’re a Daddy’s girl, huh?’ Every one of these phrases has been used in regards to a female artist in this show.
When you are a woman, and you speak up for yourself or your art, you are accused of being a man-hater, a feminazi, and an agenda pusher, aggressive, selfish… You are, to make an example, pointed at by the villagers and accused of being a witch. So in this group show, we have a gathering…you can burn us, or you can be moved by our art.”
Did you hear what these female artists are saying? First they are belittled for being an artist and told that a man will have to support them, either a husband or Daddy. Then they are told to give up following their artist dreams and marry a nice boy and have children. Can’t women do both? Can’t they be artists and get married and have children? I believe they can! And finally for creating and sharing their art, for following their dreams, these female artists are being accused of being a man-hater, a feminazi, an agenda pusher, aggressive, and selfish.
I am not an artist, but I can relate to these women artists' struggle. Since I started sharing my writing on my blog in a public forum on the Internet almost two years ago I have been accused of being: self absorbed, simple, shallow, a man-hater, selfish, of exploiting my life on the Internet, of thinking I’m famous, of trying to be ‘Carrie Bradshaw’ from Sex and the City and much more. Believe me, blogging requires that you grow thick skin and have commitment. Thank goodness for comment moderation.
I wish I was Carrie Bradshaw, she got paid for writing a column about relationships, got a book deal out of it, and I’d kill for her wardrobe!!
And while I may write about my life in my blog, I don’t believe I am any of the things I’m accused of being for writing a blog. I am a woman from Bakersfield who supports the local literary, music, theatre and art scenes and writes about them and my own life’s adventures on my blog. I’m using my voice in Bakersfield. I’ve never been prouder of my blog and the fact that I write about Bakersfield than at the Yosemite Writer’s conference last month when my blog on a laptop was passed around the Pirate table and that Posh Publisher and the Georgetown Pirate were impressed by how I was writing about my Central Valley region.
My point is… sometimes it takes guts to follow your dreams, to put yourself out there and be subject to criticism.
I applaud the female artists of the Burn the Witch art show for joining together and creating such an amazing collection of art! There wasn’t a male-bashing piece of art in the gallery; this show wasn’t about male bashing. Burn the Witch is about celebrating womanhood, and women artists. There was such a vibe of powerful women in the crowd of people and the artists attending the show, it was electrifying.
When I arrived at the Empty Space last Saturday, I ran into ceramic artist Susan Roussel in full witch regalia outside whose Fairy Goth Mother I had bought at the Bakersfield Art Rave last month. “How is your Fairy Goth Mother treating you?” She asked.
“She’s great! I just love her!” I smiled.
Inside, I met Jen Raven for the first time. I’ve heard a lot about her, and she knew who I was. She was adorable in her period dress and Princess Leia hair. Jenn Williams was also manning the door, I knew her from Russo’s Books and her Russo’s Poetry group and from Noveltown’s Stories from Dust event at Russo’s.
Co-Curators, Jenn Williams and Jen Raven
I made my way through the unexpectedly large crowd to look at all of the amazing art displayed. Already there were two pieces I wanted to buy. By the time I had looked at all the art and made my way back to find Jen Raven, one of the pieces had already sold. In fact the art was selling faster at this show than at any other art show I have attended in Bakersfield. The walls were being covered in little red ‘sold’ stickers. Feeling anxious, I quickly found Jen Raven before the other piece sold. “I need to buy some art before someone else buys it.” I told her.
I bought this painting by Ashley Martinez called ‘Pained’.
Less anxious, I walked around and took my time studying the art. There were vibrant color themes and emotional themes and some really stunning pieces.
“It’s the lady from the Internet.” A local theatre director/actor in the crowd said to me.
“Yes.” I acknowledged as he passed me in the crowd.
“I need to buy more art.” I told Jen Raven a little bit later.
I bought two pencil drawings by sketch artist Katherine Campbell that reflected the front and back of a woman and was full of attitude.
If I could have afforded it, I would have bought more…
I wandered into the theatre section of the Empty Space where Julie Jordan Scott was performing poetry. I sat and listened as she spoke words with profound emotion that moved me. There is quite a difference from reading a poem on the page and having the poem performed. It’s so much more revealing. I listened as she performed several poems, and then had the audience participate in creating poems from words with the same vowel sound. And then she performed a poem called ‘Tom Don’t’ and her poetry came alive…
"…Tom, would you please get out of my face today?
Wait, I don’t mean it.
Come back, don’t leave me
Don’t leave me
Then you decided to join me on stage
“Make my illness the Giant tonight and
See what happens… c’mon, Julie, do it!”
You whispered, I shrieked:
You evil beast, Cancer – you killed my FRIEND
You can NOT have my son – Ohhhhhhhh
I HATE YOU!…"
I had goose bumps.
Julie Jordan Scott performs poetry while NL listens...
