In an attempt to undermine classical notions of idealized feminine beauty, Venus Envy is a series of manipulated Venus de Milo statues, created by interdisciplinary designer Lionhe[art], intended to subvert the male-defined notion of the feminine, which traditionally within art and popular culture (as the Venus illustrates) is beautiful, passive and silent.

The statues have been installed in various locations across Edinburgh city centre. The name Venus Envy is derived from invasive advertising and consumer culture that invites us to constantly compare ourselves to others.

And to the artist who did this, a special shout-out. Thanks for kicking my arse recently with an email round of feminist theory and well done on this project, I can’t wait to see what you do next. Wish I had been there to take part in the unveiling of the Venus statues around Edinburgh, such a gorgeous city!

You can also follow the project on Twitter over here.



And a few interesting linky links of late:
*Roasted Brussels Sprouts recipe Just ’cause
*28 Days Later Urban Exploration Forum
*12 Instances of Inoffensive Guerrilla Art Knit graffiti
*Tarsian & Blinkney Socially responsible Afghan-made ethical clothing
*FrontlineSMS: Legal Helping people the world over to get access to the law
*Jane McGonigal and The Institute for the Future Can games save the world?

Along with it, the link to this beautiful and brilliantly done video!

Right about now you are probably wondering what is The Papered Parlour?

About a year ago, I got a lovely email from Claire Heafford, a fellow Goldsmiths alum, telling me about a new space she was opening up in London. From her email:

The space is called The Papered Parlour and it’s now home to artists, designers, musicians and theatre practitioners. The venue comprises a cafe, an artist’s studio and a gallery space where we will be running craft classes, hosting performances and putting on exhibitions. It’s all based on a cooperative sharing model of artistic practice, and it’s deliberately located away from East London in attempt to dialogue with a non arts audience.

A few days ago, I got an email from Claire saying how The Papered Parlour currently has a 1 in 3 chance of winning £50,000 via The Barclay’s Business ‘Take One Small Step’ Competition! And how do they win this money!? Through votes, of course! Through one little clicky click over here in fact.

Not up for voting?* I have some links for you here:
-“The Brazilian Etsy”
-Knitting in public hits Charlotte, North Carolina (my hometown!)
-Kentucky yoga center moonlights as art studio for the disabled community
-Tsia quite rightly recommended this Reggie Watts video over at Supernaturale
-Photos from Australia, knitting for the war (Thank you, State Library of S Wales!
-The Papered Parlour video for the competition (last attempt to get your vote)

*Really?

The photo above changed my life. No, really. It was the beginning of my discovery of Riot Grrrl and DIY ethics. This picture made me realize that it was okay to be angry and confused and frustrated and loud as a teenage girl. It made me not feel so alone at 16 when I was angry at all the world’s problems and violence to women. Bikini Kill’s Kathleen Hanna (the women in the photo above) had a scream that enveloped many of us in the early 90s.

Seeing these photos below made that 16 year old in me smile and wish nothing but happiness and strength to these women. I may not be wearing the same stomping shit-kicking boots and holding the same angst, but the part of me that knows what it’s like to be set free and not be scared to speak out feels like it’s just like 1991.

Ok, so technically it’s craftivism. FEMEN’s fighting back against the sex-trade industry. The sign above says “Ukraine is not a Brothel” and the bikinis below are not bikinis, they’re H1N1 masks sewn into bikinis as a statement against the H1N1 hysteria in their country. From their website:

WE ARE THE WOMEN’S MOVEMENT:
*We unite young women basing on the principles of social awareness and activism, intellectual and cultural development.
*We recognise the European values of freedom, equality and comprehensive development of a person irrespective of the gender.
*We build up a national image of feminity, maternity and beauty based on the Euro-Atlantic Women’s Movements experience.
*We set up brand new standards of the civil movement in Ukraine.
*We have worked out our own unique form of a civil self-expression based on courage, creativity, efficiency and shock.
*We demonstrate that the civil movements can influence the public opinion and lobby the interests of a target group.
*We plan to become the biggest and the most influential feminist movement in Europe.

Want more? Go check out this interview with FEMEN’s leader, Anna Gutsol. And read more about FEMEN here.