Embroidery Instagrammer targeted by TRAs and the woke now

[Siameasy]

I’d never heard of Jess De Wahls and couldn’t find any threads about this but she does embroidery (which is brilliant) and is GC. She wrote an GC essay in August and has been targeted by the fascist left..it’s a similar story to that in the knitting community but Wahls has stood firm. Might be worth a follow on Instagram/Twitter.

Hi Jess I am happy to have discovered you and your work though this site today.

I love it so much. I wanted to do something like one of your pieces many years ago but i never did. Am very impressed and inspired.
I also love your bravery and persistence.
I am a gran who has been getting anxious over the way things have gone recently and seeing your art work feels very positive .I am intending to show your Art to my oldest DGD when I next see her. I want her to see that women can be creative and strong.

I am also thinking of the wonderful strong ovaries patch. I have friends that i Know will love it.

Jess, your essay was fantastic. It was everything I wanted to say, perfectly articulated. Stay strong.

Jess I have followed you for ages on insta- solidarity to you. I haven’t read your essay yet but I will now because of the thread

I found JWD's work after another artist I followed tweeted about the disgusting transphobia. I had a look and was disappointed by what constitutes "transphobia". I then fell down a rabbit hole of misogyny and discovered I am myself transphobic for thinking female reproductive issues (which I have suffered from and will suffer permanent health consequences because of) are important feminist issues. Hmmmm.

I don't follow the other artist...JWD is much better, also not a smug pick-me.

I’m so glad to hear that my art makes some of you feel more positive. I think the reactions if those that protest the loudest against me, is directly related to how many people are potentially listening to my words and my work. Anybody that has ever met me in real life, knows that i have no hate for anybody in my me, but my heart beats strong for women’s liberation. I’m a cat-mum myself, but i have a 10year old goddaughter and this is not a world i want her to grow up in, so i speak up. If that makes me in some peoples eyes in any way phobic, i can’t change that, even if it isn’t true.
One thing this whole mess has provided me with is endless inspiration for future artwork, one of my next pieces being aptly titled ‘The Evolution Of The Witch-hunt~ in three parts’
Anyway, thanks to everybody here for writing these kind words. It’s pretty hostile online atm, so it goes a long way.

i am still working on breaking embroidery into mainstream fine art, it being "women's work" and all that
That is an excellent project. It had never occurred to me before, but yes women's work is often seen as decoration, while men's is art.

yup. Most people don't realise that embroidery is an art medium, just as any other. Nobody questions the validity of painted fine art just because 'paint by numbers' exists, so it's been a little frustrating at times, that people always insist on calling embroidery craft. Sure, the crafting is embroidery, and there are many crafters who use it in that way, but painting is also a craft, yet get's priced and regarded very differently still, within fine art circles. It's slowly changing, but it sure is a struggle.

This thread intrigued me, so I then found your blog, Jess. I will spend some time today exploring your work. Best wishes to you.

Hi Jess, I'm another one who has found your work through Mumsnet! I'm in a creative field and know how painfully woke it is. I have so much respect for you for being so brave. Your work is amazing and you have articulated the problems with gender ideology perfectly, sorry you're getting so much harassment for speaking out. Art is rendered pointless if you can't convey the truth, and as a true artist you understand that.

Great essay @JessDeWahls
I’m now off to find you on insta (in a positive way I hasten to add)
Keep up the good work!

I'm the person who found your work through this thread and am looking forward to sewing your patch onto a denim jacket.

My DD also does embroidery, nothing near as beautiful as yours but her "fuck the patriarchy" bag is awesome.

There's loads of beautiful art on Jess' website for those who want to have a look.

I think you’re amazing Jess.

@Gingerkittykat Thanks so much! It's lovely to e-meet so many more likeminded people. I am in the middle of woke-town-central for another couple of weeks, so it sure cheers me up to get such wonderful new support!!

Your 'Heretic' embroidery is absolutely beautiful.

Have been following and sharing your work for a while. Think it is brilliant. Cant wait for the witches work :)

Hi Jess, your work is beautiful, especially how you shade and colour faces with stitches.

I love threads like this when women who men and the intolerant bigots currently wreaking havoc with our society find each other. It's a special pleasure when they're as talented as you are Jess.

Jess, if someone's just signed up on Patreon when might they hear about Heretic merch? Asking for a friend

The fascist left🙄

Jess, your work is fabulous and your bravery (along with my vow to Be More Magdalen) has been the push I needed to sign my real name to an upcoming public statement.

Hi Jess
I know your work, and am hugely impressed by your integrity and commitment to to depicting the female experience. It is also beautiful, inspirational and skilful. I’m also dismayed to hear how you are being targeted.

I know the art world and you must keep going Jess. Artists should challenge, speak out and be free to express their unique view of the world. Your work is important in what is a scary time for freedom of speech for so many women and girls.

Hold fast. Keep stitching.

Am also fan-girling, Jess.

Am a bit conflicted about the Vagina Museum and Bloody Good. They could be so amazing, and the women who run them are otherwise so very bright - and yet...totally lacking in joined up thinking. It's fascinating and deeply, deeply disappointing.

Now, tell me, how many hours are in your day? Because you are a prolific artist - I have been working on a single cross stitch for about a decade now. Do you have four arms?

Lovely work and a great essay Jess, well done.

Fantastic artworks.
Brilliant essay.
Gives-no-shits twitter account.

Great to see you here Jess. I hope you have a look at some of the other threads in this part of mumsnet. You'll find heresy all over the place here.

@JessDeWahls fabulous work and amazing writing. Encapsulates EVERYTHING I know and think.

Hope the woke don't bother you too much x