Yorkshire Radical Feminism Is Brought To Life This Season | Alternative Fruit

Yorkshire has a rich history in the art world. With luminaries such as Ruskin, Turner, Hockney, and Jarvis Cocker, we're inundated with the middle-north's creative talent. A classically industrial region, with many mines and factories in its past, Yorkshire has evolved from farming communities to manufacturing in a short period of time. Now though, as the world continues spinning, industry has been in decline for many years. With automation, cheaper labour abroad, and less demand, Yorkshire like the rest of Britain has been forced to move on once again.


What is there today for Yorkshire? What does the brand say to the world? Thankfully with several world-class universities the influx of talent and innovation is continuing. Because of the local area's natural beauty and the over-all friendliness of it's people, many students decide to make their home here once they've graduated. The people who are born here are equally as talented and ready to make an impression on the world.


This year sees another burst of growth in this creative orchard nestled away across Yorkshire. Coming up in March is an exhibition of water-colour and sculpture from Dusseldorf artist Paloma Varga Weisz. She will be found at the Henry Moore Foundation in Much Hadham. This June, the Hepworth Wakefield will host an exhibit from textile artist Sheila Hicks. The David Chipperfield designed, award-winning gallery is an ideal venue to show off this cutting edge fabric sculptor.


And once more, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park is making all the right moves with it's half a million annual visitors. Women take centre stage on this year's event calendar, with works demonstrating the true power of women in the world of sculpture. Particularly notable this year is the work of Joana Vasconcelos. This Portuguese textile and fabric sculptor has 25 works of art on display right now at the park. Another worthwhile visit is to the Breaking The Mould exhibition. This Arts Council Collection survey exhibit holds over 45 pieces each made by women since 1945. Perhaps the ladies at the time felt a new sense of empowerment after the suffrage during the war.


A lot of the co-ordination of this collectivity of feminine energy is thanks to 2020 Holberg Prize in Humanities winner Griselda Pollock. Her hard-work and innovation has brought so many golden threads together in this year of women's art. The social and critical histories professor at Leeds University also has 22 books to her name. As this is her final year in post before moving on to be professor emeritus at the same institution, it's an excellent culmination of contacts, guidance, and craftswomanship.


Via The Guardian