The Abstract Colourist: Feature Blog

Farewell, New York! My Goodbye Letter to you...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 12 Jan 2019 14:35:00 +0000

Dear New York,

It’s been 3 months, and like all good things, they must come to an end. You’ve been kind to me. I can give you that. Your people have helped me, when I’ve needed it. Not saying they always knew which direction a subway train was going in, but they’ve tried. You’ve certainly enabled me to do my work here, as you’re a city of artistic glory. A beating hub. A magnet with monumental pull. You attract talent from all over this Earth to come and ‘make it’ here. The American dream and all that comes with it. I’ve seen talent like no other. A congregation like no other. I’ve met so many artists, in particular autistic ones, which is exactly what I hoped for. It’s been amazing to see what type of spaces you have available to us. The support. I feel honoured to have visited all the galleries and pop-up spaces. To see the amazing street art beckon at me from across the sidewalk. There’s always a surprising message. For everyone has something to say in New York! For that’s what you attract, what you provoke. And freedom of speech is what you give the people. I likened the city to an artist platform; an outlet for souls with a message to the world. I hope you get heard amongst the din.

Art in unexpected places

Andy Warhol exhibition at the Whitney Museum - a favourite

For all the great things, come the shortfalls. Race is tense, at times. You can feel it on the surface bubbling away: how quickly people can become provoked and then how suddenly sides are taken. Even over a seemingly innocent exchange. The heat rises fast. And that’s not just the humidity of the summer heat we’re talking about. Your past is recent. People remember. The stories are unfolding and finally being told. It’s been fascinating and horrendous to learn about.

There’s a great deal of poverty and that has made me sad. The subway holds up the homeless who ride from one dead end to another. The trains can smell of sick, faeces and rotten food. It’s quite gross. But we’re all so dependent on the subway. For A-B we must go. The homeless prevails, as with many cities, large and small, around the world. I know it’s complex, so I won’t say too much on the topic, but rest assured I’ve acknowledged the issue.

The New York shoreline as the sun begins to set...

New York marathon: the most incredible event I've seen, bringing together all communities of people, in one giant street party :)

The healthcare insurance is something I think I’ll never get over. I felt like I was going back to the stone ages. I didn’t realise that not everything is covered by it and how expensive it can be. It’s the difference between surviving or not. Break or lose. Such a lottery. Yet it’s a basic human right! For any country and person. I view the NHS with completely new lens now. it’s not perfect, sure, but it’s there for you. For everyone. Like it or loathe it.

Which gave way to me thinking that you feel a little like a third world country. As I came to learn more, I understood about the lack of food safety standards and laws that the food industry abides by. Or lack of. Ps – I didn’t like your food. It was expensive and often of poor quality. And not yummy. It felt like a game of hit and miss. And I don’t like that when it comes to my basic need. Your employment rights aren’t great either. Women have less rights compared with men – just look at the maternity leave one gets. It ain’t on…

Bushwick Street Art

The vibrant streets of New York

Yet everyone wants to come and live here. Why, New York..? I was constantly gobsmacked. Sure, it’s a fun and exciting city - great for a holiday. But to live here? Yes, if you’re rich. But that applies to anywhere in the world. Yet a large proportion of people in your city are struggling. It feels like you’re at melting point. Many are living illegally. Expired visas and all that jazz. Some never have one! These stories are not uncommon, and many people work without papers. You shocked me when I first arrived, but I soon became desensitised. For it’s so tricky to come and work in the States, that it’s quite normal to find alternative ways to be.

You’re like this façade. A façade of glory that you present to the world. Yet underneath you’re rotting away. The branding is sensational, and it holds you up. But underneath you’re failing. Collapsing. How long will it take…? I feel it’s happened so slowly, gradually, that you haven’t realised it yourself. It comes down to outsiders to tell you this. But what if you’re not in New York? What if you’re in a town which is rural and far from the external influences of the world? Well, the word opiates probably means a lot to you for starters. for opiate addiction is on the rise in parts of the States. And that’s a whole other blog and a half, but it’s been happening for some time now, and what does that say about the future of the country? The Government shutdown is nearing the end of the third week as I write this. The Wall and Trump scare me in equal measures.

The amazing murals which would suddenly appear... and then there's the insane '6-layer-parking' dotted around the city

People love New York and are drawn to it. A real magnet...

New York, New York. You’ve given me a lot to consider and ponder. And I can assure you that I’m never going to forget you. You astound me, and I will always follow you - from afar. Thank you for the experience. Thank you for the learnings. Please take care. I hope you get the investment and care you need.

With love,

Mahlia x

Me in my shared studio space at Con Artist Collective

Autistic Artists: Exploring Limitations and their Impact

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 18:00:00 +0000

On my quest to meet with as many autistic artists as possible in NYC, I’ve opened myself up to speaking with writers, filmmakers, poets, musicians – and even those that have worked alongside autistic artists to create TV and media content. There are many trends that are coming through, and for me this is summed up in the following two points:

- The talent is there

- But so are the struggles

It’s all very simple. I’ve seen some incredible paintings; those of the most intricate of detail, as well as the loosest of abstract form, beautiful verses of prose and the most moving of narratives, musicians playing pure goosebump-inducing melodies, and then there’s the incredibly impactful and compelling short films and documentaries I’ve seen produced. I feel the defining factor and difference is that these are all people with a powerful drive and passion; that they’re putting their energy and soul into the projects they’re working on – and you can feel this very tangibly.

Obviously, I’m realistic though – there’s a heap of talent in New York. It’s a congregation of some of the world’s greatest arts talent in one giant city. And that’s quite scary to think about!

But the struggles are definitely evident, and everyone has their own bag of what they’re dealing with. However, it’s more the impact that these struggles then have on one’s art practise. So, for instance, I met a visual fine artist who struggles with sensory overload and consequently finds it hard to visit galleries. This then means that they can only visit them in small doses, and has to undertake more visits to be up-date-to-date with the current art scene. Another fine artist has social difficulties and struggles with multiple conversations taking place at the same time. Sadly, he can’t attend any private views and openings due to the feeling of overwhelm - and has to leave – in case he has a meltdown. This means that he misses out on meeting with and networking with artists, gallerists, curators – and other crucial connections. Another writer has a massive anxiety about using public transport and struggles to meet others within her community of writers and attend workshops around the city.

Maybelline Gonzalez and her work, Instagram: @msmaybellene

There are many, many examples I can give you of difficulties people on the spectrum face and the consequent impact and limitations it can have on one’s career - especially in a job where you need to be doing more than simply fine-tuning your craft. You have to be communicating and getting your work out there for it to be seen and known. And that in itself is a serious undertaking of will that all artists find challenging.

David Savette’s painting ‘Scent of Comfort in the Rain’, Instagram: @talldarkpoetny

The ultimate factor that stood out for me though was the barrier to employment – virtually all artists I met with had some type of difficulty in holding down a regular job. Each of these artists had had some kind of difficulty – or simply very bad experiences, in the past. With creative jobs or otherwise. Even though they’re all tremendously talented, and employers are open to disabilities and diversity, there is this expectation of employers (regardless of whether they’re an arts centre or theatre) - that you need to be turning up each day, and performing your role, diligently. This is a real challenge and I’ve heard countless stories of artists who haven’t been able to make this work. Our condition leaves us unable to perform stably all the time. And this makes it tough if you wish to subsidise your artistic income, which you undoubtedly are likely to have to do. This may leave you dependent on others, including the State. I know of an artist currently struggling to find a roof over her head. And that’s very sad.

Larry Bissonnette – autism advocate and artist based in Vermont

And then what? What’s next for these artists?

I mean, I am meeting people who have managed to make it work. I met one artist for example who works at a school with special needs students, namely autistic ones, and then works on his art outside of this. This is a success story. And I’m really stressing that point. He gets to do both. He’s found a job he enjoys and cares about, while still leaving him with enough time to work on his art and make a living. He even volunteers with young autistic people at the weekend in the arts!

Some autistic artists who have more complex and severe needs may gain the support of an art centre that operates as a day care centre and are helped and supported in this form. Such places are often funded through Medicare, i.e. the Government, and will provide space and support where artists can produce art, and then the organisation will have connections with galleries, corporations and other means to sell and exhibit their work. I’ve written about these spaces in my other blog ‘Art Spaces Supporting Autistic Artists in NYC’, and for those who can get on such a programme (spaces are often very limited), it can be very beneficial – simply because of the artistic links that these centres have.

Anie Knipping's incredible book about her autism and life journey: ‘Eccentricity: A Journey through a Mind’

But it raises the question as to what becomes of these ‘middling’ autistic artists. Those artists whose needs may not be seen as severe enough to be State supported, yet they still struggle on in their own way. And I don’t have the answer to that! I know I regularly struggle with my autism and that can limit me, yet I also feel that I’m finding ways to make it work. Little by little. Perhaps it’s a lifetime’s worth of exploration and figuring out, who knows. But the point here is to raise awareness of these artists.

So what does ultimately become of these people? Do they continue to pursue their art? Does it simply take them a lot longer to ‘get there’? Do they have to resort to job-after-job of which may or may not work out…? My personal view is that things often haven’t been easy for us (I’m not saying everyone else has had it easy), and I therefore feel we have a higher degree of resilience than the average person, and will therefore make it work out - somehow.

Please help me complete the picture, by contacting me and sharing your stories. And I guess to an extent, only time will tell of what becomes of neurodiverse artists. But let’s not wait that long ;D!

