On The Gallyry magazine’s 1st birthday, we celebrate some of the wonderful women who make it what it is
Exactly one year on since the The Gallyry launched as an online space for women in the arts, it’s incredible to see how far we’ve come. In 365 days we’ve grown to over 50 contributing writers, nearly 100 published articles, and over 1,000 supporters on social media. Our website archive is now filled with insightful and engaging opinion pieces, amazing artist spotlight features, inspiring reviews, and thoughtful interviews with wonderful creatives.
Thank you so much to everyone who has supported us. From the committed writers, to the supporting artists, and every single person who has liked an image on our Instagram – it all adds up! Now let’s get to know some of the women who make The Gallyry what it is…
Ally Faughnan, Founding Editor
Ally setup The Gallyry while still studying at university. You might have seen her writing about discrimination in the art world, exploring global womxnhood and female photography, or interviewing embroidery artists, zine makers, and creatives making a difference in the industry.
Inspiration: “I’ve always loved Ana Mendieta’s work for its spiritual connection between the body and the earth, but I recently discovered some of her lesser known works and fell in love a little bit more.”
Recommendation: “Little Women – it’s such a feel good film and all the wonderful women who star in it are inspiring.”
Abi Silverthorne, Contributing Writer
As our first ever contributing writer, Abi has pretty much become our resident film critic. Writing about women on screen from Phoebe Waller-Bridge (and her eyebrow) to YouTube star Emilia Fart and the anti-heroines in British Indie films.
Inspiration: “Terri White. Empire Editor, gentle media giant, champion of women and films, and cheerful provocateur of twitter trolls.”
Recommendation: “Shirkers by Sandi Tan is a true, see-it-to-believe-it mystery and a dreamy, haunting ode to the way films and friendship enrich life.”
Issey Scott, Contributing Writer
Issey’s amazing review introduced us to Sara Knowland – if you haven’t already fallen in love with her witches, then now you will!
Inspiration: “I think it's quite hard to be truly inspired by individual people in the arts, it's more a case of how they grapple with different issues and engage with different groups. Liv Wynter is amazing, I'm always inspired by what they say and (more importantly) do – artists whose work explicitly aligns with their values is so encouraging to see. My ultimate heroine is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is just everything I want to be.”
Recommendation: “I'm belatedly obsessed with Tirzah at the moment, think an electro Lily Allen with more creative freedom. There are also women-led tattoo studios in London that deserve a shout-out: Femme Fatale, Velvet Undergound, and Delilah's Dagger spring to mind but I'm sure others exist.”
Read more of Issey's writing over on her site Let's Make Lots of Monet.
Mattie O’Callaghan, Contributing Writer
Is art the missing piece in the climate change puzzle? Find out in Mattie’s article on how eco-art in Copenhagen is creating spaces for environmental activism.
Inspiration: “Otobong Nkanga (Nigerian-born visual and performance artist) is one of my favourite artists for her incredible ability to bring together complexities through partnering her embodied relationship with the earth with deeply pertinent issues of environmentalism and colonialism, reminding me that our personal connections are so often deeply political.”
Recommendation: “I recently started reading and listening to the work of Kate Tempest, particularly her book Hold Your Own, whose rhythmic lines are enriched with empathetic understandings of our fluid relationships with gender, sexuality, and identity.”
Check Mattie out on Instagram.
Isabel Sachs, Contributing Writer
Through inspiring interviews with visual artists, Isabel introduced us to the artist offering companionship to strangers and an artist portraying the complexities of the female experience.
Inspiration: “I love country music and I am obsessed with Dolly Parton. She refused to sell her royalties and insisted on equal pay while showing up in big hair, tight clothes, turning a song called DUMB BLONDE into a massive hit.”
Recommendation: “The Afronauts, the photobook which changed my views on what photojournalism could ever be, by Cristina de Middel.”
Find Isabel on Instagram @belsachs or @bel_bites.
Jen Newton, Contributing Writer
If you haven’t checked out Jen’s article exploring the relationship between gender and Surrealism, you should!
Inspiration: “Alice Procter who runs Uncomfortable Art Tours. She has sparked the conversation regarding England's problematic past and how museums play a role in representing this.”
Recommendation: “Pre-Raphaelite Sisters exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery as it finally gives the muses of the canvas a real place in art history as the incredible women that they were.”
Connect with Jen on LinkedIn.
Emma Boys, Contributing Writer
Wonder how the lives of Pauline Boty and Marilyn Monroe intertwine? Find out in Emma’s article about the relationship between the two artists.
