Snippits, sketches, pictures and articles on the business of motherhood from an artist’s point of view. Expect frank and exploratory material.

‘Birth Plan’ by Jacqueline Hammond. 2011. This is a cartoon I did whilst expecting my second child, titled ‘Birth Plan.’ The birth aside, my real concerns focused on how manage my busy working life with a baby on board. Let’s just say, it didn’t quite go to plan.

Article from the December issue of Artist and Illustrator. Interview with Ruth Borchard. Highlighted comment: ‘I think you have to be selfish as an artist.’ This artist was clearly very serious about her work, in her own words: ruthless.

Breastfeeding Flash Mob – 15th December 2011

Today, Brighton city centre is going to be hit by a breastfeeding flashmob. After being verbally attacked for not covering up while feeding my four-month-old, I decided it was time to make a statement to show that mothers will no longer tolerate being harassed for feeding our babies in public.

Mothers are protected as part of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, but also by the Equality Act passed in October 2010, where it specifically states it is unlawful to treat a woman differently because she is breastfeeding. However, I was sitting breastfeeding in a cafe recently when a woman approached me to tell me how unpleasant it had been to watch me. She said she could see “everything”. I had layered my clothing, so as to make a discreet pocket to pull out my breast and feed, so I struggled to see how she was offended. I defended myself and the discussion escalated into a row with the people she was with. The only man in the group of five forcefully told me, “You should have used a towel, most women use a towel.” The group left and I calmed down but my upset turned to anger.

This wasn’t the only incident I had come across. Other mums have been telling me about how they experienced similar humiliation. An online poll conducted by Mother & Baby magazine in 2009, involving 1,200 mothers, revealed that 60% felt the UK frowned upon public feeding. I’ve had enough of our society’s bizarre attitude to the female body.

The Brighton event won’t be the first of its kind in the UK; women in both London and Manchester staged flashmobs for National Breastfeeding Awareness week in June. But it is part of a growing trend.

Flashmobs are reminiscent of “Happening” art performances in the 1960s but on a much larger scale. They usually involve doing something not associated with traditional forms of protest, such as synchronised dancing or freezing still like statues. Perhaps this lighthearted style of protest in large numbers makes us feel safe enough to bring out our inner rebels.

But increasingly, flashmobs are being used to make political points. The United Cabbie Group has arranged a couple of vehicle flashmobs in London to protest against the ban on taxis using the Olympic bus lane. Their intention was to raise awareness of how integral the mode of transport was to London, not to disrupt traffic, so after 45 minutes they dispersed and went back to work.

There was also a flashmob in Trafalgar square in November to raise awareness of the brutal regime in Syria. A group of people lay down on the floor and draped a flag over themselves without saying a word. Similar events were synchronised for the same cause in Canada and Austria.

The flashmob modus operandi fits perfectly with breastfeeding. A large group of mums feeding together creates an extraordinary sight. It’s the most obvious way to show support, sitting side by side feeding our children.

I considered letting the harassment incident pass unmentioned. But I have two daughters, and if they in future choose to have kids and breastfeed, I don’t want them to feel self-concious or to be victimised. I have been overwhelmed with comments from mothers thanking me for taking a stand. We may well be viewed as militant mums and that is certainly the essence of a thread already started about me on Mumsnet. But I’m hoping our flashmob will also bring a smile to people’s faces, and we will no doubt have a giggle.

• The flashmob will take place on Thursday 15 December at 1pm at the Clocktower, Brighton

Well done Claire Jones-Hughes and all the ladies taking part. This item shouldn’t really be in the news again as it shouldn’t be an issue.

http://apps.facebook.com/theguardian/commentisfree/2011/dec/15/flashmob-breastfeeding-mothers-brighton

This wasn’t the only incident I had come across. Other mums have been telling me about how they experienced similar humiliation. An online poll conducted by Mother & Baby magazine in 2009, involving 1,200 mothers, revealed that 60% felt the UK frowned upon public feeding. I’ve had enough of our society’s bizarre attitude to the female body. AGREED

Hannah Schweitzer

BECAUSE of the continual bombardment of imagery in the media, which only  encourages and promotes the sexual objectification of women and is a massive factor as to why people have a bizarre attitude to breastfeeding.