Art Spaces Supporting Autistic Artists in NYC: Part II

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 23:30:00 +0000

And on to the second part of my blog, where I met with autistic art centres in and around New York! A reminder that the first part can be read here, and also that the art centres I visited often catered to artists with other disabilities too – so not simply focusing on autism. In addition to the art centres I went to see, I found that there were galleries that supported ‘Outsider Artists’. I’m not sure how politically correct that term is anymore, and whether people still use it, yet I do keep stumbling upon it. One example is a gallery called Ricco/Maresca that champions and showcases the art of self-taught masters working outside the continuum of art history. You also have the American Folk Art Museum devoted to the creative expressions of self-taught artists, past and present. So there really are galleries that support ‘alternate’ routes and means to the arts, as well as the artist’s mental and physical condition, which was very interesting to discover. But back to my list, and here we go with the final two on my list!

Arts Unbound - www.artsunbound.org

These guys are based out in New Jersey and that’s where I had my group exhibition on collaboration, and you can read more about the ‘Women and Autism’ work I did here, and find out exactly what I got up to. it was fascinating stuff! Now, as well as having a studio and two gallery spaces, Arts Unbound work with their artists on the business side of art, which is hugely important. The general process is for the artist to have their art practise and then later for them to be mentored in terms of where their work fits in with the overall marketplace; how they can position their work; how to write an artist statement and generally market and promote themselves. I was amazed at how well-rounded the support is and it all felt like such a well-thought-out concept. They’d really covered everything! And I think it’s hugely important for artists to have business support to supplement their art, because essentially the two go hand-in-hand – without the business element, it remains a hobby. Again, the gallery exhibits extensively and has artist talks. I’d say Arts Unbound are slightly different to the others in that in addition to serving people with mental illness, developmental or physical disabilities, they also serve seniors (with or without disabilities) and have a visual arts education program that is open to the general public.

The gallery space (one of two) in New Jersey

The lovely Celene Ryan, Director of Artist Development

LAND Gallery – www.landgallery.org

And finally to LAND gallery, who are based in the Dumbo area of Brooklyn, New York. They have a small gallery with a studio space at the back, and support 16 artists with developmental disabilities. I’d say I was most impressed with the connections LAND has – they have artists who have their work used as prints on furniture (e.g. a sofa chair) in shops, as well as other corporate partnerships – not to mention connections with prestigious galleries around the world. It felt that the artists there had tremendous outreach to these opportunities, which is a huge plus. The organisation is run as a non-profit and artists develop their skills in a nurturing environment, while their work is marketed to the community in a vibrant and inclusive manner. LAND artists work with painters, sculptors, fibre artists, animators, designers and others who value creative collaboration.

So that was my round-up! What did you think? It really was an incredible and very humbling experience to visit these art spaces. I felt so in awe and thankful that each and every one of these places exists in supporting artists from the autistic spectrum – and those with other difficulties. I’m so happy with the work they’re doing, as they really do ensure that the artists have equal access to resources and can express their own creative vision, rather than to be isolated and controlled – which can happen all too often in our society.

I’d also like to say a really big thank you to all of these art centres for welcoming me with open arms and warm hearts; to come and visit and explore their organisations, and to meet with their staff and artists. A real honour and privilege – thank you 😊

Art Spaces Supporting Autistic Artists in NYC: Part I

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 21:30:00 +0000

As part of my Arts Council project, I set myself an investigation to visit art spaces around New York that support autistic artists. I’d largely made contact with them before coming to New York, so had a fair idea of what they were about. But then there’s nothing like seeing something with your own eyes and meeting the people that run the place – as well as the artists that attend the centres. So off I went, unsure of how they would match with their sparkling websites.

Firstly, I have to say that I was very much impressed with each of these spaces. They’ve all come from such spectacular and inspiring visions, and have a dedicated team of people who have worked very hard to get them up and running – as well as to make the connections that they have in the arts world. Which is the crucial part really, as we all know – it’s all very well having a lovely studio space, but if the work can’t be exhibited and sold on, then I guess it’s not really fulfilling its purpose in supporting these artists. The talent at each of the places I visited was very high. There was real commitment and the artists were of a high calibre, who were focused on refining their process and style of work.

A lot of these centres supported disabled artists as a whole – so those with physical and mental disabilities, of which included autism, depression, learning difficulties – and many more. Many artists had multiple and quite complex needs. Though what every person had in common was the fact that they’re an artist; it’s what they have a passion for and how they wish to spend their time. And that commitment to the arts was clear. Below is the first part of my visits, with two of the centres I visited, while the remaining two can be read in the second part of this blog, here.

Fountain House Gallery - www.fountainhousegallery.org

Fountain House Gallery provide an environment for artists living with mental illness to pursue their creative visions and to challenge the stigma that surrounds mental illness. They had their first exhibition in 2000, featuring a small group of artists and have gone from strength to strength ever since. They have studio spaces across the New York boroughs where their artists can work from, while the Fountain House Gallery itself sits in a prominent position in central Manhattan.

‘Domicile’ exhibition

What I really liked about them was the fact that they have six different exhibitions a year, of which every artist that is part of their roster, can apply and submit at least one piece of work to – within a given theme. The curator for each show is different, and will blind-pick the works that they like – dependent on their vision - and create a show accordingly.

The gallery based in central Manhattan

The centre has incredible links with professional artists, run a very successful annual auction, as well as taking part in external shows including the distinguished Outsider Art Fair. Artists are involved in educational talks and help invigilate the gallery space via short four-hour shifts. This helps them stay connected and involved with the exhibitions, as well as enabling them to speak with the public directly about their work.

‘Domicile’ exhibition

Pure Vision Arts (PVA) - www.shield.org/activities

Also based in the centre of Manhattan, Pure Vision Arts have a spacious studio area where their artists can work, and this space can be turned into a gallery for when they host private views and other events. It’s the first specialised art studio and exhibition space for artists on the autistic spectrum and intellectual/developmental disabilities. As well as the studio space, they provide art materials, exhibition opportunities, and career development for beginning, emerging and established artists. They seem to limit the number of artists to around 20, simply because of the number of workstations available, and I guess this is something that Fountain House had greater flexibility with (they have around 40 artists). They’re also part of the Shield Institute which means that they’re under an umbrella body of whom run various other art programmes and unique services for clients across New York.

I attended the private view of one of their shows in December and was really impressed! It was very well attended, and the studio also appears to have incredible links with professionals and galleries around the world.

Incredible work by one of the PVA artist's: Barry Kahn

Read on to the second part of my blog for the rest of my round-up!

Actionplay: Striving to Build a More Inclusive World!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 22 Dec 2018 17:00:00 +0000

I had the joy of being invited to see Actionplay - in Action - quite literally recently. It was for one of their AIMS workshops, which consists of around twenty teens and young adults (13-22 years), on the autistic spectrum (and related conditions), to come along and be part of a 90-minute drama-impro workshop in central Manhattan. The goal of the workshop programme? To encourage greater confidence and increase communication and social skills among attendees.

Based in New York City, Actionplay is a non-profit dedicated to providing children, teens, and adults on the autism spectrum and related conditions equal access to education, arts and culture. Their programmes are open to the general public, and involve creative learning environments, professional development, and training modules to those on the spectrum to experience the arts.

I’d been in touch with Aaron Feinstein, their Executive Director and Founder, a few times and he suggested that the best way to see what they get up to is to come along to one of their sessions. I couldn’t agree more! So there I was, Sunday morning, getting off at Penn Street station and strolling down to the mid-town rehearsal space, not quite knowing what to expect… But intrigued and excited all the same.

Initially, I thought I’d be the ‘quiet observer’ on the periphery - but could not have been more wrong. From the outset I was involved in the warm-up tasks; completely out of my depth as I couldn’t remember the last time I’d even expressed myself in terms of shapes, sounds and movement via my body. It really took me away from my mind though; a place that I’m sure many adults can relate living their lives from. The respite was astonishing. But more so was what was going on around me: the teens and young adults’ enthusiasm and appetite for getting involved. And then there was the talent! These kids were really good. I also found them to be very respectful towards one another – listening well to each other, being quiet when someone else was performing.

The tasks built up in momentum slowly, as the participants got more into them. Music aided these exercises, with Gabriel Lit on the piano entwining apt melodies with the movements. The activities were varied and involved anything from passing a sound around the room in a circle, and adding your own - to giving a 30-second pitch of their ideas for the future Actionplay concert. This latter task was then followed up with the group being split into two, and one idea being picked by each group – creating a five-minute rendition of what the show could look like. Ideas were formulated and explored, people were free to express themselves within the context of the exercises – and most importantly; fun was had and there was a great sense of buoyancy.

And I know that this was all a direct reflection from Aaron and his incredible team of staff and volunteers. There was approximately one staff member to every two/three participants. What I noticed was how dedicated, enthusiastic and compassionate they all were. They would turn up half an hour before the session to ensure careful planning and addressing any updates, while another half hour was given after the session to discuss any issues within the session and to then wrap up and look forward to future sessions. The volunteers came from all backgrounds including teaching and the arts, but the real thing that stood them apart was their passion for accessibility to the arts and their genuine desire to be helping these individuals in obtaining this.

What struck me the most was having this space and programme available, full stop. These teens and young adults have a place to go where they channel themselves, develop themselves and be with others on the spectrum – and to ultimately do something that they enjoy.

