Glitter Heart is a creative project for older women and non-binary artists to be a part of a playful exploration and research project using The Live Art Archives as a jumping off point.
It began with a reflection and question from lead artist Liz Clarke:
What would an early work of mine look like if I made it now, in this body—this aging, queer, maternal body, and through the lens of time, experience and the landscape of Live Art over time?
In the current cultural and political climate, Liz Clarke & Company wanted to explore how we would make work now, with these bodies of ours in a collective, supported environment with the politics of care at its heart. How can we increase representation of the elder female artist and make work that speaks to the struggles, joys and triumphs of our lives?
Watch the video to see more from the Glitter Heart project.
As well as bringing people together, sharing and connecting through witnessing the work, we have produced a bookwork that will house images and stories from the process in the Live Art Archive at Bristol University.
Here’s just some of the photos from the residencies, workshops and sharing of the work created as well as some words from the artists themselves.
“I got to be an equal member of a peer group! I was not in charge! I was one of many inspiring, amazing, older female and nonbinary artists, making incredible, meaningful, process-driven work.
I got to practice asking for and receiving support, as well as supporting others.
I got to discover the Live Art Archives and feel a sense of belonging to a lineage of bat shit crazy, powerful female performers.”
I stepped back into being a performer, after a biiiiiiiiiiig break. I wouldn’t have dared to do this without this support.”
Holly Stoppit
“I had a big disconnect with my creative self and my performer self. Immersing myself into this supported connected space meant I could hear my performer speak and go with those body impulses. I’ve valued the support to go with these impulses whether it was fire, throwing things or tipping treacle on myself! I’ll be more mindful of what my performer self needs in the future and the value of supportive witness while going through the process. ”
“I learnt the importance of collaboration and working together. What ‘Collaboration’ can be. It doesn't have to be huge collaboration, it can be little interactions, which has been a more supportive and gentle way of working.”
Anita Karla Kelly
“This was an amazingly rich, generous, totally accessible but also positively challenging experience. I came away with a refreshed way of thinking about creative project design and a brilliant connection with a new community of powerful, inspiring older artists.”
Kamina Walton
Please get in touch on info@lizclarke.org to discuss further.
Glitter Heart has been supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Bristol University Live Arts Archive.
