Inspirational woman no.3
Joan, me and an eerily blank canvas
A recent job with Sky Arts meant a brush with an icon from my teenage years.
In the 70’s, Joan Bakewell, a rare female presence and intellect in a male dominated media, shone a light on a pathway less travelled for a large percentage of the population. But while male commentators tolerated her and male gaze objectified her (she acquired the dubious title of thinking man’s crumpet), this teen couldn't get enough of her stylish savoir faire, her cool and her smarts.
So what a treat to know I would be meeting one of my inspirational women in person, when I got a left-of-field invite from Sky Arts, to join the filming of Landscape Artist of the Year. Joanie brightened up my black and white TV screen back then, bringing meaning to a life in Hounslow, spent mostly ducking the low flying sky traffic from Heathrow Airport and diving in and out of Feltham Comprehensive to truant where possible. Horizons may have been limited but I had Joan offering a passport to an alternative reality.
She really was speaking to me back then; providing cutting-edge commentary on the arts and social issues that felt inclusive. And in an era of wall to wall, wide-eyed Dolly Birds, she was sleek, mercurial and polished: An elegant raven in a garden full of squawking parrots. Yess...I would tell her that when I got the chance.
This image reproduced with kind permission from Joan Bakewell and taken from her autobiography: The Centre of the Bed (Hodder and Staughton 2003)
“What as a judge?” asked my sister. “Nope as a contestant,” I reply, as surprised as her, for I have not kept my hand in. Fishing out my old art school, graphic-design portfolio, now 40 years old, I find a black and white Frank Esher inspired Rotring pen drawing which would do for the submission. But then what?
The day itself: 4 hours plus extra if we didn’t break for too long was predictably, a roller coaster. It took me ages to decide how to go about things. A novice to the canvas, I decided to sew things to it instead. My machine broke, my hands got sticky and salty - shouldn't have been a surprise...we were on Whitstable seafront.
Sure, I had dreamed up a masterpiece in my head. To a theme around sustainability. But errr..... working unconventionally with a sewing machine from the dark ages, (bought with money from my 18th birthday) and beach-comber finds, while other artists preferred reassuringly compliant tools like brushes and paint...WHAT was I thinking!
In the artist pod where you realise you have bitten off more than you can chew
At this stage I’m not allowed to show you the result, due to be revealed on the transmission date of Nov 3rd 2021. What I can say is that this experience of making ART beside the sea with the wind blowing and the clock ticking would feel every bit as tense as, I imagine, limping through a cha cha in front of a tolerant but expectant crowd on Strictly Come Dancing. Of the two, I'm happy with my lot, on account of the fact that I didn't put my back out.
Judges ready to announce the winner.L-R Kate Bryan, Stephen Mangan, Tai Shan Schierenberg and Joan Bakewell (Kathleen Soriano observing social distancing off to the right, out of picture)
The really key moment, that made my little heart sing and remains the highlight, was having my photo taken with Joan (even covid distancing didn’t mess with this). I thanked her for the 70s in simpering school-girl tones; the only really appropriate approach when you are star struck! Then given that this episode lands at the same time as the COP26 talks, she spoke to me at length about the state of fashion and our contribution to climate and ecology instability. She graciously gave me the chance to promote climate activists within fashion and the brands that are prioritising ethical clothing - I hope they survive the edit and hear their mention on screen.
And all too soon it came to an end. Oh no, I didn't even thank Joan to camera, how I wished I had flagged it as the highlight of my day. Too late, the kit packed away and time for goodbyes, this was every bit an Art for Fun interlude for me, but I took home some treasure too and I’m not referring to my canvas. Thank you Joan... for everything. Solid gold indeed.