It was wonderful and a true eye-opener to attend the workshop. The most surreal thing was that I could tell that each and every person wanted to be there, and there was this real tangible buzz of energy – a great force of positivity, power and intent of creative endeavours. Amazing…

How did I feel after? Well I was quite exhausted and exhilarated – and both in equal measures. Shattered because it was such an intense period of high-intense activity, with different things happening all around – but exhilarated because it was all so thrilling to witness. Exciting in that there was this amazing opportunity for those on the spectrum to come and be a part of – that they could be alongside staff and volunteers who are tremendous, inclusive-centric and truly able to support them. How incredible 😊

A big thanks to Aaron and the team for letting me take part in one of Actionplay’s workshops! Find out more about them on their website: http://actionplay.org/

Con Artist Collective: A Beating Hub of Creativity in the Heart of the Lower East Side

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 15:09:00 +0000

After spending two months at the Con Artist Collective space, I know it’s a place that I’m going to miss. You have artists and creatives from all walks of life coming in, at all times of the day (the studio is open 24/7) to work, play, explore and create. It’s a thriving place that’s perfect for emerging artists looking for affordable studio space in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. I’ve enjoyed painting there on my latest series of paintings ‘Transitions’, while also working on the business side to my art in the laptop work space on the ground level.

The Con Artist Collective space

Me working away on the ‘Transitions’ series in the studio

The outside area, where you can do spray-painting and work with other adhesive materials

How does it work? Well, it’s a shared studio space that works through a monthly membership where everyone pays the basic of $20. This enables members to have access to submitting work for the regular group shows that take place, attend classes and other events run by the collective.

Here’s a typical month’s schedule of the different events taking place

The ‘Unauthorised Mickey Mouse’ show that took place to commemorate Mickey’s 90^th Birthday!

You then have workspace memberships for whether you wish to use the studio on a 24/7 basis, or in the daytime from 11am to 7pm, during the gallery’s opening hours. The prices are currently in the process of changing, but for instance I was able to pay $405 for one-month of 24/7 access to the studio, including storage space. Amazing!

This is the main man - Brandon - who you see as you come into the studio

The best part for me has definitely been having a community of artists. Being an artist can often be lonely work, and it’s nice to have people around you that are coming from the same place, with similar ambitions – all of whom simply ‘get you’ for being the crazy-creative-being that you are! Everyone at the space is very friendly, and I’ve been able to have discussions with artists from all disciplines and artistic backgrounds. Bliss 😊

Sound perfect? Well, nowhere is perfect, let’s be fair. And with so many artists coming in at all times of the day and night, it can get a little messy (artists leaving their work out or not packing away properly), cleaning supplies can get low and the temperature in the workspace can also be a bit iffy at times. But on the whole, these feel like minor prices to pay for the overall ambience and the running of the space. Plus, it’s important to keep in mind that it often just takes one or two artists to create a mess – so most artists are actually being clean, tidy and respectful – and that’s the main thing to take away.

In terms of the *many* awesome artists I’ve met, here’s the lowdown on two of them:

Jeanne at work on her latest piece in the studio

Jeanne Jalandoni is an incredibly talented artist who lives and works in Uptown Manhattan. Her work is deeply fascinating, as she explores defining her Filipino-American identity through her experiences of growing up as a 2nd generation American. Her work entwines both oils and textiles, as her quest continues into deepening her understanding on how Filipinos/Filipino-Americans are perceived both socially and historically.

https://cargocollective.com/jeannefjalandoni

Secondly, is Bonesy, a passionate and dynamic force of an artist with an appetite for yoga. Yoga saved her life, quite literally, and she’s currently working on an ambitious series of work on the 196 yoga sutras that exist. The sutras are the authoritative text on yoga and each sutra is complex and conveys guidelines for living a meaningful and purposeful life. Bonesy is looking to create a painting that represents each of the 196 sutras. Interestingly, Bonesy completes all her paintings using palette knives - no brushes, and uses layered images to create depth and interest.

https://www.artbybonesy.com/

3 of Bonesy’s watercolour pieces created at the studio

And that’s just two of the many talented and amazing artists that make the studio their workspace!

Having not had the concentrated period of time to paint and think since my last artist residency at Hannacc in Barcelona, it’s been amazing to be around other artists and to be in a space with such dynamic and positive artistic vibes. And I know I’ll miss that. That hub and community. There’s something about the energy of others and being on a journey alongside them.

And finally, a big thanks to Con Artist Collective for being such a wonderful and welcoming space to be a part of! You guys rock and will certainly not be forgotten 😊

Felicity House: A Sanctuary for Autistic Women in the Heart of NYC

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 21:28:00 +0000

In my quest to visit autistic charities and spaces in New York, particularly those with an emphasis on art and creativity, I came to view Felicity House after corresponding with the team via email. As I made my way there, through the chaotic and bustling streets of the ever-hustling Manhattan – and truly, I cannot emphasise enough how loud, often smelly, haphazard and all-consuming NYC can be at times. I describe these feelings and experiences in my blog ‘NYC: A Neurodiverse Perspective' – take a read if you’d like to learn more. But here I was. In front of this grand door, on yet another busy street, about to go inside…

The beautiful space inside Felicity House

I could not have more pleasantly surprised with the other side of this door! A beautiful space that instantly felt like home. It had this aura of calm, ease and genuine friendliness - a place of real serenity. Comfortable, clean and quiet - it couldn’t contrast more from the outside world. I was invited in and learnt more about Felicity House. How it’s a non-clinical program for autistic women, living in and around New York. The women travel in from all over: New Jersey, Connecticut and all five boroughs of NYC. There are no geographical restrictions. The space gives women the opportunity to be part of a community and to do and try new things. The only criteria are that attendees need to be female, over the age of eighteen and to have had an official diagnosis for autism. There are no wait times either. Amazing, right..?

The aim of the place is that it acts as an adjunct to the person’s life – so they can fit coming to Felicity House around their life; be it their studies, home or work commitments. Women can come to as many or as few sessions as they like, of which there are normally 10-15 people in attendance. And that’s what I really liked about the place – there are no real obligations or pressure in any way.

What can women do at Felicity House?

They have a calendar of events which they announce in advance and send via email and have on their noticeboard. The events and activities are incredibly varied, intriguing and accessible. They can be anything from movie nights, meditation to paint evenings. Trips outside the house are also organised, for instance there’s a visit to New-York’s Historical Society Museum where members will receive a guided tour of the new exhibit, ‘Harry Potter: A History of Magic’. Another of its aims is to act as a ‘halfway house’ in helping women to try something new and different. It can often be tricky, and hence overwhelming when considering the prospect of trying something new, let alone actually doing it. But by trying it in a safe space, with others in your community that you know, and having it catered towards an autistic audience, helps make things that bit easier. For instance, the house has a Zumba class, and this involves having no mirrors in the room (mirrors are not good for autistic people, who are more inclined to struggle with bilateral movements!), the music is at a much lower volume, and no-one is shouted at or singled out if they don’t get the moves right! Shouldn’t all Zumba classes be like this..?

November 2018's schedule

The art room

How much does it cost to attend a session?

Want to hear the best part about the programme? It’s free. Yes, truly it is. And that’s simply because Felicity House is privately funded. The story of the house itself and how it came to be can be read here: https://felicity-house.org/our-house/house-story/ and is very interesting. The fact that it’s free to attend makes a huge difference. There’s not this infinite number of paperwork, progress reports, goals and all the rest of it that staff have to complete (America is pretty bureaucratic, I’ve found out). And obviously it’s hugely beneficial for the women too. You don’t have to worry about the costs. There’s no elitism. No stress in terms of worrying about the money and having to ration yourself to the number of sessions you can afford. Women can just come and be. There’s no asking for anything more. We need more of these places!

Photo of me: “we need more places like Felicity House where autistic women can simply BE!” I remember saying to myself. It was simply perfect.

What were my overall impressions?

I was very much impressed! I remember walking around and growing quite emotional the more I saw and heard about the space. It’s such a well-thought out concept with rooms that people can go to in and sit in by themselves - to a more sociable lounge - and soft lighting all around. I’m not saying that they don’t have challenges and that it doesn’t always work out, but I felt that what they had was actually pretty damn good. Lesley, the program manager said as we went around “we have this beautiful space because this is what the women here deserve”. And she is so right. We do deserve this. And I really hope that someday I’ll see more spaces like this supporting autistic women; a group that’s very often overlooked.

Has anyone else seen or heard of a similar place in another part of the world? Do drop me a note if you have.

Women and Autism - My Musings

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 27 Nov 2018 20:07:00 +0000

Diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome (an Autism Spectrum Disorder) three years ago, I chose to embark on a collaborative art project to explore the issues around ‘women and autism’, which I’ve covered here in ‘Women and Autism - A Collaborative Artistic Partnership’. As I’ve learnt more about the condition over the years, I’ve noticed considerable gender differences in perceptions of autism; its presentation and coping strategies between men and women – to the point where women are often misdiagnosed or undiagnosed with autism. I’ve questioned this considerably and the reasons behind it. I feel there’s certainly an increase in recognition in this field of thought, especially from those already with a fair degree of autism awareness - but not so much beyond it. For beyond it still lies a more outdated and stereotypical image of the autistic male. An update and restart are needed.

I’ve summarised my musings in my exploration to consider and understand issues around ‘women and autism’ in a piece of creative writing, with the text transcribed out below the image.