• • It’s BECAUSE the continual bombardment of imagery in the media only encourages and promotes the sexual objectification of women and is a massive factor as to why people have a bizarre attitude to breastfeeding.

    about an hour ago · Like

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    Georgy Edgson Tits out for the lads, but not tits out for the babies – I totally agree with you xx

    about an hour ago · Unlike ·  1

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    Georgy Edgson I once had to breastfeed my daughter *on a restaurant toilet* because the manager deemed it “unacceptable” for other people. Still makes me angry to this day.

    about an hour ago · Like

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    Dave Tenbob People who think breast feeding in public is wrong are fuckwits.

    about an hour ago · Like ·  1

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    Jacqueline Hammond Just because the baby is sucking on a boob it’s deemed to make it rude. It’s just flesh, if the milk came out of your earlobe or belly button or some other body part, would it be such an issue? Plenty of people still have a 1950’s attitude to breastfeeding, as if you are ‘giving in’ to the babies needs and molly coddling them. No, it’s a feed every 4 hours and leave them in the garden to cry, and what ever yo do, don’t look them in the eye!! – I read something like this once! Women having to scuttle away to feed in private is mental. I used to just do it,baby’s crying, you feed it, it shuts up. Fuck the unsettled attitudes, go back to your titsandarse tabloid you twat. its generally done discreetly anyway, just means you can’t go out wearing a dress.

    56 minutes ago · Like

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    Dave Tenbob Only dumbfucks would make a fuss.

    50 minutes ago · Like

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    Jacqueline Hammond Only dumbfucks make a fuss, true, but a lot of people are embarassed, a bit like when you forget to lock the door of a loo and someone walks in!

    45 minutes ago · Like

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    Dave Tenbob Tits have dual usage though – not only to feed the baby, but to attract the partner to make the baby in the first place.

    42 minutes ago · Like

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    Jacqueline Hammond wonder if the attraction is linked to subconscious early memories of comfort and gratification felt as an infant? or is that too freudian a theory?

    34 minutes ago · Like

http://www.object.org.uk/the-facts

Sex object culture

OBJECT is a human rights organisation which challenges ‘sex object culture’ –  a culture in which women are increasingly sexualised as sex objects in our media and every day lives.  Here are just some statistics related to sex object culture:

• Over half (54%) of all women around the world say they first became aware of the need to be physically attractive between 6 and 17 years of age (1)
• Eating disorders are as common amongst women as autism (2)
• 66% of teenage girls would consider plastic surgery and 20% would do it right now (3)
• Polls suggest that 63% of young women aspire to be glamour models or lap dancers (4)
• At every End Violence Against Women Coalition consultation event members have raised the sexualisation of women in the media as a factor in violence against women and girls (5)
• One in three people believe a woman is responsible for violence committed against her if she is wearing ‘revealing clothing’ (6)
• 66% of young people learn about sex and relationships through the media (7)

It is long established that the overwhelming portrayal of women as sex objects in society plays a role in maintaining inequality between women and men. This has been recognised at the international level by the United Nations Convention to Eliminate Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) which calls on States to take decisive action to tackle objectification – which it links to stereotypes and prejudices based on gender (8). CEDAW has since repeatedly identified (9) the links between the portrayal of women as sex objects by the media and sex industry with attitudes that underpin violence and discrimination against women.

Checked out your paintings. Really like them the Smartdeco concept too, and was/am impressed by the range, even more so knowing you’re a mum too. “Figured you’d appreciate the attached image because of that. It’s by feminist cartoonist Jackie Fleming.” Shyam Mael

UPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDAAAAAATTTE

In the sketch book, on the ipad, whatever the medium – it’s all work in progress – sneak peek…

NEW WORK!

Oct 2014.jaxx

Stop the War – Painting triptych by Jacqueline Hammond. Work in progress

Women of our Century – BBC Iplayer

Series 1: Paule Vézelay

Paule Vezelay was one of the first British artists to explore abstraction. At a time when British society was suspicious of modernism, Vezelay became familiar with the ideas of European modernists and forged a significant place for herself among early abstractionists. In addition to being an important painter and sculptor, Vezelay was an illustrator, writer and textile designer.

