Thursday 15 February 2018

Upcoming Workshops!

Zine making workshop
Thursday 22nd Feb 6-8pm

Centre for Contemporary Chinese Art
Manchester

This one is a drop in workshop where I will help you make a one page zine based around gender.
Alongside the workshop the CFCCA will be Screening the documentary Hebei Taipei.
more information
HERE.

You Go, Girl!
Saturday 3rd March 11-1pm
Bury Art Museum
Bury


Come and make a felt portrait of a woman that inspires you! As part of BAM's International Women's day programme Take Up Space, I will be showing you how to make a simple felt portrait and get you excited about sewing!
More information HERE


Sewn Heroines
Saturday 10th March 1-4pm

International Slavery Museum
Liverpool

Another one that I part of the programme for International Women's Day, but also in conjunction with their current exhibition Ink and Blood.
Help me to make a banner celebrating the work of female abolitionists and activists, have a look at the museums handling collection of these inspiring women, sew and raise up the voices of women that deserve to be celebrated.
More information HERE

Monday 1 January 2018

My year in lists.....

I usually write this blog post on the Sugar Paper (craft zine I co-make) blog, but that has been neglected this year, as has this blog, but the Sugar Paper project is almost coming to an end, so thought I would pass that tradition over.

Reflection isn't always a healthy thing to do, but at this time of year is inevitable, and I often find it a good exercise to do to think of all the things I managed to achieve in the passing year, as sometimes I forget.

So here goes, a list of notable things I managed in 2017, whether art based, work based or just life!

- Played a few gigs wit both of my bands (Whatevers and Yiiikes!) including Yiiikes! playing for the first time under UV light for Bury Light Night!
-Sugar Paper had a retrospective exhibition at Salford Zine Library with a look back at the art of the covers and reasons to craft, all launched with a crafting workshop.

- I did more workshops than I have ever done in 2017, ranging from zine workshops, to felt portraits and creating a diversity banner with young people. And in places like International Slavery Museum, The Whitworth art Gallery, Bury art Museum, for Manchester Pride, Tate Britain, Chelsea School of Art and a primary school in Wigan!
- I made a zine or two (I would have liked to make more!) and tabled at zine fairs across the country.
- Faced one of my hardest months to date in March where I tried to get to grips with my MH, attend Jury Duty and give up crisps!!!!!
- Yep that's right I stopped eating crisps for a month and raised £500ish for The Proud Trust in Manchester
- Day job wise, I got to work at a cool event in London, organise and run a black haircare event in store, deliver some black haircare training and move shops with a mini promotion.
-I got make and show a lot of new art work this year, being part of four group exhibitions and have two solo exhibitions, What, Is She Black Now? in Bury Art Museum and another, featuring almost entirely new works, Brown Girl In The Pit, at Nexus Art Café.
-I tried to give myself time to breathe two and said goodbye to regular band practices and went on a 'hiatus' with music and after almost 6 years being a voluntary arts youth worker, said goodbye to that.
- Made my radio debut speaking about class and gender for Raised By Feminists on Reform Radio.
- Got to be a guest on a panel (with totally rad folk) of other queer artists of colour.
- Came out as queer/asexual and attempted to make a space for ace visibility.
- Did my first solo tap performance at a night called Moondance Menagerie, whilst someone played the Trombone!!!!!
- Another first, was taking a part in the amazing performance of Gut Healing by Amy Lawrence at Portico Library, performance art featuring five WOC.
- Became an aunty* for the third time and an actual aunty for the first time.
*the kinda aunty that is just yr mums mate but you call her aunty.

-Finally got a tattoo of my old cat Ned.
-Ended the year recording a podcast for Poor Lass with co editor and poor lass in crime Em.

And now I'm going to drink lots of tea and sleep and look forward to whatever 2018 brings.
Seleena