PROCESSIONS Glasgow Women’s Library workshop with printmaker Helen de Main (pictured above)
over the years: ‘let us go then, and make banners as required, and let them all be beautiful’, reads a Mary Lowndes quote. ‘The banners made by the suffragettes were crafted from luscious materials like velvet and were meticulously embroidered,’ says Hunter in explaining that this was itself a political strategy as ‘the suffragettes were accused of being “too masculine” or “desexed” or “not being women”. So they would create these marvellously crafted items that showed off their femininity to try and undermine this message.’
There’s no pressure to make an elaborately crafted object today, but the banner remains a potent medium, and with over 30,000 people expected to take part, Processions is another historic moment; a platform for many women’s voices to come together and be heard. ‘The most important thing is that we have a range of artworks expressing the various achievements and values of women: a social fabric in real terms.’ In addition to the public call out for participants, 100 women artists have been commissioned by Artichoke to support community groups across the UK to produce banners with 17 of these artists working in Scotland. Edinburgh College of Art lecturer and artist Lindy Richardson has been working with women at Cornton Vale prison to create a banner, with inmates working on small sections that will be stitched together into one large work. The result is a moving cacophony of voices: ‘my opinion counts, no matter where I am’ reads one; ‘barred from voting’ reads another above a picture of two hands holding onto bars, head slumped behind. Edinburgh College of Art students will carry the banner during Processions.
At Glasgow Women’s Library, Helen de Main has run weekly banner-
making sessions for library users. ‘Haud on a Minute Pal’ reads one strip of text; ‘We Can, We Will, We Are,’ exclaims another. The workshops aren’t coni ned to the central belt however; on Stornoway, the Western Isles Women’s Network are working with Chris Hammacott to make a banner; Lizzie McDougall is working with women in Ullapool, leading sessions at An Talla Solais; and Alicia Hendrick is working with women on Mull, through Comar. Processions is set to be a momentous event, but what happens to the banners afterwards feels no less signii cant. ‘Many of the early 20th century banners have been lost or damaged, maybe some are hiding away in people’s attics, but there are very few examples in museums,’ says Hunter. ‘There were mainly male curators in charge of acquisitions at that time, and these banners weren’t considered historically signii cant.’ There is only one banner in the National Museum of Scotland, dedicated to Men’s suffrage, and another by Glasgow Girl Ann Macbeth dedicated to the suffragettes in Holloway jail is exhibited at the Museum of London. While plans for Processions’ banners are as yet undecided, they are unlikely to be lost. ‘Artichoke have plans to exhibit the 100 banners around the country and hopefully those made by individuals and groups will continue to be seen in local centres for a long time to come’ says Hunter. ‘In this sense, Processions shows how far we’ve come, but it’s also about how far we have to go and the continuity of women’s courage and determination to take part in life.’
Processions, starting from Middle Meadow Walk, Edinburgh, Sun 10 Jun. You can sign up for Processions at processions. co.uk or register on the day. Scarves are provided.
1 Jun–31 Aug 2018 THE LIST 39