Addressing the visibility of women through art, music, discourse and activism.

Lubna, Gala, Gail, Shruti, Anja with Jane Masojada’s portrait of Her Honour Judge Sarah Monro KC

Thursday 7th March 2024 was the Worshipful Company of World Traders’ 3rd annual International Women’s Day celebration in the Great Hall of Goodenough College, London.

The spectacular hall was full of international postgraduate students (for whom Goodenough College is a residential community) and livery company members.

The organisers curated a program of first hand accounts by women, including experience at the top of UK business and politics, research into the experiences of young women with HIV in South Africa, and activism against the criminalisation of abortion in Brazil. This was set against a backdrop of art and music created, composed and performed by women.

The event brought together artists, musicians, academic, professional, social and commerce leaders:

In addition to the program above, Jillian LeBlanc (Canadian consulting feminist) and Dame Susan Langley (Alderwoman, Sheriff, and non-exec chair of Gallagher Insurance, Risk Management & Consulting) conducted a fascinating ‘fireside chat’. As Non-Executive Chair for Gallagher UK and the Senior Independent Director for UKAR, it was so interesting to hear about Susan’s career path, opportunities, experiences and choices. Some great personal anecdotes of her approaches to various situations too.

(L to R) Jillian LeBlanc, Susan Langley, portrait of Maeve Goodenough (whose idea it was to found Goodenough college) by Gala Hills

Following this, Lesley Batchelor CBE facilitated the panel discussion. The four panellists each presented women who are/have been invisible. Moving examples were discussed in the fields of family businesses, HIV in South Africa, and abortion criminalisation in Brazil (see the program summaries below). I hope to do a future blog on my ‘invisible woman’, having invested a fair bit of research into her life!

Event pictures

The unflappable Kitty Brandon-James

who miraculously managed to curate our many disparate pieces into a coherent exhibition, taking account of incumbent portraits, and with fixings that didn’t disturb the wood panelling. Click on image for more information about the painting

Jane Masojada and Lady Mayoress Elisabeth Mainelli

Click on the image for more information about the painting

Lubna, Gala, Gail, Shruti, Anja

With Jane Masojada’s portrait of Her Honour Judge Sarah Monro KC

Izzi, Gail, Alice Walpole OBE (principle of Goodenough College)

Click on the photo for information about the paintings

Setting up... nearly done!

With organiser and presenter Lesley Batchelor CBE, under Shruti’s textile quilt installation, which, together with my painting ‘Defiance’ were set opposite the ‘Empire Clock’ in the Great Hall.

Eugenia Anastassiou

Author of the article about the painting behind us https://workplaceinsight.net/author/eugenia-anastassiou/

With Dr Isabel Laurence

Subject of the two paintings behind us (click for info)

Artists

Christine, Shruti, Ashlyn, Gala, Rianna, Ruta, Lon, Susan,

Installation

Goodenough College Great Hall is also a dining room. The exhibition remaining in situ until Monday 11th March

This video is a short overview of my four paintings in the exhibition:

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International Women’s Day Celebration 2024