Inspiration: “Christine de Pizan: the first professional female writer in Europe, her best known work The Book of the City of Ladies (c. 1404) tells of the achievements and lives of historical female figures, reframing them against the dominant misogynistic narrative. I think it's amazing that not only did she gain respect in her profession at that time, but that she did so whilst uplifting other women.”
Recommendation: “Magdalene by FKA twigs! Everything she creates is so thoughtful and well-crafted, and anyone who puts that much care into their performances has my heart.”
Elizabeth Blake, Contributing Writer
If you can’t tell that Elizabeth is a fan of dancer Isadora Duncan, then you will when you read her article on how Duncan transformed dance.
Inspiration: “The pioneering dancer Isadora Duncan is my inspiration because she was a unique and ground-breaking artist whose artistic vision, passion, and courage elevated dance from mere entertainment to the art form we know today.”
Recommendation: “Lamentation is a ground-breaking solo dance piece choreographed and performed by Martha Graham in 1930.”
Elodie Barnes, Contributing Writer
Check out Elodie’s article on creative intimacies, inspiration, and synergy in the work of Djuna Barnes and Thelma Wood.
Inspiration: “I feel like I should quote a writer for this, being a writer myself, but there's too many to list! So I'm going to say an artist instead – Judy Chicago. Her work is so varied, but it's always bold, brave, very honest, and leaves me thinking for days.”
Recommendation: “This is a book recommendation this time! Anne Carson's Plainwater. It's like the reading equivalent of comfort food to me, I go back to it again and again and always find something new.”
Ana Karkar, Contributing Writer
What is it like to be an artist in the information age? Find out from the artist herself.
Inspiration: “Charlize Theron is an inspiration for her vast emotional range and choice of characters, where truth transcends beauty.”
Recommendation: “Diane Arbus' biography taught me how the artist could draw reflections of herself from her subjects using an objective mechanical tool; the book describes her physical life in contrast to her felt reality.”
Guadalupe Ferrandez Tari, Contributing Writer
Discover artists who were ahead of their time through Guadalupe’s article on the 20th century's female artists who continue to inspire us today.
Inspiration: “Many talented and creative women have inspired me with their work in different periods of my life, however, if I had to choose one right now she will be Patti Smith. She has really enlightened my creative path thanks to her brilliant and well-written stories.”
Recommendation: “This year I will definitely not be missing the retrospective on Marina Abramovich’s career that will be taking place at the Royal Academy in London from September 2020. I highly recommend everyone to visit and get immersed in her unique creative universe.”
Matilda Neil, Contributing Writer
Hear from the writer and performer for Your Aunt Fanny about how women in comedy are funny… I’m not joking!
Inspiration: “I would have to say my number one inspiration is Ilana Glazer, a brilliant comedy writer, actress, and fierce political activist. She reminds me to fight for what I believe in but also to have lots of fun – a really important combination.”
Recommendation: "Norman Fucking Rockwell by Lana Del Ray. It is witty, heartfelt, and contains so many references to other female artists you get something new every time you listen."
Eloise Moench, Contributing Writer
Eloise bared all about her experience of modelling for a life-drawing class and why this made her realise the female body needs the female (e.g. not male) gaze.
Inspiration: “Dolly Parton is my not so guilty feminist icon.”
Recommendation: “Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed – one of the most formative books I have ever read. Cheryl imparts the most instructive and compassionate advice onto lost souls who read her looking for answers.”
Gala Woolley, Contributing Writer
Check out her review of Booksmart, Olivia Wilde’s timely and stylishly witty directorial debut, or discover how Gala thinks Thelma & Louise have paved the way for female empowerment.
Inspiration: “Geena Davis. Co-starring in the revolutionary feminist classic Thelma & Louise, and an activist for women in the film industry, Davis is an inspiration both on and off screen and someone I deeply admire.“
Recommendation: “Power to the Princess by Vita Murrow. A creatively modern and feminist retelling of classic children's fairytales that refreshingly rejects heteronormative happy endings.“
Sophie Perry, Contributing Writer
Showing the wonders of the art scene outside of London, Sophie took us on a feminist trail through Folkestone’s female artists. She has also questioned why size specifications and fatphobia still unnecessarily exist in the arts – check it out!
Inspiration: “Pheobe Waller-Bridge. I know, I know, everyone has Pheobe-fever at the moment but her way of writing female characters continually proves that there is a place for flawed, sometimes unlikable, and realistic women on screen.“
Recommendation: “Lady Bird (directed by Greta Gerwig). A complex, enthralling, and deeply well written exploration of mother-daughter relationships, this film made me ring my own mother the second I came out of the film – just to hear her voice.“
Find Sophie on Insta and Twitter @itssophieomfg, and read more of her work on her portfolio.
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