Inspirational letters? Inspirational women!

My dear Friend,

Just a note to let you know what a great time we had at our Illuminated Letters workshop last Thursday. We had the full use of the amazing studio on the top floor of GoMA in Glasgow, and soon we settled in, filling the space with laughter and chat.

Staff from GWL and from GoMA were on hand to help out, but to be honest, all we had to do was direct the women to the huge choice of art materials and find them a place to sit. It was a drop-in session, and we were busy the whole time.

Donna from GWL had, with the help of staff and volunteers, created a huge pile of cards about amazing women whose lives are documented either in the archive at GWL or on our shelves. (You can see these at GWL any time if you’d like some ideas on who to write to.)

Moving around the tables as the afternoon went on I was impressed by the diversity of the women being written to.

From Amy Johnson, pioneering aviator, to Miss Cranston of Glasgow Tearoom fame.

From Sojourner Truth, American civil rights activist, to Florence Nightingale, the intrepid English war-zone nurse.

From Partick’s big Rachel Hamilton, a forewoman in the brickworks a century ago, to tiny Lena Zavaroni, who sang her way from Rothesay to the bright lights of Broadway.

And they had one big question for her!

While Ingrid Lees sat quietly working away all afternoon, and produced this beautiful letter…

There were so many wonderful illuminated letters, it’s just a shame I can’t put them all on here. But that’s why, once Glasgow Women’s Library has moved to its new premises in Bridgeton – which is imminent now! – we will plan an exhibition of as many of your letters as possible.

And if you missed last Thursday’s event, but would love to write us a letter, then please do! This is an ongoing project between GWL and GoMA. And, as I’ve said before, we’d love to pick up your ‘Inspiring Women’ letters from behind our new door once we’ve made our big move.

See this as an art challenge or a writing challenge. Whatever suits you best. It really is fun combining artwork with the written word. If you want you can come into the Women’s Library for a morning or afternoon and use our art materials, stamps, templates, etc. to create your letter.

We’d love to see you!

Love, Peace and Inspiration to you all…

Magi

x

ps BOOKS THAT CHANGED OUR LIVES. I’ll be in conversation on THURSDAY 14th MARCH 6pm -7.30pm with author and Orkney Reader in residence Alison Miller and GWL Librarian, Wendy Kirk in our new premises at Landressy Street, Bridgeton. That’s the old Bridgeton Library. If you want company to travel there meet up with Wendy at 5.15 at GWL in Berkeley Street. Hope to see you there!

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