“Men. Why is autism so different in men than in women? Or is it…? Why is the male ‘form’ the accepted norm? the one where people have this ‘aha’ moment and realise that ‘yes sure, I’ve heard of this Autism business!’ and they revert back to TV shows and films. ‘Atypical’ and What’s eating Gilbert Grape’. The media conveying a one-sided view of what is. And-how-it-is. And yet missing out on what oh-so-isn’t… why is Autism so much more apparent and ‘obvious’ in men? We have a subtler presentation they say. But the most dismissive comment of all: ‘Oooh, but you don’t look (how does one look autistic anyway?) autistic.’ How dare you. a compliment you meant? Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t realise that disregarding who I am and my total being is a compliment. For ‘so what’ if I’m autistic? Poor me…? An all cast set of male actors. Who are unlikely autistic, playing autistic men. In Science, Maths, Psychology. Historically. White men. All making inferences, studies, research, analysis – on Autism. What could they know? Or wish to consider about in female autistics? ‘Autism is Autism’ they say. Why are we misdiagnosed? Misunderstood. Undiagnosed. Why are we still playing catch-up with men? Every field. Yes, it’s unfair, blah, yes. But it’s not a whining point. If women are not being diagnosed, or misdiagnosed, their Autism is not being picked up on. Then this is a very serious point. And a subtler ‘presentation’ doesn’t mean we’re not struggling. That it’s not valid. That it’s less of an issue. That we can somehow seamlessly cope with it, because ‘we don’t look it’! We’re often over-compensating. And that’s hard work! The exhaustion, harshness, loudness, brightness. We feel this. Separate. A cultural gap. Initially misinterpreted as shy. Because women are more likely, at a societal level, to be considered shy… Bollocks. Gender differences. I am of course more than a label. More. But at the same time, this label can be helpful: liberating and empowering. And autistic women shouldn’t be left out here. Leave no-one behind they say. Well mean it.”

And it’s not just ‘women and autism’ that is the issue here either. For there are the differences that exist at a cultural and ethnic level. I’m discovering this more and more as I meet different people from the spectrum here in New York; all of whom have their various backgrounds and histories. Different school systems and state support. And the discussion and musings continue.

What are your views, if any, on ‘women and autism’? I’d be happy to hear to hear from you.

Women and Autism - A Collaborative Artistic Partnership

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 18:41:00 +0000

Interested in the theme of ‘Women and Autism’ and my desire to collaborate with autistic artists, I set out a proposal to New Jersey-based arts organisation Arts Unbound. I wanted to run a collaborative arts project that would involve group discussions, creative exploration and practical participation with each artist being asked to work with, and respond to the other artists’ approach, ideologies and physical work. The overall aim was to test the limits of collaborative working amongst those with autism, and to cross-pollinate the various layers of each individual’s creative visions and working methods - with the results to then be exhibited in a collaborative group exhibition. Exciting stuff!

Why ‘Women and Autism’ as the theme? Well, historically it was thought that women were less likely to be autistic than men, however recent research has highlighted the challenges in identifying autism in women. It is now recognised from research, clinical practice and anecdotal reports that many autistic females, or those who demonstrate the less traditionally obvious traits of autism, are simply not recognised. This can result in misdiagnosis, late diagnosis, or women not being diagnosed at all. As an autistic woman myself who was diagnosed in adulthood, I am also interested in the challenges faced by other autistic women and the perception of autism in women as a whole.

Arts Unbound put up a ‘call-out’ to female artists on the autistic spectrum, who were diagnosed in adulthood, to take part in the workshops. Regrettably we could only find one artist happy to partake, but still decided to go ahead and to run the project as a collaborative partnership. With hindsight, this actually worked very well! I took away a lot of learnings from the process and realised that there’s a lot to manage when running such a workshop. After running these two sessions, I feel a lot more confident, and have a far better idea of what works well - and conversely less so.

Maybellene working on a word association task

Session one: me working away on a task

Work in progress

My participant in the project, Maybelline Gonzalez (@MsMaybellene), is a very talented artist from New York, who works primarily in collage. Maybelline and I met on two occasions and I orchestrated discussions around the following questions and topics:

Do you feel that autism is perceived or recognised as a ‘male’ condition?
It is often said that the differences autistic women experience is of a subtler presentation, or may appear so to others. How do you feel about this?
Some autistic women feel that they are masking their autism to try and hide the fact that they feel different. Do you feel you mask your autism?
As women, we are often told that we don’t ‘look’ or ‘seem’ autistic. Have your experienced this?
With less ‘obvious’ autistic traits, do you feel you have to prove yourself as being autistic?
What would we like to tell the world about being autistic and female?

Session two: Maybellene working on a collage piece

Each discussion was interjected by an arts-based activity that was collaborative in nature. For instance: a word association task based on our discussions; a collage summarising a particular feeling we experience; or abstract mark-marking to depict our difficulties in being autistic.

Collaborative text exercise exploring our own narratives within the context of ‘Women and Autism’

Creating a collaborative collage to explore the feeling of overwhelm and the consequent exhaustion we both experience

The discussions were truly fascinating as I considered aspects of autism and women that I previously hadn’t thought of before, for example, by considering the history of who has previously been studying autism; i.e. men. Maybelline’s experiences also fed into my own; both different yet completely relatable. The collaboration enabled me to think in different directions to my own.

An art piece created reflecting on the theme of ‘Women and Autism’ - first half

An art piece created reflecting on the theme of ‘Women and Autism’ - completed!

Overall, the process of collaborating, for me, was incredible. I felt this really came together in the second session once we’d started producing work together. At times it was nerve-wracking: to hand over/let the other person complete/add to your art work. However, once I’d allowed this to happen and for the trust to form, the outcome was remarkable. To create a shared vision in collaboration with another person was a very powerful feeling and something I would certainly like to try again. Going forwards, I’ll be creating more art works around collage – a medium that Maybellene uses – and effectively keeping our collaborative efforts going.

Our work forms part of the ‘Coaction’ exhibition which is currently being shown at the Dora Stein Gallery, Arts Unbound in New Jersey. If you’re in the area, please pop in and visit! 😊

Arts Unbound in New Jersey

'Women and Autism' - part of the 'Coaction' group exhibition at the Dora Stein Gallery - Image 1

'Women and Autism' - part of the 'Coaction' group exhibition at the Dora Stein Gallery - Image 2

'Women and Autism' - part of the 'Coaction' group exhibition at the Dora Stein Gallery - Image 3

Transitions – A New Collection of Work

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 14 Nov 2018 15:46:00 +0000

I’ve been working on a new series of paintings while in New York, entitled ‘Transitions’. They’ve been produced at my shared studio space that I have at Con Artist Collective, where I’ve also taken part in a group residency show. But what are the paintings about and what was the thought-process behind them? I use this blog as an opportunity to run over the background behind the abstract mark-making.

Inspiration initially started when I spent time in Colombia and experienced first-hand the Venezuelan refugee crisis. Daily, I saw more and more people arriving into the city of Medellin - well over a thousand kilometres away from Venezuela. The mounting horrendity of it all. Overbearing. It got me thinking about movement, changes, leaving home and displacement as a whole. I still haven’t found the right art venture to project my thoughts on the matter, but the situation had me contemplating fluxes in life in general, as I reflected on my own life and the human condition - and ultimately what we all have in common.

Notoriously, we’re all creatures of habits and we don’t often like the disruption of change, especially when imposed on oneself. I explored this with shapes in abstract form and what this resistance would look like through a series of sketches. And then I explored the opposite: natural, seamless transitions taking place – and what this looks like when abstracted into a less literal form.

Painting in the Con Artist Collective studio

Working on Transitions, layer by layer...

Change ultimately happens to all of us; life ensues, things change, it moves, flows, and will continue to do so. And as much as we’re creatures of habits – we’re social creatures too, and we create opportunities through interactions. We’re connected. Each and every one of us. And so we set intentions. Make plans. Our energy is put out into the world. As we set out each day and the sun keeps our time. And of course, the universe, or otherwise, has plans for us.

A lot has changed for me over the last year. Geographically, I’ve been making my way up through the Americas; from South to Central to North America. My relationship to my diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome has changed. It imbues more of my being, as I’ve come to accept it – and even become empowered by it. It’s a part of my identity. Though from birth, but also just 3 years ago. My understanding of Autism has changed, and I’m aware of issues around gender and minority groups, and those in these groups that are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. I’m learning more and more. My style of work has changed. The colours, brushstrokes, approach and general inspirations, as I continue to be influenced by those around me and my general environment.

A montage of the final 6 paintings that form 'Transitions'

These new paintings explore the subtle changes of transformation taking place; these little quirks and nuances that occur gradually. To those greater changes in life. Each painting has been built-up over a number of layers and you can see the colours and lines come through them, as you carefully look on. Changes themselves have taken place within each painting. You can see line, shape, form and colour coming through, and this felt important to capture. The upbeat and vibrant palette is a note and reflection that as human beings, we tend to have a position disposition - whether we believe this about ourselves or not. During hardships and tough times, we often look back and consider the learnings made; what we’ve gained, how our experiences have shaped us. And how we’ll cope better next time. We stock up.

Exhibiting Transitions I and II at the fall residency exhibition in New York

There’s also a great deal of rhythm and rhyme which can be viewed and felt within the paintings. Movement. The black lines show this as they weave in and out; in front of and behind the scenes of life. There are stops and starts. Sometimes it’s stilted. It’s not what we expected. But we keep on. On our path. For come what may. Such is the human spirit. For transitions are here.

If you’d like to see each painting in more detail, please visit the gallery page: https://www.mahliaamatina.com/art-gallery

NYC: A Neurodiverse Perspective

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 18:07:00 +0000

Every city is different from a neurodiverse point of view. And this can vary day-by-day, mood by mood, street by street. In this blog post, I’ll run over my observations on how I’m finding New York as a city to live in.

