The Art X poetry Exhibit (19.11.2017)

 

Last month, on the 19th November, I had the blessing of being able to have a piece of my artwork placed on display at the Art X Poetry exhibit curated by the wonderful Scarlett Ward (fellow poet & wonderful artist in her own right). I also read out a few poems at the event too, needless to say, I've never performed at an event like it before so it was quite an experience for me. I was very nervous, having caught a train all the way to Birmingham, and then travelled even further by car to get to the exhibit which was held in Walsall, so I fluffed up a little when it came to trying to describe my piece.

 

The most fascinating thing about art is that it has a countless amount of meanings and representations. The main one being the one that the creator gave to it, and the thousands that come from those who are consuming the piece and analysing it in their own way.  For me, the shorts that I created signified the shell I'm forced to reside in even if I don't always feel like I belong in it due to my gender dysphoria. Not only that though, it also represented the body part in which the shorts would cover which is the ass, and how many have felt the need to gaze upon it and even reach out and touch without my consent. I had a poem that was handwritten - which I find to be the most therapeutic way of expressing verse -  into little verses that were attached via ribbon. Ribbon holds a massive significance to me, in the way that I would wear it in my hair, as a child. I've always admired Matilda and her fascination with books, thus she became a massive fashion inspiration to me.  So the inclusion of ribbon was a personal nod to something that helped me through my childhood. I also liked the significance that ribbon has with the expression of 'femininity' something many associate with being a 'female' and with it the way that people have assumed my gender based by appearance and expression alone.

On the front of the shorts, I also attached this beautifully crafted flower that I'd made myself by fixing together many artificial flowers to form the shape of a vagina. I wanted to flaunt the beauty of the physical anatomy as well as highlight the fact that it doesn't define who a person is and the gender they feel themselves to be. I vajazzled this part with glitter because glitter is sparkly, and I am full of sparkles and brightness and many abusers have tried to destroy that part and cut it away from me. Of course, the people viewing my art may have got a different depiction from it.Which I find wonderful. I truly believe that every piece of art is its own universe opening up thousands of explorations and representations to different people.

I am proud of my work, but I feel the need to stop babbling on about myself now and move on the other fantastic artists that had their work on presentation.

Filming of the exhibit - a quick walkaround of the gallery space.

First of all, Kirsty Lack, who also gave a very real performance of her feminist poetry had a very strong kick-ass feminist piece on display. It was full of 'fuck Trump' which naturally, I am all for. The "Me too" movement that has undoubtedly hit headlines this year, has only enforced the need to shout out about misogynists and rapists that are speaking for a world they have no right to speak for and have power over a world they have no ethical right to have control over. Her words, both in spoken, and written are empowering for all those that have experienced what it's like to be oppressed by the viciousness of the enforced patriarchy. It's time to move away from the assumption that anything but a Cis White Male is insignificant and lower down on the ladder of life. 

Which brings me on to Rebecca Lockwood. Staffordshire's very own Young Poet Laurette who not only gave a beautiful reading, despite suffering a sore throat, also had a very relevant piece on display. It spoke about Marilyn Monroe and the lack of consent she gave to the countless amount of men that felt the need to trespass on to what was her's, with no consideration whatsoever. The whole depiction furthered the relevance of the "me too" movement and highlighted just how much sexual assault and abuse have been used to tarnish and degrade (especially women, and those assigned female at birth) throughout history. It's becoming even more evident that so many people have been exploited within the entertainment history that is run by a majority of men that will overlord themselves over the vulnerable and ambitious with promises and threatens to the destruction of careers to anyone who says no in a louder manner. Personally, I found the fact that she chose a celebrity to do her piece on quite interesting when you consider the fact that many celebrities are having their rights to privacy ignored for the sake of newspapers and media outlets making a profit.

Can anyone remember the photographs of Kate Middleton sunbathing in her OWN garden?!  How about the amount of underage (assumed) females that are just beginning into puberty having pictures of them in bikinis being taken by the paparazzi and sexualised by the media? It doesn't just end there either, you have actual child actors being photographed when out to eat with their families. Celebrity status does not equate to the consent of pictures being taken without permission. Just as, having a vagina does not equate to consenting to be degraded and put down by a toxic patriarchal system.

