'Bloody Brilliant Women'
Women From Herstory
'Bloody Brilliant Women' is taken from a the title of the book by Cathy Newman.
After exploring the feminist library and the archives, I was keen to explore deeper into women's history/herstory. Leading me to the women you see below Eleanor Rathbone and Claudia Jones. Both women have been involved in social reform and including the campaign for the benefits system and campaigning against housing injustices, discrimination in the workplace, and racist immigration policies.
Working from black and white photos, I am re-imagining these women. Making up their skin tones, hair colour, the patterns on their cloths. Guessing and suggesting from my readings of them how they would present.
Eleanor Rathbone
Eleanor Rathbone, Watercolour and coloured pencils on Gesso Board. 20x30cm
Eleanor Rathbone, 20x30xm,Watercolour and coloured pencils on gesso board process
Rathbone, was the first woman to be elected to Liverpool City Council. She was associated with many campaigns for social reform, particularly on issues affecting women.
She is most often associated with the campaign to introduce Family Allowances, finally won in 1945, which has developed into Child Benefit. She was also involved with women's suffrage, human rights, and refugee issues.
Eleanor Rathbone, Watercolour and coloured pencil on paper. 56x76cm
Eleanor Rathbone A1 Watercolour and coloured pencils on paper, Painting Process
Eleanor Rathbone, Watercolour on paper. 56x76cm
Claudia Jones
Claudia Jones, Watercolour and coloured pencil on Gesso Board. 20x30cm
Claudia Jones, 20x30xm,Watercolour and coloured pencils on gesso board, process painting.
Claudia Jones was a feminist, political activist, visionary, and pioneering journalist. Jones was born in Trinidad in 1915.
Jones was exiled to the UK in 1955.
In the UK, Jones continued her lifelong fight against racial inequality and intolerance. She worked with activist organizations to campaign against housing injustices, discrimination in the workplace, and racist immigration policies. Jones was also a staunch champion for women’s rights.
Claudia Jones ‘no peace can be obtained if any women, especially those who are oppressed and impoverished, are left out of the conversation’.
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/history/public-engagement/blackhistory/snapshots/claudiajones/