From a sensory perspective, NYC, surprise surprise, is a very LOUD city. This is something I’ve noticed over and above *anything* else. Its complete and utter assault to my eardrums, are like no other. Horns honking. The train wheels screeching. But mostly the sirens from emergency vehicles. It’s like nothing I’ve heard before and seems to defy all logic – and sound barriers for that matter. And it’s constant. Even now after a few weeks of being here, I still jump and clench within myself, as the sound jars inside me, as I wait for it to simmer down. My body feels constantly shocked.

An example of an offending emergency vehicle

Normally I’m most sensitive to lights; their intensity in brightness and anything that flashes repeatedly or in a dance or strobe-style mode. And though the lights here are bright, I’ve seen far worse in Colombia. Here they’re just of a ‘normal’ brightness, (whatever that means these days). Surprisingly. I am deliberately avoiding the central mid-town area of Manhattan where you have the likes of Times Square and ample shops (no need to put myself through that!), so at least my eyes are being spared. The smells aren’t too intense either. I used to find in Colombia and Guatemala, the smell of food would dependably be in the streets, with vendors cooking food items from scratch. The aromas taking up the air space. Or other smells like shoe polish and other such chemicals. Here, it’s more in line with the UK’s ‘smell levels’.

Downtown Manhattan. Heavily build up. Also an area I normally try to avoid!

Like many large cities, New York is intense. Super intense. It can be hard to plan your day if you need to travel and get about by public transport. Trains are often delayed. The direction and stops are not clearly labelled - and then it’s not uncommon to find a station which shares its name with another station stop. Not helpful when you find yourself at the wrong ‘version’ of the station you’re supposed to be at! This is not much fun, and you really have to accept this and learn to plan in large margins into your time for lateness.

When you’re trying to cross a road, there’s a red counter that counts down the number of seconds you have left until the cars are unleashed to continue their ride. I know it’s like this in many cities, but given the size of the road to cross, this can be immensely anxiety-provoking. It’s not just one or two lanes of traffic coming at you either – but around four or five! This can feel quite disorientating. And stressful. I just find myself waiting a lot.

6 lanes of traffic to contend with!

The countdown to cross the road begins…

The interesting thing, however, is that because there’s so much space everywhere, it doesn’t feel quite so overwhelming. Or certainly not to the extent I expected it to be. The streets here are huge; for instance the sidewalk (yes, pavement!) can often be as wide as an entire road in the UK. In this respect, it just doesn’t feel as concentrated in its overall sense of overwhelming force. Another consequence is that it doesn’t feel overly busy either. There are lots of people, sure, but you’re never really bumping into them, as there’s enough space to not have to do so. It’s a contrast to Broad Street in Reading, where you’re constantly having to avoid doing so!

So, every city is different, and New York varies a lot for me, but here’s a snapshot to give you my general impression. Until the next blog post! 😉

NYC: Touch-down in Brooklyn, Part II

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 03 Nov 2018 15:48:00 +0000

I’ve been here a little longer now and beginning to settle in. I’m navigating my way around the city better and due to the project work I’m doing here in terms of the workshops, studio work, visiting galleries and meeting autistic artists - I’m getting to see quite a bit of the city. Which, when I’m not getting lost – is lovely!

So. I’m in New York; this great, amazing city - part of America, this *mighty* land - yet it doesn’t feel so ‘great’ at times… and this is something that’s been gnawing away at me each day since arriving. It comes to me in bursts. Little things that continually get me thinking that living standards aren’t so fantastic here. I mean this at a personal level by the way, for your average American - or businesses and large corporation - the story is very different. And these are my comparisons to the UK/Western Europe.

Firstly, people don’t seem to have as many rights here. I mean their private healthcare system lends itself to its very own blog post, but I’m also referring to consumer rights and employment law. Their maternity pay and leave is minimal, and holidays aren’t easy to come by. I thought the UK had a minute number of public holidays! And you can totally forget about minimum pay here. And other basic rights: if you’re fired, you’re fired. And even though you’re paying private healthcare insurance, not everything is covered. For instance, you still have to pay for a mammogram (in the hundreds) or to give birth (in the thousands). How does that figure…?

In terms of consumer law, there’s a real lack of price transparency, and I’m noticing this a lot when I do my grocery shopping. You have to be really careful not to get ripped off! There are a lot of small, local, grocery stores. And often goods aren’t labelled in price. And where they are, you still have to check that it’s being priced through correctly at the till. It’s also really normal for my local greengrocer to change its prices on almost a daily basis – as it is for me to be charged $2.50 for a pepper, instead of the $1.50. And yes, that is the price for one pepper! Food is considerably more expensive here – and this is taking into account the not-so-favourable exchange rate. But you want to hear the worst of it? It goes off really quickly! Apparently, food standards overall are considerably lower than in Europe and in terms of the lack of price transparency – this is excused by saying that you weren’t ‘forced’ to buy the product and that you always had a choice in the matter. And no, you can certainly not get a refund easily(!)

Yes, the infamous $1.50 pepper, which I was initially charged $2.50 for

Another aspect, is the fact that it’s really uncommon to have a dishwasher, washing machine and dryer (or at least adequate outdoor space to dry your clothes) in your apartment. Now, I’m not against going to a launderette in any way – my last art project was all about washing, after all! But by not having these utilities, and with food shopping being that much more difficult – it takes up a lot of your time. Time away from leisure and relaxation. And surely that’s a sign in itself of lower living standards? It’s odd, it feels like we’re back in the 90s or thereabouts; a real drop that I just didn’t anticipate.

With no dishwasher, the washing up gloves are always at the ready!

And yes, the food portions are notoriously huge. But why though? And why in New York, a more progressive state? And why so, more importantly, when people can’t and don’t finish them?! It makes you continue to pick at your plate when you’re far past the point of being full, and then you end up carrying a doggy-bag around with you for the rest of the evening. Smaller portions (healthier and more manageable) while charging slightly less (better for the consumer and the business wouldn’t lose out) being the solution? It’s an interesting one and will continue to plague me for the rest of my time here, I’m sure!

So, these have been my latest nit-picks as I continue to get to grips with the city! It’s a busy time, and I’ll speak more about the work that I’ve been doing in my next blog posts – I just didn’t want these initial impressions to become the norm, and for me to then forget about them!

Do stay in touch on social media too by the way through my handle @mahliaamatina – I’m posting most days on what I’m up to and continued observations on this fascinating city! Thanks for reading 😊

NYC: Touch-down in Brooklyn, Part I

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 14:22:00 +0000

I’ve been here in Brooklyn, New Yok, a short while now and it’s blown me away in terms of the number of impressions it has made on me. The initial one is quite simply the size: it’s a HUGE city! I always knew it would be big; American style XXXL and all that. But it’s only when you get here and start to navigate your way around the city, that you realise how quickly exhaustive it can all become, as you apply your London or other ‘big city logic’ to New York. It doesn’t quite work on the same level. I’ll let you know how that develops though, as it may just be the initial settling in period for me.

So anyway, yes, it’s a big place, but what else? Well the neighbourhood I’m living in; Crown Heights, has this intense population make-up of Jews and Afro-Caribbean’s. it’s such a contrast of behaviours I’m seeing between the two, as they live harmoniously, side by side. And the other neighbourhoods too - like in many cities, I suppose - change very quickly and are similarly made up of distinct ethnic groups. But here in NYC it feels far more striking. When I visited Brighton Beach, for instance, it was an area full of Russians and Ukrainians. To the point where Eastern European was the prominent, if not only cuisine available. They were the only languages I could hear (occasionally punctuated by English) and the signs were bilingual – in Russian and English. It was quite an extraordinary sight and feeling to witness, as I imagined them arriving into the area and then expanding to occupy it over time. Well, at least I’ve found my haven for dumplings, sautéed cabbage and potatoes, should I crave it!

My closest subway station that connects me to Manhattan and beyond: Franklin Avenue

The area where I live is highly gentrified – you have the usual array of bars, cafes and restaurants and even museums and a botanical garden nearby

On the whole, and despite the size of the city, I’d say it’s definitely a friendly city. I’m used to averting my eyes from people as I revert back to my ‘London ways’, however I’m always pleasantly surprised when someone greets me with a ‘good morning’ or a simple ‘hello’. And to be greeted is refreshing. A simple sign of humanity. But naturally where a city is friendly, it also has its brutally rude moments. I’ve known someone to quite literally be *shoved* out of the way at a subway station, as their ticket didn’t swipe through the first time round. I’m always surprised when I hear stories like this. It makes me reflect on what happens to a person to take this course of action; to feel this sense of entitlement over and above another human being. How and when did it start? Was it a one-off moment of impatience or are they always like this? My fascination with human behaviour! But overall, I would say it’s a friendly place, where people will smile and try to help you find your way 😊 I know I’ve been helped plenty!

And did I tell you that New York is an artist’s paradise?! My soul has been thoroughly cleansed and revived here, for there’s art and culture happening on each and every corner! And that’s one of the absolute *joys* of living here: there are pop-up galleries, one-off shows and performances – stuff that you happily and spontaneously walk past and pleasantly discover. Because that’s the only way to do it. Otherwise, you’d spend your life looking up every art and cultural event, and that’s time that no one has! And you’d never find it all anyway. For there’s always a new mural going up, an exhibition coming down, a musician setting up somewhere, a performance art piece taking place in this actual moment… So, the simple and best way is just to soak it all up and enjoy it – a very mindful approach to life, art and culture itself…

Brooklyn Museum – 5 floors of amazingness! It’s free on Thursday evenings, so no prizes for guessing where I am on a Thursday night!

New street art, I recently discovered – like I say, there’s art on every corner!

