As part of Historic England’s History in the Making projects, Artists Emma Hardaker and Emily Ryalls have been working closely with a group of 6 young women to explore the Forgotten Women of Wakefield’s blue plaque scheme.
Over a series of workshops and collective research sessions last year the group identified 3 women from the scheme whose stories resonate with them; they have then started to create artworks inspired by those stories.
To celebrate international women’s day and share this research, the group have decided to run two free public workshops inspired by these women’s stories.
The Passiflora | Saturday 8 March 16:00-17:30
Eliza Gledhsll was a talented botanical illustrator known for painting both the female and male parts of plants and flowers, a risky practice for a woman in 1850. She was also the first person to identify the Passiflora in UK, now accredited by kew gardens.
In honour of Eliza Gledhall we will be hosting a workshop teaching you how to create an anthotype print using pollen from Passiflora flowers. This will be followed by a tea drinking ceremony celebrating the plants beauty and herbal and medicinal qualities.
Suffrajitsu – the art of self defence | Sunday 9 March 12:00-13:30
Florence Beaumont founded the Wakefield branch of the Suffrage movement in 1910 and went on to march over 6000 campaigners from the city of London to help get women the vote.
MMA training was offered to Suffragettes to help protect them from harm during protests and rallies. During a march organised by Florence Beaumont, Miss Beaver was detained by police in a pig sty due to her reputation for using Jujitsu as a form of self defence.
To celebrate and share this local history we will be hosting a women’s self defence class using MMA in Wakefield close to the site where she was detained over 100 years ago. Local women’s self defense group, Blossom, will be working with the artists to facilitate this session, blending interactive self defense training with storytelling and performance.