Julie Jordan Scott ended her poetry set with a poem called ‘Curvy Truth’ about female curves, self image, lust and love.
She began with:
"There is a certain power that comes from
Holding a man’s eyes in the center of my curves…"
And I followed her around and through every curvy curve…
Later NL said: “I liked Julie’s Hot Haiku, I didn’t expect that from her.”
“Hot Haiku? I missed that while I was in the other room buying art!”
He smiled a smile that said exactly what I had missed.
If you love women… you won’t miss the Burn the Witch all women’s art show at the Empty Space this Saturday, September 16, 2006 from 2-7pm. There's still plenty of art to buy!
More art from Burn the Witch...
The witch wall of infamy by artist Alexis Nelson
Read NL's articles on the Burn the Witch art show here and here...
Watch Burn the Witch on Zowietown...
I told someone last week that I was looking forward to going to the all women Burn the Witch art show at the Empty Space. “A woman’s art show? That sounds like you, you’re all about women’s rights.”
Their comment surprised me at first…
“Yeah I guess I am. Probably comes from a lifetime of trying to escape dominating relationships and surviving an oppressive and dominating marriage.” I replied.
I firmly believe that a woman should be with a man for love, not because she needs him to pay her bills. I am a woman who works hard and supports myself without the help of a man. I am proud of that. Even when I am in a relationship I don’t ask the man to pay my bills. He can buy me dinner, take me places, but I’ll pay my own bills.
I also surround myself with strong women who take care of themselves and their children, as most of them are single moms. I admire these women. It takes guts to make your own way in life and raise a family without help. It’s hard. And these women do it with grace even when they are down to their last penny and its three days until payday. (I’ll include my single dad friends who are slugging it out in life and have custody of their children… I admire you as well. You can be honorary women in this blog).
Being married is different; you have a partner and combined financial interests. Don’t get me wrong it can be just as hard to make your way as a married couple in life. But when you’re single and doing it, you don’t have the emotional or financial support that is part of being married.
It’s hard enough to survive, much less find a way to follow your dreams…
So, yes I was looking forward to going to the Burn the Witch all women art show and seeing the art of local women following their dreams. Especially after reading about the show…
Jenn Williams art pictured...
“Why the name ‘Burn the Witch’ and only women artists? As a female artist, one faces some challenges that male artists don’t, or rarely do. ‘Oh, that’s some girl artist,’ or ‘She’s just some girl,’ or ‘But don’t you want to get married to some nice boy and have some children?’ or ‘Oh an art major? So you have a husband who is going to support you?’ or ‘You’re a Daddy’s girl, huh?’ Every one of these phrases has been used in regards to a female artist in this show.
When you are a woman, and you speak up for yourself or your art, you are accused of being a man-hater, a feminazi, and an agenda pusher, aggressive, selfish… You are, to make an example, pointed at by the villagers and accused of being a witch. So in this group show, we have a gathering…you can burn us, or you can be moved by our art.”
Did you hear what these female artists are saying? First they are belittled for being an artist and told that a man will have to support them, either a husband or Daddy. Then they are told to give up following their artist dreams and marry a nice boy and have children. Can’t women do both? Can’t they be artists and get married and have children? I believe they can! And finally for creating and sharing their art, for following their dreams, these female artists are being accused of being a man-hater, a feminazi, an agenda pusher, aggressive, and selfish.
I am not an artist, but I can relate to these women artists' struggle. Since I started sharing my writing on my blog in a public forum on the Internet almost two years ago I have been accused of being: self absorbed, simple, shallow, a man-hater, selfish, of exploiting my life on the Internet, of thinking I’m famous, of trying to be ‘Carrie Bradshaw’ from Sex and the City and much more. Believe me, blogging requires that you grow thick skin and have commitment. Thank goodness for comment moderation.
I wish I was Carrie Bradshaw, she got paid for writing a column about relationships, got a book deal out of it, and I’d kill for her wardrobe!!
And while I may write about my life in my blog, I don’t believe I am any of the things I’m accused of being for writing a blog. I am a woman from Bakersfield who supports the local literary, music, theatre and art scenes and writes about them and my own life’s adventures on my blog. I’m using my voice in Bakersfield. I’ve never been prouder of my blog and the fact that I write about Bakersfield than at the Yosemite Writer’s conference last month when my blog on a laptop was passed around the Pirate table and that Posh Publisher and the Georgetown Pirate were impressed by how I was writing about my Central Valley region.
My point is… sometimes it takes guts to follow your dreams, to put yourself out there and be subject to criticism.
I applaud the female artists of the Burn the Witch art show for joining together and creating such an amazing collection of art! There wasn’t a male-bashing piece of art in the gallery; this show wasn’t about male bashing. Burn the Witch is about celebrating womanhood, and women artists. There was such a vibe of powerful women in the crowd of people and the artists attending the show, it was electrifying.