So those are my initial impressions, but there are many others that I’ve been jotting down, so do come back for Part II of this blog later this week! Until then 😊

The local streets of Crown Heights, Brooklyn

The traditional sign of America, seen in all those American movies, (as well as in Guatemala!) - the yellow school bus

Neurodiversity and the Arts - Arts Council Funding received to go to New York!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 16:51:00 +0000

I am tremendously excited. For just a few days ago, I found out that I was successful in my funding application for the Arts Council’s ‘Developing your Creative Practise’ (DYCP). This is a new piece of funding, which started earlier this year, and gives artists of all forms the opportunity to try something different with their practise - and to ultimately have the opportunity that they wouldn’t otherwise have.

How did I get this, and what were the steps I undertook to create the proposal? Well, this blog will run through my process and hopefully make it clearer to those of your who are also looking to apply for similar funding. One that I would totally encourage, by the way!

So firstly, my artistic aim is to ‘create arts led advocacy work around neurodiversity that openly translates a positive message in impactful yet accessible ways’. I feel that by identifying your goal in the long-term is a great place to start. I then researched and found that to get closer to this objective, I would need to: build new relationships, receive mentorship and collaborate with other autistic artists - in a place that is progressive and leads the way in terms of the neurodiverse arts scene.

Me giving a talk at my autism-friendly and multi-sensory exhibition ‘Around the World in 80 Washing Lines’

In terms of the arts and neurodiversity, the United States is considerably advanced and progressive. For instance, it has more art centres and galleries that work with and support neurodiverse artists. Additionally, there is a higher concentration of neurodiverse artists based in the US, especially in/around the state of New York. My findings highlighted that New York City would be an ideal location and base to implement this step change in my working practice.

So, with my goal and location identified, I set to work in terms of researching and identifying potential opportunities. These included, for instance; meeting with influential people (who I emailed and set up meetings with), visiting neurodivergent arts centres (again emailing them to explain I’d be visiting) and the chance to lead workshops with autistic artists (also organised upfront) – all of whom I hope will be my collaborative partners for the next chapter of my artist career. I also researched and found artists who were willing to be my mentors during this time – both an exciting and rare opportunity. You may notice that I emailed and told these people/organisations that I’d be coming to New York. And that’s another key – believing you’re going. This way, the relationship builds regardless – and you’ll already be gaining.

One of the best pieces of advice I have to anyone applying for Arts Council funding is to attend a one-to-one surgery session in your area to meet with an ACE representative to talk your project through with. Having the chance to ask questions that are specific to your project is completely invaluable. You get to hear what the counterargument might be and where your focus should lay – especially when there is a strict character limit to adhere to. This, I believe, has been pinnacle in me writing a strong, focused application.

I also find it helpful to give my form to one or two other people and get their opinion. But just make sure it’s someone who understands you in terms of your artistic goals and your work. And of course; to come back to your application after a few days, or even weeks, after working on it. Like with my paintings – there’s nothing like a fresh set of eyes! Plus, with the way our minds work, they’ll always be thinking and working on the application in the background – very helpful while you crack on with everything else you have to do as an artist 😉

And finally: always get feedback if you don’t receive the grant. Even with this DYCP application – you can still phone up and ask - because it’s this feedback that will enable you to come back stronger next time round. This is what I did last year when I was initially turned down for funding for my #80WashingLines project. And I came back with a mightily amazing application the second time round - and received the funding!

So, let’s see where this opportunity takes me. At the very least it will set me on a journey of exploring my art practise within the context of collaborating and connection-making – all in a direction that is different to my typical art practise, yet still key to my art messaging. I’ll be writing up my findings in regular blog posts, so do please keep coming back to see how I’m getting on.

Until the Big Apple! 😊

Guatemala Beckons!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 00:11:00 +0000

Hello! A quick hola to say that we’re no longer in Colombia and are now in Antigua, Guatemala for the next few weeks – and then back to the UK!

It’s been a really interesting time in Colombia and since my last email, we’ve had a trip up to the Caribbean coast which took in Santa Marta, Tayrona National Park and Minca. Quiet possibly the muggiest and humid place I’ve ever experienced – just taking a few steps involved dripping with an insane amount of sweat(!) It was a lot poorer in these cities too, which was quite a shock – we felt for the first time we were actually in a developing (or poor) country, and it really contrasted with the relative wealth of Medellin, where we’d been previously been living. The smell of urine in the streets wasn’t uncommon along with a far poorer infrastructure. Interestingly, each of the cities were notoriously on the ‘Gringo Trail’ so hearing English was immensely common – something we just weren’t used to anymore. To add to the mix, there were plenty of snakes, tarantulas and other treacherous bugs to keep the adventure going, though after camping in an extreme thunderstorm, being invaded by an ant army and avoiding termite invasions, I was quite ready to return to Medellin :D! The sea was of course beautiful and the area itself very distinct – especially Minca: this gorgeous mountain town in the heart of nature, where we took the most incredible and unforgettable scenic walks – barely bumping into anyone.

Me hangin’ out, quite simply 😊 In Minca

The beautiful town of Jardin: colourful, quaint, perfect

What a fabulous array of colourful plants, forming the ‘indoor garden’ part of a café, no less!

How gorgeous is this town?! I could have stayed forever 😊

A fantastically detailed chair that had been hand-painted – another joy of Jardin

A cool and quirky old café/bar in Jardin – this small town was full of surprises!

Tayrona National Park in all its splendour

Me by one of the beaches within Tayrona National Park, which runs along the Caribbean coastline

We’re not especially sad to have left Colombia. It was certainly beautiful and wonderful to visit all the different pueblos – breath-taking at times, but at the end I think the noise levels and pollution became a bit much. We’re especially noticing this now that we’re in Guatemala – even Guatemala City itself with its notoriously wild and dangerous reputation was peaceful in comparison! We thought it was something we should ‘just get used to’ in Colombia, but actually there was something quite at odds in people’s attitude to making noise. There was this sense of ‘this is my house, I can make as MUCH noise as I like’ – there was never any consideration or sense of respect as to how it could be disturbing a neighbour (even those a whole block away!). Upon speaking with Colombians, they all seemed unhappy with noise from the street and from fellow neighbours. Restaurants and bars were equally loud – blasting out music and competing with venues four blocks away – to the point where you’re sat somewhere and can hear music from several different places - but can’t make a single one out! Least to say that we went out of our way to avoid such places – or simply cooked at home! Because of the FARC, I don’t feel people can tell one another to keep the noise down (they could have a gun after all) and I don’t think anything will be changing anytime soon – it felt too far too inbred in their behaviour.

Some final observations: it’s common for Colombians to have an indoor garden/patio in their house, maybe even with a mango tree(!); often Colombians in Medellin don’t feel safe living in the city (we had one friend who was involved in an armed burglary on a bus); Medellin is the only city in Colombia to measure its pollution levels, but then takes on very short-term measures to reduce its levels when they become too high – namely to move certain model or year made cars off the road; noise pollution on the other hand has no bounds with people making as much noise as possible.

The outstanding views from the top of the ‘Rock’ (aka El Peñol) in Guatape, overlooking the tremendous lakes

Some last-minute sight seeing at a palace in Medellin!

Guatape

We’ve been in Antigua for a week now and it could not be more different! We managed to avoid the volcanic eruption from Fuego and after various delays and 3 planes, make it here ok. It’s ancient and colonial, touristy, walkable, expensive and convenient. A great base for our last month to simply relax a bit and enjoy – and get ready for the UK.

Here are some photos from the beautiful Guatemala:

Checking out the ruins, of which there are plenty in Guatemala!

Me in the central square area

A neighbouring town we visited close to Antigua, ready for its festivities

A Guatemalan bus, aka an old American school bus!

The joy of being in a city that’s surrounded by volcanoes – such spectacular views

The streets of Antigua, Guatemala

A view from a rooftop bar in Guatemala

I hope to see you when I’m back. Thanks for reading! xox

Beyond Medellin and the Venezuelan Crisis Explored

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 13:36:00 +0000

Hello, Hello!

It’s been 3 months now since I’ve been away now, so definitely time for another update! We’re settling in a bit better now; the new flat is waaay better than our previous one, plus I feel I’m beginning to get into a bit of a rhythm with Spanish lessons each day and the odd swim at the local pool – the pool being outdoors with views of the beautifully defined green valley. Oh, and it’s free to use and Olympic sized, no less! I still feel my Spanish has a long way to go, but at the same time, I sense that I’m making some kind of progress in terms of being able to understand a little of what people are saying (always helpful!)

My local, Olympic, size pool that looks upon the valleys

After visiting various sites around Medellin, we’ve recently been taking trips outside of the city to the countryside and beyond. So far we’ve visited Santa Fe de Antioquia, Santa Rosa and Manizales, and I cannot even BEGIN to tell you how incredible the countryside is! With mountains and valleys in abundance, it makes for the most beautiful scenery imaginable... and Colombia is so VAST and green, beyond belief! I think the vastness was what struck me initially: how simply humongous the country is. Not to mention magnificent, majestic and magical… if I’m going to go all out with alliterations(!) The hills are so steep and they’re literally *caped* in luscious vegetation, canopies and trees aplenty. And then the waterfalls! These are so rapturous and raging and help reflect the greenery further. It rains a lot in Colombia, so the vibrant richness of the green hue is amplified to every extent. Going away outside of Medellin has altered my view on Colombia completely…

Santa Fe de Antioquia - a beautiful colonial style town not far from Medellin

Me getting ready for the spa!

Warm water flowing directly from the volcanoes. Who would have thought!

