September 08th, 2017

5 mins with salena godden, spoken word artist

Salena Godden is one of the UK's most iconic Spoken Word artists. She has donated her latest poem RED, about the tampon tax and period poverty, to Nasty Women UK. Salena is headlining our Spoken Word evening at Stour Space on 24 September 2017. 
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What is RED?
RED is a poem about periods. RED is about stigma. It's about women's autonomy over their own bodies and their own choices. RED is a protest poem against the tampon tax, anger that sanitary products have been considered a luxury item and therefore taxable. RED is a fury that money from the UK tampon tax is funding anti-abortion charities. As I say in the poem: We are haemorrhaging away women's rights!

Looks like you had fun shooting that video!
Yes. We knew how we wanted the film to look, but that it had to be done in one take. I only have one pair of white pyjamas and one white sheet, and we were using natural daylight. There was a lot of pressure getting that one take right without pausing no matter how much blood I got in the face, the mouth and eyes. 

The film was shot in my garden with friends whilst standing in our paddling pool. We managed to keep it together for the most part. I like that the end result is both serious and slapstick. I often use humour and rant poetry to highlight important issues. 

Oh, and before anyone asks, the blood used was fake theatre blood, don’t worry! We tried using strawberry jam and it was a sticky mess!
 
Why are you supporting Nasty Women UK?
I have great admiration for the work of the Nasty Women global movement and donate this work as an endorsement. We must end all violence against all women in all its forms. 

Why should people get involved?
Gender equality affects everyone. Over the last 12 months, we've seen countless examples of misogyny in the media and in government. The tampon tax being one example. 

We must resist intolerance. We must stand united against inequality in all its forms. I'm delighted to be headlining the Spoken Word evening at Nasty Women UK on 24 September, alongside some brilliant names from the British spoken word scene, poets who’s work I follow and love like Lisa Luxx, Maria Ferguson, Claire Trevian and Sophie Cameron. Also Michelle Fisher and Michelle Madsen who helped make the RED film, it was the two Michelle’s that were blood-splatting me! 

Whether you are actively engaged in social discourse or not, come to Stour Space. Not only will you enjoy some kick ass rousing performances, you'll also positively contribute to end violence against women. And remember, there is strength in numbers, so join us, stand up and be counted!
 
Have you got a favourite heroine?
I’m lucky to live a life that is filled with inspirational, creative and brilliant female artists, musicians and writers. It is difficult to name just one, but these are all my heroes. I am pretty active on twitter and regularly share the work, books, poets and artists that rock my world and are changing the world. 
 
 www.salenagodden.co.uk @salenagodden (Twitter and Instagram) 

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5 MINS WITH ALICE WROE, FOUNDER OF HERSTORY UK

What is Herstory?
Herstory is a participatory project that straddles art, activism and education, it uses feminist art to engage people of all genders with the women’s history that has been systematically left out. Herstory was founded in 2014 by Alice Wroe, guided by the principle ‘If you can’t see it, how can you be it?’ Since then, Herstory sessions have run in educational settings, cultural institutions and social spaces, enabling people of all genders to see themselves in the women history leaves out, championing people like Marsha P Johnson, Olive Morris and The Match Girls.
 
Why are you supporting Nasty Women UK?
I am delighted to run a Herstory workshop, with all ticket sales going towards Nasty Women and therefore EVAW. I believe that art is so often at the centre of social change, and often relegated to the fringes. I feel the work of Nasty Women UK is a playful, creative and empowering way to counter a force that is the opposite of all of those things, to bring my practice into that is a privilege. 
 
What is special about Judy Chicago's work?
'The Dinner Party' by Judy Chicago is a strong starting point to explore women's history. Chicago's artwork represents women from history she feels have been left out, she calls it a kind of alternative last supper. In my workshops we, the participants and I, populate the art work, we bring our own lives and the lives of historical women to the table and explore them together. Flattening out the way that his/herstory is shared and who does that sharing. 
 
Why should people get involved on Sunday?
It would be great to have a full table of sheros with us on Sunday! People of any gender are welcome, and we will spend the session journeying through herstory, celebrating people and achievements who have been systemically left out. Participants only need to bring themselves, no knowledge or preparation is necessary. Please note: tickets are limited and must be bought in advance. 
 
Have you got a favourite heroine?
I am doing new research for this workshop and have found some wonderful sheros I can't wait to share on Sunday. Comandante Ramona is a favourite of this round of research. She was very important to women in Chiapas, Mexico, who said "She's a woman with a lot of petticoat" the equivalent to saying a man with a lot of balls. I love reading about women who empower women, and that was what Commandant Ramona was all about. 
 
www.herstoryuk.org @herstory_uk (Twitter and Instagram) 

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