When I arrived at the Empty Space last Saturday, I ran into ceramic artist Susan Roussel in full witch regalia outside whose Fairy Goth Mother I had bought at the Bakersfield Art Rave last month. “How is your Fairy Goth Mother treating you?” She asked.
“She’s great! I just love her!” I smiled.
Inside, I met Jen Raven for the first time. I’ve heard a lot about her, and she knew who I was. She was adorable in her period dress and Princess Leia hair. Jenn Williams was also manning the door, I knew her from Russo’s Books and her Russo’s Poetry group and from Noveltown’s Stories from Dust event at Russo’s.
Co-Curators, Jenn Williams and Jen Raven
I made my way through the unexpectedly large crowd to look at all of the amazing art displayed. Already there were two pieces I wanted to buy. By the time I had looked at all the art and made my way back to find Jen Raven, one of the pieces had already sold. In fact the art was selling faster at this show than at any other art show I have attended in Bakersfield. The walls were being covered in little red ‘sold’ stickers. Feeling anxious, I quickly found Jen Raven before the other piece sold. “I need to buy some art before someone else buys it.” I told her.
I bought this painting by Ashley Martinez called ‘Pained’.
Less anxious, I walked around and took my time studying the art. There were vibrant color themes and emotional themes and some really stunning pieces.
“It’s the lady from the Internet.” A local theatre director/actor in the crowd said to me.
“Yes.” I acknowledged as he passed me in the crowd.
“I need to buy more art.” I told Jen Raven a little bit later.
I bought two pencil drawings by sketch artist Katherine Campbell that reflected the front and back of a woman and was full of attitude.
If I could have afforded it, I would have bought more…
I wandered into the theatre section of the Empty Space where Julie Jordan Scott was performing poetry. I sat and listened as she spoke words with profound emotion that moved me. There is quite a difference from reading a poem on the page and having the poem performed. It’s so much more revealing. I listened as she performed several poems, and then had the audience participate in creating poems from words with the same vowel sound. And then she performed a poem called ‘Tom Don’t’ and her poetry came alive…
"…Tom, would you please get out of my face today?
Wait, I don’t mean it.
Come back, don’t leave me
Don’t leave me
Then you decided to join me on stage
“Make my illness the Giant tonight and
See what happens… c’mon, Julie, do it!”
You whispered, I shrieked:
You evil beast, Cancer – you killed my FRIEND
You can NOT have my son – Ohhhhhhhh
I HATE YOU!…"
I had goose bumps.
Julie Jordan Scott performs poetry while NL listens...
Julie Jordan Scott ended her poetry set with a poem called ‘Curvy Truth’ about female curves, self image, lust and love.
She began with:
"There is a certain power that comes from
Holding a man’s eyes in the center of my curves…"
And I followed her around and through every curvy curve…
Later NL said: “I liked Julie’s Hot Haiku, I didn’t expect that from her.”
“Hot Haiku? I missed that while I was in the other room buying art!”
He smiled a smile that said exactly what I had missed.
If you love women… you won’t miss the Burn the Witch all women’s art show at the Empty Space this Saturday, September 16, 2006 from 2-7pm. There's still plenty of art to buy!
More art from Burn the Witch...
The witch wall of infamy by artist Alexis Nelson
Read NL's articles on the Burn the Witch art show here and here...
Watch Burn the Witch on Zowietown...
that's some HOT artwork. sounds like a worthwhile event...
wow. your writing is at such a fever pitch lately. I love it. great photos too!
I've heard similar comments that people have made to you, all that self absorption stuff. I figure folks who say that are merely jealous they are not brave enough to simply write and/or just be who their truthful selves.
Love love love the Hot Haiku comment from NL. Hey - if I can't surprise folks at (burn the witch) where can I surprise them?!
Thanks for the coverage, dear one. It is SOOOO appreciated. There's going to be an encore this Saturday, more poetry at 3 PM... hooray!
You are so wonderful! Thank you for all that you have said. Your article really moved me. You make me proud to be female! :)
I am a man and an artist. I believe that women can indeed be mothers, daughters, artists and wives. The secret is to have a mutual respect in a relationship. Most me fail to understand this. You wouldn’t know it by my appearance, but, there are men out there that do understand this idea; even in this swamp patch of a town;)
D
Thank you so much. It is so easy as a woman, and a woman artist, to let people keep you in their own defined space. To try and soften the blow when you stand up for yourself by making it something light hearted and laughing it all off. It isn't easy. It takes effort to truly be yourself. But you, my dear, make it look easy!
Hooray for strong, creative women! And hooray again for the amazing things that happen when we work together!
It does, indeed, take guts to follow one's dreams, and open one's self up to potential criticism. But these ladies have done it! And what an excellent job they have made of it! To all the women painters, sculptors, photographers, writers (that's you, Matildakay!)and poets who've been a part of this experience;
Thank you!!
To ungrateful people who are critics and who try to control us, I say: fuck you.
Matildakay, you are a lovely person.