(Biography – http://jlwcollection.com/jlwcollection.com/Paule_Vezelay.html)

First transmitted in 1984, Germaine Greer interviews pioneer abstract artist Paule Vézelay.

British painter Vézelay was neglected and ignored by the British art establishment for most of her long life, but she can claim to be Britain’s first abstract artist. She was born Margery Watson-Williams in Bristol in 1892, and changed her name when she went to live and work in Paris in 1926. Her studio was a street away from Picasso’s, and she was part of the group of artists who contributed to the revolution in modern art of the 1920s.

 She has some interesting things to say – Notes from the programme:

Refer to yourself as a man, never refer to myself as a man, although it certainly would been easier if I was a man

Did she do this because she didn’t want sex to come into the equation

Added the e – suggests feminine

What’s important is the work – is it original, well done

Knew exactly what she wanted to do

Didn’t want to be treated as a beginner at the slade

Independent

Looking for

Got to do a lot of thinking if you want to do something new. The more you think about it the more it changes

Got to work hard at art to be an artist

Got to be able to control it with your hand

Draw you line – the line must be right before you even draw it

Exactly as you intend it to be

Rhythm of line and mass

Curves – why limit yourself to straight lines

Why limit yourself when can have curves and straight

Suspended line in space – the first

Already formed before knew about their work – influence of artists who came to see

All the young men danced with – were killed in the 1^st world war

Think would had a conflict – glad you escaped? (Love marriage)

Nice for women to have babies, most women want babies

Mr right man

Wasn’t in love with ones who asked

Encouraged? Parent’s dad yes

Men

Andre Masson – engaged – declaration of intention – changed mind – painful

Fruitful?

It was pleasant,

Who knows his work –?

Hans Arp, who had become a close friend

Great friendship with them both

Influenced each other – yes I think did

Identify with that group – did it help?

Although didn’t discuss it much – work was supposed to do that don’t you see

Why abstract artists keep form – see what others doing, draw or paint because can’t put into words what want to say

Do you think you communicated without words – ‘well it’s easier to write, not easy to choose, but to drawing takes time to get it exactly right

Paul Nash

In order to praise has to say nasty things about unnamed artists

Problem that family is your responsibility

After the war – able to pick up where left off

50 years old – Paris

Abstraction not understood in Britain

What u find pleasing in their lives and form

Directly to the emotions – language appeals directly to emotion

Joy

Enough sadness in real life

Joyful happy pleasing

As they used to

Worst thing – GG – book on women and painting ref.

Student/teacher

Worst – that he would fall in love with you

Safe – sunk if marries

Can’t make rules about it – doesn’t matter

You don’t think of that in advance

For most married women it phases out

Great mistake for a women to marry if she wants to be an artist

On marriage – women artists – if they marry their work gets phased out because ‘they don’t have the time or energy to take their work seriously’ – how can be expected to succeed with ‘

Often women if they marry, have children, their work inevitably gets phased out, takes a back seat because they ‘Don’t have the time or energy to take their work seriously’

How can I be expected to succeed with ‘One hand in the kitchen, one in the studio’! Gwen John

Concentrated, self-possessed – almost arrogant about painting

Ask about wives of artists who are artists themselves

Sophie Tauber-Arp – How can I be expected to succeed with ‘One hand in the kitchen, one in the studio’

Been greater if hadn’t married – came to see Arp – didn’t come to see her

In the end – she was asked to design for print –

Textiles – feminising women’s art – Issue?

What percentage still got – rather be with it rather than the sake of selling it cheaply – I like my paintings

Faith in yourself – never been shaken

Opinion I value – certain amount of confidence

Happy life? – Don’t know what mean by happy – did what wanted to do – names shit jibs

Satisfied u – up to a point

Beyond? – learn as you go along…

Photography and artwork by Jacqueline Hammond – with creative commons agreement – so please just gimme some credit – the artist and point to http://www.jacquelinehammond.co.uk linkwise. Thanxx for exposing it. Onward and forward rhizomatically yours, Jaxx