I'm ranting on a bit, but I genuinely found these women so inspiring and relatable on such a level it encouraged me to keep using my voice. Moving on, I'd like to bring your attention to Jack Rudd, an amazing artist. I spoke to hin at the event, I was massively impressed by his work and even more so when he told me he'd never done visual poetry, let alone blackout poetry, before! His works had the right amount of darkness in the drawing and white spaces to have my mind enthralled by all the representation his illustrations could hold to those who read it. 

Jodie Woodcock's artwork

Holly Francis had a beautifully painted scene of a wave crashing into the sea, as well as an interesting portrait of the moon. I was especially intrigued by the way that the moon was lit up with a light to make it stand out even more. It seemed rather avant-garde and reflected the way the sun lights up the moon in real life. It was extremely fitting with the painting of the wave which was painted an orange colour, as that's the colour of the sun also. There was something quite serene with the prose that was written also: "MY WONDER / FOR YOU / NEVER WANES". I look up to the moon as a lunar guidance when I feel low at night, so on a personal level, I found her work really calming to look at.

Another item of artwork that worked with light was a captivating one by Avery Thomas, another non-binary artist (pronouns: they/them). Their artwork had a projector lighting up a glass sheet on to the wall behind it. For me, I loved the way the prose that was on display talked about mental health. I felt the relevance of the light made their work even more poignant because it represented the way that mental health struggles are hidden in the dark and it takes extra work to light yourself up during those moments of gloom. That was just the way that I understood their work, but I'm expecting Avery to burst out on the art scene with more excellent pieces!

There were many talented artists that had their work on display. Jodie Woodcock drew me in with the use of white against black in her work. Tracy Henham incorporated her drawings with her poetry very well, her "Up 'Anley Duck" poem spoke on a true level, really explained a night uptown quite accurately. We can't leave this here, without speaking about Scarlett Ward, the curator of the exhibit.

Scarlett flows with light and courage when she verbalizes her work, this is also true for her artwork. The use of a typewriter is incredible and is a refreshing break from the typical write-ups on a PC, it's like the healthy median between handwritten and digitalised writings. It's also very pleasing aesthetically. However, Scarlett is not one to keep her work from being reachable to everyone and has started to incorporate braille into her work!

Not only did this exhibit hold a visual appeal to it, but it also encouraged people to delve into their other senses and touch some of the art. I feel very proud to know this person as she truly is one of a kind with the way she encourages others to continue with their ambitions and opens up the gateway into art by being inclusive to people who are blind. Things that light up keep me entertained and her instruction to touch the lights she had to represent braille to spell out words helped educate with the way in which braille is spelt out. The effort she puts into her work is incredible. Naturally, I had to spell out my name in one of her pieces. Overall, I found her work rather inclusive and magical. 

Spelling out RED

Of course, this event wasn't just for physical art but was for verbal art too. Emily Rose  Galvin, Staffordshire's Poet Laurette, gave a beautiful reading about the acceptance of one's self and how gender doesn't depict interest or expression. She embellished the notion that the most beautiful thing a person can be is, in fact, themselves. Philip Knight, another incredible poet, gave a passionate reading of his Dad's poem. Jason N Smith wowed everyone by reciting his pieces off by heart. Hayden Robinson embraced his love for his girlfriend and let this flow out with his verse. Mel Woodend gave her usual excellence of a delivery with her spoken word. There were many more spectacular poets who gave a performance.

Emily Rose Galvin giving her performance

Philip Knight reading out a poem

The event started to draw to an end with musical performances. Arran Page sang incredibly well and played that acoustic guitar incredibly, but the security didn't take too well to live music being performed. This didn't stop New Roots from giving a very rebellious climactic performance though.

Overall, I found the event very exciting, and I was so happy to be a part of it. After everything that has happened this year, I'm so pleased with myself for pushing myself creatively and finally being in a position to befriend like-minded people. 

New Roots performing at the close of the show