Jess de Wahls

Interesting comment on the Times story. I've emailed them - am hoping there will be a tipping point.

Although not happy that the answer to mob tactics appears to be a bigger mob

Not that we were in any doubt, but have a look at the headline and sub-header to see an example of the way male artists can do whatever the fuck they want and it’s all just part of their brilliance:

www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2010/sep/27/paul-gauguin-tate-modern-exhibition

Nice one @imeisnotaline and @Wish44

Is Jess’s dad trans? I read that somewhere.

Covered at some length today in The Times, almost a whole page (including a huge photo of Jess). Very eye-catching, and written by David Sanderson, Arts Correspondent.

Included this :
"The institution was widely criticised yesterday. It was asked if it would stop promoting the work of artists such as Eric Gill, who sexually abused his daughters, and Caravaggio, the 17th- century Roman painter who fled to Naples after being sentenced to death for murder."

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/jess-de-wahls-royal-academy-shop-ditches-work-by-artist-accused-of-transphobia-xdlzkf0l7

I have emailed the RA asking when they will be completing a full audit of the views and actions of their artists and censoring them accordingly. I have also queried why they are censoring views before actions ( I.e Eric Gill) and suggested they start with actions before moving to views as this seems more sensible.

I have urged them not to worry that the galleries will end up empty due to the spectrum of thoughts and beliefs meaning that everything ends up offending some people.

I have also asked that they make their panel of thought police public so we can scrutinise their views in case they have some views we don’t like!

I’ve contacted them , saying I’m volunteering as i understand they are now outsourcing their ethics to the public. I’d like to contribute and I faithfully promise to uphold their standards of treating incest and rape as much more minor faults than supporting women.

DdraigGoch I’m so glad - Jess and the RA both deserve the recent response!

From that DM link:
The campaign groups Sex Matters has called on the director of the RA to reinstate Miss de Wahls' works and apologise to the artist.
In a letter, they claimed the decision to pull her work came after a 'handful of coordinated complaints', adding: 'The Royal Academy is carrying out an egregious and blatant belief discrimination against textile artist Jess de Wahls.'

And goes on...
Miss de Wahls is a textile artist who makes embroidered portraits, often dealing with feminism. Her work was sold in the RA gift shop, where prints of controversial artists have previously been made available for sale.
Prints of the work of Paul Gauguin, who reportedly had sexual relationships with young girls, were sold during the 2020 exhibition Gauguin and the Impressionists.
Eric Gill, an artist and sculptor now known to have sexually abused his daughters, was an associate of the RA during his lifetime.

JDW in Daily Mail:

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9698369/Royal-Academy-REFUSES-sell-artists-work-amid-transphobia-allegations.html

Here's an article with a link to Jess' blog

news.artnet.com/art-world/royal-academy-shop-transphobia-1981206

The more sunshine this travesty and others like it get, the better.

I'm sick of women being cancelled by a few vicious bullies - mostly men and the way that otherwise respected organisations pander to them.

This is exactly how we know they're men.

Yes for Jess. I will purchase some patches now.

Gosh, that was unfortunate timing. just after it has been deemed a protected belief in law.

I received an order from Jess yesterday! Her art is amazing. I'm hanging the ovary flowers in my downstairs loo for visitors to admire!
Just watched the clip on GB news good watch.

Jess is the coolest artist

Love her to bits 🐈🐈🐈

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/06/17/royal-academy-pulls-artists-work-shop-transphobic-views/

GB news are having their advertisers nobbled, so are more than happy to give air time. The more light on this bullying the better.

Why are institutions so ready to allow people to demonise women and to placate the (overwhelmingly male) complainers?

Helen Staniliand was interesting about a complaint to the Halifax Library (Canada) about Abigail Shrier's book.

Let's just say that the library's response went far beyond putting up an note next to the book to explain why they had it (with a callback to my previous mention of this in UK) museums. Despite the frankly unbelievable lengths they went to - detailed in a screenshot of the frankly obeisant response - it wasn't enough for the complainant:

First, to frame this as "censorship" is utter bullshit. The library collection is a series of choices. Not every book makes it in. Most don't. Taking a harmful book out of circulation is in NO WAY censorship.

Twitter thread: twitter.com/timhanley01/status/1404857904054915083

Helen on The Mess We're In :

Have just bought some lovely patches. I also love her pic of the female reproductive system done in flowers, beautiful.

If you missed GB News Andrew Neil at 8pm tonight be sure to record the repeat at midnight. Excellent segment on Jess, Maya, and JKR with Andrew Doyle about 5 minutes in; don’t miss it!

I've written to the RA too. It oly takes a minute on their contact form. Let's show them how many of us there are!

I love embroidery and have been following Jess for a while. She's such a talented artist and eloquent thoughtful woman who stands up for what she believes in and won't be bullied. I greatly admire her. I've also written to the RA. Wonder how long it'll take to get a reply. There's slightly more than 8 this time!