The stunning spas at Manizales

No photo could possibly capture the lushness of the green here. But I'll try!

Santa Fe de Antioquia is a small colonial town not far from Medellin, which is beautifully charming: lots of cobbled streets and cute town squares - we had a lot of fun ambling about. We were also there for the huge ‘Semana Santa’ week (Easter) which was the most *full-on* set of festivities I have ever seen! It was amazing to see the processions taking over the town in its entirety and to see Catholicism in Colombia. There was no running around hunting down chocolate Easter eggs and scoffing oneself silly! Nope, not here.

Semana Santa celebrations - just outside our flat!

The parade continues and just seems to keep getting bigger!

In Santa Fe and Manizales, we enjoyed the thermal spas – several small pools that collate hot water that flows directly from the volcanoes! Again, another example of the diversity of the land – this whole area was surrounded by volcanoes. It was literally the most beautiful and scenic spa experience I will probably ever have – it was amazing to lie in the warm pools with a drink and see the greenery all around and water flowing - in the most perfect of weather… 😊

In contrast to our fun travels, one of the biggest crises that has been taking place while we’re here (and in the last years) is the Venezuelan one. In a simple nutshell: Venezuela used to be a really rich country and has always been highly dependent on income from oil (it accounts for about 95% of Venezuela's export revenues). Having a socialist Government, they spent a lot of this money on helping social groups and those that needed the money: e.g. more than a million poor people have been homed. However, one could say the Government ‘put all their eggs in one basket’ and didn’t focus on the rest of the economy and its welfare. The problem: oil prices have *plummeted* across the world (less than 50% of their value from around 2013) and the Venezuelan Government has less foreign currency to buy goods (it has almost run out of money) and the country is now experiencing hyper-inflation of around 2000% of its prices (since 2014). The consequence is that there are severe food shortages, malnutrition, sky-high unemployment, horrendous protests and soaring crime and violence. Even Malaria’s back. The people of Venezuela are fleeing and with Colombia being next door, it’s one of the main countries that people are coming to (as well as other south and central American countries). NOTE: obviously it’s a great deal more complicated than that, and I missed out the whole change in leaders etc etc, but this is just a snippet to share.

It is all so sad though. People are fleeing with nowhere to go. They’re often trying to sell food in the streets or other practical items, and just generally trying, desperately, to make ends meet. I’ve also seen people with next-to-nothing on, barefoot, walking disorientated down the street and sleeping rough. Many are sleeping rough. And it’s simply getting worse. I know I’m noticing it more and more.

Anyway, that’s my news for now.

Until next time!

Medellin, Colombia: Initial Impressions

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 23 Mar 2018 20:14:00 +0000

So, I’ve been out in Medellin, Colombia for about 6 weeks now. Wow, what a time it’s been..! We stayed in an Airbnb, in an authentic neighbourhood, in an incredible flat, for an amazing price – but then decided to move to a far more convenient flat (in terms of being closer to the metro line, social meet ups, sports and generally being able to get about on foot to places), but are sadly living in a really not-so-great-place at anymore… doh! It’s not horrendous – just completely unreliable Internet; noisy walls (you can hear people speaking as if they’re right in your face) to dodgy electrics, sparseness and the occasional cold shower. All part of the experience, right..?

I’ve had lots of initial impressions on the city and country, so here goes: the people are short (the bathroom mirrors are in line with my chest); there’s always a child-sized toilet; you have to take toilet roll from the main stand into the toilet cubicle with you before using it; you need to put toilet tissue in the bin (like everywhere); people move slowly; people smile more; there are around 10 murders a week that take place in the city (down from around 10 a day a few years back!); they put sugar in bread (a lot) – and cheese; the local food is largely all deep-fried and served with a kilo of cheese - for good measure, clearly; people are health conscious from an exercise perspective (but not at all from a nutritional one – a very real and bizarre disconnect); the metro and transport system as a whole is relatively advanced and well run; the Colombians do not trust the police; there are a *lot* of Americans here; old Americans come here to retire; younger ones come over to work and travel; the Colombians are extremely friendly and helpful people; the taxi drivers drive like maniacs; Uber is illegal, but still in use (we have the app); the traffic is a bit crazy; there’s a lot of pollution; the city is set in a valley; people smile from a very natural and organic place (I suppose that would be from the heart?); hot dogs are the most consumed food by the locals wanting street food; the fruit and veg here is AMAZING (we try new ones each day); it’s hard to get a mobile phone network up and running as you effectively need to be a resident to get one; the streets are very clean; people vigilantly pick up their dog poo; there’s a large digital nomad community in the city; the Colombians wear sporty clothes – it’s not unusual to see a (beautiful) woman in a polo shirt, jeans and trainers; people are big on their beauty - there are barbers and beauty salons *everywhere*; a lot of expat restaurants are geared towards Americans (quarter pounders, heavy meat and all that jazz); foreigners are known as ‘gringos’; they get confused with who I am - I get stared at a lot, as a result of this confusion; as well as hot dogs, people LOVE their dogs *big* time – vets, pet groomers and shops are *everywhere* (built in between the human beauty salons); ‘tranquillo’ (it’s ok, chiiiill) leads the way; music is the king – it blares out from everywhere; some parts of the city look like what I imagine the US to look like (wide streets, big leafy trees, suburban-feeling; AC is not needed – the weather stays a perfect 28 degrees (approx.) all year round…

Here are some pics:

The central mid-town area in Medellin from a bridge

It's very common to see street vendors selling fruit - much to our delight!

Evolution taking place...

What's interesting about Medellin is that it's based in a valley, so all homes are built upwards, often not on the most stable of foundations. An amazing sight to see

The beautiful graffiti in 'Comuna 13' - an area now, on most occasions, safe to visit. It was previous over-run with gangs and was deemed far too dangerous to go to

Me in the botanical gardens. Open for free to the public, and absolutely beautiful!

Some of the stunning views across the valley, at disk - taken coming out of a metro station...

The view outside our apartment. Amazing how leafy and nice it looks, right?

Until next time! I’ll talk about the sites I’ve seen in the city (and beyond, I hope at this point).

Adiós Inglaterra!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 21:04:00 +0000

And so. Tomorrow is the day! That I leave the eternal grey skies (ok, slight exaggeration) of the UK (Reading) for ‘la ciudad de la eterna primavera’ (the city of eternal spring) that is Medellin, in Colombia! I’ve been journaling in my diary for the past weeks so will be writing this up to share with you lovely people 😊

For those of you who don’t know, I’ll be leaving the UK to go live abroad and ultimately: have an adventure over the next year. This blog will track this adventure: before, during and after.

So one thing I’ve underestimated is the amount of prep that is needed! I’ve spent the last month running around like a headless being; organising all sorts from holiday jabs to banking - to car admin and mobile phone decontractifying (yes, I did just make that word up) to <yawn> yup, more banking. It’s completely boring, yet so crucial – to the point I think I’ll even write a blog post about banking alone!

I’ve had pretty mixed feelings over the past month; mainly in the form of stress (so much to doo!) to impatience (I just want to get there already!) to denial and hesitancy (why not just stay in Reading?!) – and a little excitement! Yes, you thought there may be a bit more of that, right..? Well honestly, it has not been primary emotion. It’s been largely: ‘let’s-get-this-done-and-then-move-on-to-the-next-task-and-oops-I-forgot-this’ – all while making my list that bit longer.

And now with less than 24-hours to go, the excitement is well and truly present. For real! I *actually* cannot wait! So, watch this space with more to come (while I head out to buy and sort out those last-minute bits and bobs and do my last min packing!)

Ciao for now and until Colombia!

Do I reeeally want to leave the splendours of Woodley behind...?

BBC South Today Reporting on Art in Launderettes – Mahlia Amatina

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 07:53:00 +0000

What does the future hold for the humble launderette....?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 13:34:00 +0000

So I’ve recently been trawling through the launderettes of Reading, getting to know the local social hub of where fabric softeners meet gently ruminating washing machines.

Launderettes have been in decline in the UK with around 12,000 in the 1970s to around 3000 today, so it’s been really interesting to see how they are used and by whom. By bringing project ‘Around the World in 80 Washing Lines’ to Reading’s launderettes as part of the ‘Art in Unusual Places’ theme, I’m hoping to add renewed interest to Reading’s launderettes, while also inspiring spirited and thoughtful conversation around the art installation.

But what else can a launderette possibly offer and how are places outside of Reading keeping themselves in constant spin and evolve…?

Well, launderettes have recently gained a ‘retro’ appeal among residents in the UK and are becoming popular gathering places where customers can enjoy a wide range of amenities from art exhibitions to cocktail bars while they do their laundry (reference: Guardian Tues 8th March 2016).

Rock band ‘Real Fur’ have played a tour of the UK in launderettes, including one on the Roman Road in east London. It’s clear that originality is something they make a rule out of and this works both ways, with launderettes seeming to offer that little bit extra above the usual ‘wash and dry’. And what a great place to see a gig! A real cozy and intimate feeling – you’d really get to see the band up close and personal.

And then you have places like the ‘Laundromat Café’ chain across Scandinavia where they’ve allocated a whole floor to a café and social area with a fabulous menu and art exhibitions taking place periodically. What a fab idea in installing a real social hub and atmosphere around something as basic and mundane as a place where you wash and dry your clothes…?

Have you seen any interesting launderettes? Are they offering anything out of the ordinary? Please write in the comments below - I’d love to hear from you :)

Art in Unusual Places: Bringing Art into Launderettes

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 10:37:00 +0000

It’s exciting times at Amatina HQ, as funding was recently awarded for Reading’s Year of Culture theme ‘art in unusual places’! And what better than to feature a sample of project ‘Around the World in 80 Washing Lines’ in launderettes around Reading?

Why launderettes, you ask? Well, typically art tends to be exhibited in galleries and more traditional art venues. Laundrettes would provide people who may not typically engage with the arts with access to it. The art installation would provide an additional feature for the launderette, and a fitting one too. It’s a great way for launderettes to offer something different, and this is a topic I’ll be exploring in my next blog!

The residents of Reading will be the inspiration for my art making, as I plan to run a cross-section of workshops across community groups in Reading to engage with the various backgrounds and diverse make-up of people that we have. This will then provide the images and stories for the art installation that will be hung up in launderettes around Reading. I’m really looking forward to hearing and learning about the stories behind the washing lines directly from Reading residents!

The stories and images will then feed into the overall ‘Around the World in 80 Washing Lines’ project, which is all about culture, diversity and the similarities between us as human beings. I feel it’s an incredibly important message to highlight in today’s world, where often our attention is honed in on our differences.

So the workshops are to follow shortly and soon after the images will be hitting a launderette in Reading! I’ll keep you posted on progress across my social media platforms ;)

“Our Hospitals should be Galleries!”

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 25 May 2016 09:25:00 +0000

Art Scope. The latest new gallery in Reading. High quality art. Beautiful gifts. Stunning sculptures. One thing though: it’s all under the roof of the clinical setting of a hospital…

That’s right, not your average destination for art, I know. But it’s surely one of the most powerful and impactful settings for art to be based, what with its ability to distract, interact and engage with the public? And then there’s the healing element of art and its ability to transcend traditional boundaries of communications.

The public atrium at the Circle hospital is the brainchild project of Rukshi Brownlow who put together the gallery at the initial building stages of the hospital. Believing in the fundamental ethos that ‘to create a beautiful space improves the experience for everyone’, she set about with this ambitious project to create an art gallery within a hospital, and has now set the ideal blue print for new Circle hospitals being built. She also states that ‘a recent study of art in 3 London hospitals showed that 9 out of 10 patients thought that the art made a difference to their experience, and 7 out of 10 patients were conscious that their anxiety levels were reduced as a direct result of the art’. A compelling fact.

One of the beauties of art in a hospital is that you have a captive audience. Patients are sat waiting for their appointments, and while doing so, they can attend to a piece of art – knowingly or not - and absorb themselves in a painting; something one may ordinarily not have the time to do. There’s also the relaxed beauty of no heaving crowds, people guarding the paintings, or that irritable wire that buzzes the second you come within a millimetre of a half metre away from the subject. The experience of art is a truly relaxing, beautiful and impactful one, and what I find really interesting is that the vast majority of patients have never visited a gallery before. So by bringing the art to the visitors, you’re being introducing to a whole new experience. Didn’t expect that from your hospital visit, did you?

There’s also something about the pure feeling of vulnerability in a hospital. It doesn’t matter who or what we are outside of a hospital; when we’re a patient, we’re dealing with an element of the unknown. We’re dependent on the views of Doctors and the outcome of tests and analysis: this isn’t our world and we don’t have the same control we harness and manifest in the rest of our lives. So the difference that art has to make in this setting is huge – and not just to the patients and visitors, but staff too.

The gallery has received ample positive feedback from visitors to the hospital and the scheme is being rolled out to select other Circle hospitals – that is the power, resolve and need for art in public spaces. And I am very lucky to have my art shown at the Reading Art Scope Gallery with my painting ‘Community Roots’. A seeming good fit with the hospital, as the painting explores the concept of laying down roots with the resources that we have, and growing a community of roots across our lifetime. Come take a look: these days, you needn’t be a patient to visit a hospital – everyone is very welcome :)

NOTE: The gallery is open Mon – Fri from 8am to 6pm with free car parking and a café (with a Michelin star chef, no less!). Further details can be found on the website: http://www.artscopeatcircle.co.uk/

Barbed Wire, a Refugee and a Washing Line.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 May 2016 09:19:00 +0000

What a powerful, compelling and emotive photograph. Barbed wire, a refugee and a washing line. This photo came out as Angelina Jolie Pitt warned that the international humanitarian system for refugees is breaking down. She also warned against a "fear of migration" and a "race to the bottom" as countries have been competing to be the strongest to protect themselves from refugees.

The refugee crisis has truly become a global issue and as my project ‘Around the World in 80 Washing Lines’ highlights is that laundry doesn’t discriminate – we all have laundry to do irrespective of who, what or where we are in the world.

Trembling Art

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 16 May 2016 12:16:00 +0000

What is it that makes us tremble at the thought of giving our views on a piece of fine art? That quick line of beady sweat which develops on one’s forehead as we attempt to intellectualise what it is that’s staring right back at our very faces…?

This crops up time and time again, and it seems to affect quite a vast number of us. I’d love to hear your views on the topic.

I used Barbara as an example of this at a recent visit to The Courtauld Gallery in London. We had full access to the gallery, so were free to roam where we liked. Little did she know at the time, but I was watching Barbara. Looking at how she was engaging with the art, what comments and questions were raised as a result – and ultimately what she thought of the art. Her views, her opinions. It’s not a lot to ask, right? Wrong.

Firstly it’s important to say that Barbara does like art. She visits museums and galleries. She is a cultured being. She speaks French, has travelled the world, has a degree and works in an international team in various countries around the world. She even comes from culture capital of Britain: Birmingham. My point is that she probably has a ‘higher than average’ access and exposure to art, yet when asked what she thinks of a Henri Matisse’s painting ‘The Red Beach’, she becomes a bumbling, inarticulate, blushing being. She is lost, strayed away from her comfort zone, marooned far into the distance of a primitive island benign to the human race…

The painting in question...

Okay, a little far-fetched, but as you can see from this interview, Barbara is not at ease with my questioning. And she’s not the only one. Many will judder and shake at such questioning, or use the opportunity to eavesdrop discretely when others are having such discussions – storing up their answers for just this type of awkward occasion.

Description of 'The Red Beach'

Surely an opinion on a painting, is an opinion? You are entitled to that view and you needn’t have to justify it with flowery, intellectualised words of philosophical jargon and artistry? You give your views on films, concerts and other art forms quite happily, but what’s with the cement in the throat when art hits the discussion decks?

I do understand it to an extent. I really do. People want to appear eloquent and intellectual, full of name-drops from history and their cultured upbringing. This is who they are in their lives and the persona they use for the world. But surely to speak up and give a view, however minimal it is – or simply stating that they don’t like the art, is a better way forwards…?

I’m not sure why we don’t speak up more on our art views. We’re an opinionated lot, after all. But do please enlighten me. I’d love to hear your views on how it is for you engage with art. Do please share your view. Whatever it is. I won’t judge you.

Time to Share the Load, Today - #ShareTheLoad

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 11:17:00 +0000

While conducting research for my ‘Around the World in 80 Washing Lines’ art project, I came across a powerful and poignant advert by Ariel in India, aiming to get men to share the load around the home. It’s a fitting ad with Mother’s Day just this weekend, and highlights the gender inequalities that still exist in the household roles that men and women play today – and all round the world.

One of the aspects that inspired me to do the washing line project was the universal concept of how the simple nature of washing and hanging clothes out to dry is a basic task that we all undertake, irrespective of who, what or where we are in the world. In a world of so called eternal change and disparities in culture and identity, the simplistic notion of the idea is what really grabbed my attention.

And it’s not just washing clothes either. There are many similarities that we all bear – whether we stop to think of this or not. But when drilling down further, though washing clothes may be a generic task across the world, it is still very much perceived as a woman’s task. Obviously, society has progressed on many levels, with the typical ‘stay-at-home-dad’ in acceptance - yet the eternal philosophy of women wanting to ‘have it all’, sadly, can still entail the weekly wash load. But I don’t rinse that fact, you exclaim! True. I know you don’t all concur. But then again adverts succeed on their ability to relate and connect on an emotional level with people. And this ad ain’t doing too badly…

The laundry detergent advert has been going viral and is clearly having an effect with comments such as “one of the most powerful videos I have ever seen” by Facebook’s CEO Sheryl Sandberg, and debates are being spun off on Twitter with regards to the heavy and real load of gender inequality.

Insightful and engaging, the commercial shows a father in India reading a letter to his daughter, who is seen busy rushing around the house, multi-tasking all that needs to be done, while at the same time taking care of her family. Do note that the husband is also multi-tasking, though his ‘tasks’ include: sitting on the sofa, watching telly, surfing the net and asking his wife to make him a drink. Ahem... An excerpt of the father's letter touches on gender role stereotypes and reads:

“I never told you that it’s not your job alone, but your husband’s too, but how could I have said it, when I never helped your mum either,” the father continues. “Your husband must have learnt the same from his dad.... Sorry on behalf of his dad ... sorry on behalf of every dad who set the wrong example.”

It’s a strong social message that is being fabricated, and one that is often overlooked with the world’s ongoing troubles. It’s great to see boundaries being addressed and challenged in advertising. Especially in an age when fast-forwarding the ad is more the norm. But my real question is – will the balance of the load ever truly shift, and if so, how long will it take? It won’t be in any of our generations. That’s for sure. Take a look at the video, if you haven’t yet seen the ad, and have a think – but more so, act.

As ever, if you have any photos of washing lines from around the world – do please continue to send them in. Regardless of your gender. I love how art creates a conversation!

This blog is dedicated to all the mothers out there – a Happy Mother’s Day for Sunday – and here’s to sharing the load. Not just on Mother’s Day.